Lorton Rail Stations Area Intermodal Accessibility Measure Study Technical Report

Transcription

1 Lorton Rail Stations Area Intermodal Accessibility Measure Study Technical Report Prepared for: Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment Prepared by: Michael Baker Inc., CDM Smith Inc., Renaissance Planning Group

2 Project Description Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (along with CDM Smith Inc., and Renaissance Planning Group) is under contract with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) to study the accessibility of multiple intermodal sites throughout the state. The purpose of this document is to present the technical analysis associated with recommendations for the Lorton Rail Stations Area located in Fairfax County, Virginia. Intermodal Center Description The Lorton Rail Stations Area is broadly defined as the area within one mile of the Lorton Amtrak Station at the Interstate 95 Lorton Road/VA 642 interchange. At this location, I 95 has four lanes in each direction with two HOV lanes. The Lorton Intermodal Center includes an Amtrak Station, VRE Station, and two park and ride lots. Exhibit 1 shows the Lorton Intermodal Center area. Exhibit 1: Intermodal Center Location Map F ORMER DC C ORRECTIONS S ITE Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 1

3 Modal Access The Lorton Amtrak Station is a unique train station; it is the northernmost terminus of Amtrak s Auto Train and provides daily service to Sanford, Florida (outside Orlando). The Auto Train is a long distance, non stop line which requires passengers to travel with a boat, car, or motorcycle to board the train. It is not a traditional passenger rail station and generates little foot traffic. Rail The Lorton Rail Stations Area contains two rail stations, the Amtrak Station and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Station. The VRE station is located about one mile north of the Interstate 95 Lorton Road/VA 642 interchange. This station is along the Fredericksburg line and there are 567 parking spaces available. Bicycle parking is available at the VRE station, and recent housing developments and transportation enhancements have increased the availability of dedicated bicycle infrastructure. The Lorton Amtrak station is located less than one mile from the Lorton VRE station and two park and ride lots that collectively contain 705 commuter parking spaces. The Lorton Amtrak Station is accessed via Lorton Road, which also accommodates regional bus routes, and provides on street bicycle lanes for cyclists. The Lorton Amtrak Station is the northern terminus of the Auto Train and is located off Interstate 95 at Lorton Road, Fairfax County. This station provides non stop service for passengers and their automobiles to Sanford, FL, outside Orlando. The Auto Train is an important Amtrak link, carrying nearly 260,000 annual passengers and collecting $68.6 million in ticket revenue in FY2011. Outside the Northeast Corridor, the Auto Train has the highest ticket revenues of any Amtrak service. 1 However, passengers using the Auto Train must be travelling with a motorcycle, small boat, or passenger vehicle in order to ride the Auto Train. Park and Ride Lots The Lorton Intermodal Center has three park and ride lots. These include: Lorton VRE Station: 567 parking spaces and bicycle parking meant to complement the commercial/residential development at the Lorton Station Town Center. Lorton Market Park and Ride Lot: 66 parking spaces located across Lorton Road (VA 642). Lorton Park and Ride: 170 parking spaces also located across Lorton Road (VA 642). 2 According to the 2011 I 95 Corridor Transit and TDM Program (prepared by Atkins and Connetics Transportation Group), parking utilization at the intermodal center indicates that there is room to accommodate new riders. The TDM Program statistics show that the Lorton VRE station s parking utilization is 67% while the Lorton Park and Ride Lot s utilization is 15%, and the Lorton Market facility s utilization is only 5%. 1 Amtrak Media Relations. 13 October Amtrak Ridership Rolls Up Best Ever Records (Press Release). Retrieved at: %20Record%20FY11%20Ridership%20and%20Revenue.pdf. 2 Virginia Railway Express Fredericksburg Line Station Descriptions: Lorton Station. Retrieved Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 2

4 Public Transit The Lorton Market and Lorton Park and Ride Lots are served by the following public transportation bus routes: Fairfax Connector Route 371 connects the Laurel Hill neighborhood with the Franconia Springfield Metrorail Station via the Lorton Park and Ride Lots. Fairfax Connector Route 171 originates at the Lorton VRE station and goes to Huntington Metrorail Station. Fairfax County Route 305 originates from the Lorton VRE station and connects Lorton to the Franconia Springfield Metrorail Station via Newington Forest and Silverbrook Road. Bicycle and Pedestrian Pedestrian infrastructure is limited at this intermodal activity center as it is oriented towards vehicular commuting. As the Lorton Amtrak station only serves passengers transporting a motorcycle, small boat, or vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian facilities within the Amtrak Station area itself are limited. While no bicycle and pedestrian facilities exist within the Lorton Amtrak Station property itself, bicycle and pedestrian amenities are available in areas surrounding the Lorton Amtrak Station. Bicycle parking is available at the Lorton Park and Ride, as well as the Lorton VRE Station. Redevelopment of the former DC Corrections site, which encompasses most of the land to the west of Silverbrook Road, has incorporated greenways and trails, but many of these trails do not connect the residential development to the intermodal centers located east of the I 95 right of way. Lorton Road boasts bike lanes heading both eastbound and westbound from the station. Additionally, there is a shared use path on the south side of Lorton Road running from VA 611 to Richmond Highway/US 1. Traffic Analysis The Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan (Amended June 2012) highlights the following activity centers in the Lorton Rail Stations Area: the former District of Columbia Corrections Site, now a 3,000 acre redevelopment site, and Fort Belvoir. There is also some mixed use development centered on the Lorton VRE station. The development of these activity centers has increased traffic demands in the area, leading to roadway widening projects completed on Lorton Road and I 95 in 2012 and 2010, respectively. Deficiencies in this area described in the Comprehensive Plan include: Increased residential development contributing to higher traffic volumes. Poor connections between modes. Inadequate/unattractive connections between residential developments and commuter services, especially via non motorized transportation modes. Traffic circulation and safety concerns along Richmond Highway/US 1. Existing conditions at this intermodal center led Fairfax County to set a transportation goal of establishing regular bus service along Richmond Highway between the Huntington Metro station and the Lorton VRE station. This bus route is needed to serve the residents and businesses along Richmond Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 3

5 Highway/US 1; this goal has implications in terms of future site improvements for the Lorton Rail Stations Area. In 2008, Fairfax County projected the level of service (LOS) for the Lorton Road Richmond Highway/US 1 intersection in 2030; LOS is projected to fall in the AM from LOS B to LOS F and in the PM from LOS B to LOS D. Additionally, VDOT s 2011 average annual daily traffic volume estimates that traffic volumes on Lorton Road between the I 95 ramps and Richmond Highway/US 1 is 21,000 vehicles per day. Future Site Improvements A project to widen and realign Lorton Road immediately to the west of the interchange began recently to provide a continuous four lane link from VA 611 to Richmond Highway/US 1 with on street bicycle lanes, a shared use path, and greenway enhancements. Construction is expected to be complete in Recommendations The Fairfax County Department of Planning and Zoning, Fairfax County Department of Transportation, the Virginia Railway Express, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments have identified potential short term and long term improvements for the Lorton Rail Stations Area. Short term improvements focused on enhancing the attractiveness of alternative transportation options in Lorton, including bicycle infrastructure, public relations, and connecting housing to transit. Short Term Recommendations A set of recommendations have been developed to improve alternative transportation at the Lorton Rail Stations Area for non motorized modes of travel. Recent I 95 improvements and planned Lorton Road improvements limit the need for vehicular enhancements. These recommendations are from the Fairfax County 2011 Comprehensive Plan, amendments to the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 2010 Bicycle Pedestrian Plan. The following shortterm projects are recommended as part of this study and are shown in Exhibit Continue the greenway in the Laurel Hill Redevelopment area (immediately west of I 95) to connect with the Lorton VRE Station. Part of a Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan amendment regarding the Laurel Hill Redevelopment Area, this project will improve the direct pedestrian access from the residential development west of I Provide enhanced lighting under I 95 overpass where bicycle volume is highest. This will maintain the quality and safety of bicycle trips to the station. 3. Install bicycle lockers at the Lorton VRE Station. Based on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments 2010 Bicycle Pedestrian Plan, there is a need for bicycle lockers at the Lorton VRE station. This will make the bike to train commute easier and more attractive. 4. Increase usage of existing Park and Ride facilities The existing Park and Ride lots are underutilized. Find ways to increase the usage, perhaps by the increased use of way finding signs. Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 4

6 5. Widen Lorton Road west of Silverbrook Road to six lane facility (Underway). Part of the Laurel Hill Redevelopment Area and the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan amendment, is currently underway and will increase the capacity of Lorton Road. Exhibit 2: Short Term Recommendations Estimated Short Term Project Costs A set of short term recommendations have been developed as part of this study to improve access to the Lorton Rail Stations Area. Short term projects are general lower cost and require less study than larger projects. Physical project costs were estimated using the 2009 Statewide Planning Level Costs Estimates worksheet except where noted. Costs include preliminary engineering, construction, ROW and utilities. Estimates are based upon average costs for Northern Virginia and are shown in 2012 dollars in Table 1. Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 5

7 Table 1: Estimated Project Costs for Short Term Recommendations Short-Term Recommendations and Estimated Project Costs Recommended Action (Source) Benefit Cost 1 2 Continue greenway in Laurel Hill Redevelopment Area (DC Corrections Site) to connect with the Lorton VRE Station (Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2011) Provide enhanced lighting under I-95 overpass where bicycle volume is highest (Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan 2011) Allows better, more direct pedestrian access from new residential communities to transit options $8.58 million Maintains quality and safety of riders $50,000 3 Install bicycle lockers at VRE station (MWCOG 2010 Bicycle Pedestrian Plan) Makes bike-to-train commute trips easier and more attractive $20, Find ways to increase Park-and-Ride usage, perhaps through increased way-finding signage (VDOT) Widen Lorton Road west of Silverbrook Road to six-lane facility (Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan Amendment 2011) Increase usage of park and ride. $20,000 Greatly improves capacity of Lorton Road Underway Note: Costs shown are planning level estimates, not design level estimates, as they do not include associated constructability, engineering, and inspection (CDI) and contingency costs, among others. Potential Long Term Solutions In additional to the short term recommendations, other potential long term improvements could be considered. Long term improvements have been identified from Comprehensive Plans or other longrange document and are higher cost projects that require more detailed study than the short term recommendations. This is especially relevant in light of Fairfax County s desire to encourage alternative commuting modes and enhance transit options along Richmond Highway/US 1. These potential long range solutions have been identified in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan (2011) as well as amendments to the comprehensive plan (2011) and should undergo further study: 1. Investigate triple left turns for southbound approach of Silverbrook Rd. after Lorton Rd. widening is complete This would reduce the delay at this location if needed. 2. Route 1 Transit Corridor Alternatives Analysis This study will determine the optimal transit service and location along the corridor south of the Beltway. Lorton Amtrak Station Area Technical Report 6