crystal city potomac yard...
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayEnforcement Ordinance & Construction Update
December 2015
Project Purpose• Provide high-capacity, high-quality transit
service
• Support redevelopment in Crystal City and in Potomac Yard in Alexandria and Arlington
• Extend the reach of the Metrorail system
Scope (Arlington project)• 0.75 miles of new transit-only roadway
• 1.5 miles of on-street dedicated transit lanes
• 7 transit stations (3 bi-directional)
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
TRANSITWAY ORDINANCE
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayEnforcement Ordinance Timeline
• Request to Advertise the enforcement ordinance will be heard at the December 15 County Board meeting
• If the Board approves the RTA, ordinance hearing and enactment will be scheduled for the January 23/26 County Board meeting
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayEnforcement Ordinance
The proposed Transitway enforcement ordinance:
• Establishes the exclusive and dedicated lanes for transit
• Sets the times of day for transit-only operation of the dedicated lanes
• Defines the vehicles allowed to use the transit-only lanes as transit vehicles and emergency vehicles
• Allows automobile drivers to enter the on-street dedicated lanes for the purpose of making a turn at the next intersection or driveway
• Establishes a $200 fine for violating the transit-only lane use prohibitions
• Makes changes to the fare evasion provision to allow for future off-board fare collection
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayEnforcement Ordinance
• Proposed wording change in response to community input:Vehicles entering the Transitway to make a turn may only enter the Transitway where a dashed pavement marking separates the Transitway from the adjacent general purpose lane, unless safety dictates entering the Transitway earlier. In no event shall the driver of the vehicle: (1) use the Transitway to by-pass traffic congestion in the general purpose lane, (2) travel through the approaching intersection and not turn right, or (3) obstruct the operation of the Transitway buses outside the dashed markings.
• Original hours of transit-only dedication:
• 5 – 10 a.m. and 3 – 8 p.m. (10 hours)
• Revised hours of transit-only dedication:
• 6 – 9 a.m. and 3:30 – 7 p.m. (6.5 hours)
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
o r i g i n a l p r o p o s a l o r i g i n a l p r o p o s a lrevised proposal revised proposal
Topic County ActionProject and ordinance background
Presented to community and updated County website with additional project history
Hours of transitdedication
Proposed peak period bus-only lane hours to coincide with peak bus service levels
Access to bus-only lane
Presented to community and updated County website with information about signs and pavement markings
Right-hand turns Updated proposed ordinance language to clarify use of transit lane for right turns
Left-hand turns Re-striped Crystal Drive with center left turn lane to allow left turns without blocking through lane
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayFollow Up on Community Concerns
Topic County Action
Truckdeliveries
Developed plan for additional loading zones on Crystal Drive to serve commercial properties
Bike riders Re-striped Crystal Drive maintaining northbound and southbound bike lanes
Paving and striping of Crystal Drive
Completed re-paving and re-striping of Crystal Drive in October in time for Marine Corps Marathon
Education, enforcement,and evaluation
As presented at the October community meeting:• Education will begin at least two months leading up to
opening – and will continue past opening • Police officers will be educated to observe and correct
improper behavior• Committed to evaluating performance once in operation;
tools already in place; quarterly updates at BID9
Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayFollow Up on Community Concerns
Broad-based outreach for Transitway operations• For at least two months leading up to Transitway opening
and continuing after opening• Activities to include:
– Partnering with Crystal City Civic Association and BID– Website, social media– E-newsletters– Flyers and brochures– Postcard mailing– Street teams at neighborhood events– Commuter Stores– Arlington Transportation Partners outreach to businesses,
residential properties 10
Pre-Start Up Communications & Outreach
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
Next steps
• Work with our contractor and Metro operations staff to identify a firm start date
• Develop additional educational materials with more specific information about how the Transitway will operate
• Distribute materials following the plan on the prior slide
• Complete signing and pavement marking installation
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Pre-Start Up Communications & Outreach
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
• Arlington Police will assist in the Transitway education program and work with the community to make this partnership a success.
