Richmond Highway Transit Center Feasibility Study: Public Information Meeting Sept. 18, 2013

1. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
Richmond Highway Transit
Center Feasibility Study
Public Information Meeting
September 18, 2013

2. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
2
Welcome
• Public Information Meeting
– Present conceptual layouts at three potential
sites
– Obtain community input (comment forms)
• Presenters
– Caijun Luo, Fairfax County Department of
Transportation
– Jose Bustamante, RK&K

3. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
3
Outline
• General overview of project
• Conceptual layouts of three transit center
sites
• Question and answer

4. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
4
Project Purpose
• To support revitalization and transportation goals for the
Richmond Highway corridor
• Richmond Highway is an important arterial that provides
connectivity between major commercial, residential, and
recreational points in northern Virginia and Fairfax County.
• The efficient operation of Richmond Highway is critical to
the regional roadway network, and good quality bus service
will be more important as traffic grows in the corridor.
• Enhance existing bus services provided by Fairfax County
• Trigger economic development along the Richmond
Highway Corridor

5. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
5
Study Goals & Objectives
• Plan and design a facility that creates an attractive environment for
transit riders and is seamlessly integrated into a local fabric and
communities
• Develop a functional, practicable, and cost-effective design concepts
for the new facility
• Focus on site program and traffic impacts to meet future needs for
year 2030
• To provide a conceptual layout design and access plan for each of
the three proposed transit center sites
• To evaluate the pros and cons of each site
• To assist in final site selection

6. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
6
Project Overview
In 2011, a total of 16
candidate sites were
selected for evaluation
based on proximity to the
Route 1 corridor and land
availability. The site at
Fordson Rd. was selected
for further analysis, but
was not advanced due to
new retail development.

7. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
7
Project Overview
In 2013, a total of 15
candidate sites were
selected for evaluation
based on community
input, proximity to the
Route 1 corridor and
functionality. Three sites
were selected for further
analysis.

8. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
8
Site Program
• What makes a great transit center?
– Amenities
– Identity
• How do we get there?
– Design Charrette held on April 22, 2013
– Understanding the need and purpose of program

9. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
9
Site Program

10. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
10
Evaluation & Screening
Criteria
• Location
• On-site Bus Circulation
• Cost Effectiveness
• Amenities
• Bus Access
• Traffic
• Intermodality
• Neighborhood
Development
• Right-of-Way/Relocations
• Environmental Impacts
• Land Use Compatibility

11. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
11
Site A
FCDOT Sidewalk
Improvements
Improved
Pedestrian Access
Transit Center
Building
7’ Tall Brick or
Block Fence Wall
12’ – wide
Vegetated Buffer
Visitor/Staff
Parking
On-site
Pedestrian Paths
& Crossings
Kiss & Ride
Area
Green Space/
Trees
Stormwater
Management/
Planting Areas
Shell Gas
Station
Vacant
Restaurant
Video
Store
Bike Facilities
& Storage
Year 2030:
No. of Bus Routes = 9
No. of Bus Bays = 12
Potential for
Recreational
Amenity
INTERMODALITY
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL
AMENITIES
BUS ACCESS/CIRCULATION
Right-of-Way:
No. of Acquisitions = 3
No. of Relocations = 3
Potential HAZMAT
Removal at Gas
Station

12. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
12
Site A
Pros
• Allows for 12 bus bays to
accommodate forecasted 2030
growth
• Easily accessible & visible from
Richmond Highway
• Multiple bus access points
• Potential for future neighborhood
development
Cons
• On-site bus circulation; buses
cross each other
• Requires acquisition and relocation
of 3 properties (including gas
station and video store)
• Potential HAZMAT site
• Adjacent to residential use
• Limited pedestrian and bike access
• Deficient traffic operations
• Only small area available for
amenities

13. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
13
Site B
Year 2030:
No. of Bus Routes = 12
No. of Bus Bays = 16
Improved
Pedestrian Access
Transit Center
Building
7’ Tall Brick or
Block Fence Wall
12’ – wide
Vegetated Buffer
Visitor/Staff
Parking
On-site
Pedestrian Paths
& Crossings
Kiss & Ride
Area
Green Space/
Trees
Existing Stormwater
Management Facility
Bike Facilities
& Storage
Potential for
Recreational
Amenity
INTERMODALITY
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY
ENVIRONMENTAL
AMENITIES
BUS ACCESS/CIRCULATION
Right-of-Way:
No. of Acquisitions = 1
No. of Relocations = 11
Shared Access
Road

14. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
14
Site B
Pros
• Allows for 16 bus bays to
accommodate forecasted 2030
growth; highest of all sites
• Efficient on-site bus circulation;
loop design
• High potential for future
neighborhood development
• Adjacent to busy commercial
developments
Cons
• Limited bus access from service
road; shared with highly used
commercial site and apartment
complex
• Only one bus access point
• Requires acquisition of 1 property
and 11 business relocations;
highest cost
• Limited pedestrian and bike access
• Only small area available for
amenities

15. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
15
Site C
Year 2030:
No. of Bus Routes = 6
No. of Bus Bays = 8
Right-of-Way:
No. of Acquisitions = 1
No. of Relocations = 1
Fast Auto
Loans
BUS ACCESS/CIRCULATION
Proposed
Intersection
Improvements
Improved
Pedestrian Access
On-site
Pedestrian Paths
& Crossings
Kiss & Ride
Area
Bike Facilities
& Storage
INTERMODALITY
South County
Center Parking
Fence around
KinderCare
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY
Green Space/
Trees
ENVIRONMENTAL
Transit Center
Building
Potential for
Recreational
Amenity
AMENITIES
Stormater
Management/
Planting Areas

16. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
16
Site C
Pros
• Allows for 8 bus bays to
accommodate forecasted 2030
growth
• Efficient on-site bus circulation;
multi-level design
• Potential for future neighborhood
development
• Relatively large area available for
amenities
• Requires acquisition and relocation
of 1 property only; lowest cost
Cons
• Limited bus access/egress;
requires intersection improvements
at Buckman Rd (South) & Route 1
• Limited pedestrian and bike access
• Site elevation difference requires
earthwork and retaining wall
• 167 parking spaces required to be
taken from South County Center
• Adjacent to Kinder Care facility

17. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
17
Site C Intersection
Improvements
• Buckman Road/Richmond Highway Intersection
problems
– Difficult access to transit center
– No right turn onto Buckman Road allowed
– Insufficient queueing length for SB buses onto Richmond
Highway
– Current intersection configuration not aligned with Radford Ave.
– Improve pedestrian safety

18. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
18
Site C Intersection
Improvements Plans

19. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
19
Neighborhood Development
½-mile buffer shown

20. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
20
Traffic Impacts
• Projected Level of Service (LOS) indicate traffic
operations at sites A, B and C will be marginally affected
when compared against the No-Build alternative
Site A
Dart Drive & Richmond
Highway Intersection
Site B
Haft Drive / Richmond
Highway Intersection
Site C
Buckman Road (South) /
Richmond Highway Intersection

21. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
21
Environmental Impacts
• Expect no significant environmental impacts associated
with the proposed improvements, including: Stormwater
Management, noise and visual intrusion
• Expect to have appropriate mitigation for all potential
environmental impacts
• May be required to perform further environmental
investigation on Site A

22. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
22
Next Steps
• Site Selection
• Phase I Environmental Study
– Service Station at Site A
• Branding & Cultural Resources
• Preliminary Engineering and NEPA Analysis of selected
site

23. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
23
We need your input…
• What type or amenities are needed in your community?
• Any details of this conceptual site plans that are of
concern to you?
• What could be done to make this transit center more
convenient for you and your community?
• How would you use this future transit facility?

24. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
24
Comments
• Please fill out the comment forms
– On site: leave your written comments with one
of the project team representatives
– Mail back to FCDOT postmarked by
September 28, 2013
– E-mail to Caijun.Luo@FairfaxCounty.gov by
September 28, 2013, reference “RHTC Public
Information Meeting” in the subject line

25. County of Fairfax, Virginia
Department of Transportation
25
Questions and Answers
THANK YOU!