– Officers will be educated to observe and correct improper behavior.
– Increased enforcement will be triggered when bus drivers report that their on-time performance is off due to bus lane violators.
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Post-Start Up Enforcement
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
County will actively monitor Transitway operations through:
– Traffic counts (pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles)• 24hr. mid-block counts• Permanent count stations
– Transit metrics - Bus ridership, on-time performance– Parking occupancy data– CCTV traffic monitoring at signalized intersections
As the above data streams become publicly available, County will inform people how to access them
County will also provide updates at ongoing Crystal City BID quarterly transportation briefings
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Ongoing Operations Evaluation
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayProgress
Crystal Drive near Station B
Transitway near 27th St
Remaining Work
Finish bricks at Station D
Install shelters at Stations F and G
Install windscreens
Install real-time information displays
Fabricate and install public art
Install roof deck
Fabricate and install roof panels
Complete pavement markings on transit lanes
Complete sign installation
Final placement of street furniture
Print and install maps and schedules
Testing and acceptance
Station F Station D
Station G
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwaySchedule Changes
At start of construction Now Reasons
NTP 3/18/14
Spring 2016
Spring 2015
NTP 3/18/14 Delay in VDOT permit
Delay in building permit
Winter & Spring weather delays
Underground obstructions at Stations A, E, & G
Unknown dry utilities
Roof material supplier issue
Soils conditions at Stations D & F
Roof re-design
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayScope changes: example images
Station D
Station G
Station C
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Crystal City Potomac Yard TransitwayScope Changes
At start of construction Now ReasonsTwo construct-in-place shelters at Station D
One construct-in-place shelter at Station D
Reduced soil remediationAvoid underground utility obstructionGeneral cost reduction
Construct-in-place shelters at Stations F and G
Prefabricated shelters at Stations F and G
Poor soils too costly to remediateLower expected ridershipFuture realignment of Clark Street
Light poles at Stations F and G Shelter-mounted lighting at Stations F and G
General cost reduction
Retaining walls at Stations D and F
Eliminated retaining walls at Stations D and F
Poor soilsGeneral cost reduction
Translucent, polycarbonate roof panels at all stations
Standing seam metal roofs at all stations (except Stations F & G)
Unable to identify suitablesupplier for specified materialAlternate translucent option identified were too costly
Signing and pavement marking fabricated and installed under GC contract
Signing and pavement marking fabricated and installed by County crews
General cost reduction
Safe construction zones• Travel lanes and sidewalks have been closed for the protection of the traveling
public as well as construction workers
• Access to businesses has been maintained to the greatest extent possible through construction
• Closures have been removed as soon as it has been safe and practical to do so
• Closures will be reinstated from time to time as additional construction work demands
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
Summary• The CCPY Transitway will provide higher capacity, faster, and more reliable
transit service connecting Crystal City, Potomac Yard, Pentagon City, and Braddock Road
• Project is expected to be completed in the Spring on-budget
• Even with the necessary scope changes the original intent of the project will be fully met
• We regret the delays, but difficult choices have been made and those choices affected the schedule
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Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway
The community has expressed concerns about people riding bicycles on sidewalks in Crystal City, particularly near the Water Park. Staff have heard the concerns and have developed the following sequence of actions to address:• Staff propose to improve signage at the Mount Vernon Trail connection
• Staff propose to install a curb ramp to improve the link between the on-street bike lanes on Crystal Drive and the Mount Vernon Trail connection
• If the above actions are not successful, staff would endeavor to craft an exception to current policy regarding riding bicycles on sidewalks, for Manager and Board consideration, with or without a recommendation
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Related Issues
Staff propose to create time-of-day loading zones along the west side of Crystal Drive• Work orders finalized this week
• Initiates sign fabrication and scheduling crews
• Timeline for installation: 6 to 8 weeks
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Related Issues
Thank you
Visit the County website: www.arlingtonva.us and search for “Transitway”
December 2015
Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway