Welcome
Working Advisory Group
Meeting #2 – Part 2
May 4, 2011
Working Group Meeting #2 - Part 2
May 4, 2011
Today’s Agenda
Welcome
Traffic 2010-2035
Break Out Groups: Concerns & Opportunities
Revised Principles
Consolidated Goals & Objectives
Public Meeting #2: May 18th
•Open House
•Agenda –Topics and Speakers
Traffic 2010-2035
Traffic 2010-2035
1. Existing Conditions
2. Traffic Projections Methodology
- Regional Traffic Model
- Local Development Parcels
3. 2035 Future Conditions
4. Traffic Operations
5. Next Steps
Traffic Study Area
Data Collection
• Eleven Hour (7 AM–6 PM) at 16 Intersections
– Vehicles, Trucks, Peds, Bikes
• Field Observations/Calibration
– Traffic analysis adjustments
– Accurate representation of existing conditions
• License Plate Data
– Casey Overpass
– Parking lots
• Accident Data
2010 Existing AM Volumes
Average Daily
Trips = 24,000
Weekday AM Peak
Hour - Vehicles
2010 Weekday Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
2010 Weekday Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
PM
2010 Weekday Peak Hour Pedestrians & Bicycles
PM Peds
PM Bikes
2035 No Build Traffic Volumes
2035 Regional Model (CTPS)
Local Development Parcels (City)
2035 No Build Traffic Volumes
Three Key Topics on Regional Travel
• Role of Boston MPO
• Regional Travel Demand Model
• How the Analysis will be Performed.
Geography
Covers 164
communities
in eastern
Massachusetts
Transportation
Analysis
Zones (TAZs)
2727 TAZs in the
164 communities.
Basic unit of
analysis for inputs
into model.
Demand Side – Demographic and Land
Use Data by TAZ
1. Population
2. Household
3. Employment
TAZ
Boston Total
Boston Region
MPO
Population
2008
2035
609,000
727,700
Adopted Land Use Forecasts
Households
Delta
2008
2035
Delta
118,700 255,300
302,000
46,700
Employment
2008
2035
550,300
603,400
Delta
53,100
3,139,700 3,475,000 335,300 1,282,900 1,464,300 181,400 1,810,700 1,937,000 126,300
CTPS Model Area 4,421,100 4,943,600 522,500 1,771,300 2,013,500 242,200 2,324,500 2,528,200 203,700
Supply Side – Includes all of the major
transportation modes that exist today
Base Year 2010
1. Major roadways, arterials, collectors, some local roads
2. Transit system – bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, and
ferry service
3. Walkable and bikeable networks
Future Year 2035
1. Everything in the 2010 base year
2. 2035 Boston Region MPO transportation investments
Data Sets Used in the Model
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Land use forecasts
Census data
Household survey
On-board transit surveys
Traffic Counts
Inventories of parking usage and costs
MBTA fare and engineering data
MassDOT Highway engineering data
Transit counts
Pedestrian/bike counts
How an Analysis is Performed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Base Year Calibrated - 2010
Forecast Year No-build – 2035
Build alternatives developed - all inputs remain
constant but transportation system is changed.
• roadway connectivity
• lanes
• capacity
• speed based in signals
Feed regional traffic flow results to project team
Project team examines local traffic
Forest Hills Area – Potential Build Out
3521 Washington St
Residential: 280 dwelling units
(former Flanagan & Seaton)
Retail: 130,000 sq. ft.
Arborway Yards
Office: 335,000 sq. ft.
3615 Washington St
(former Hughes Oil)
LAZ Lot
MBTA Parking Lot
MBTA Parcel W
MBTA Parcel V
MBTA Parcel U
2035 No Build Growth Summary
Assuming NO change to local roadways, travel
patterns, etc……
Vehicular Volumes:
Casey Overpass (Regional):
+ 5%
Surface Roads (Regional & Local): + 12%
Non-Motorized (Peds & Bikes):
+ 13%
Transit Ridership:
+ 10%
2035 No Build AM Volumes
2035 Weekday No Build Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
PM
Existing Intersection Levels of Service (LOS)
AM
PM
Existing Queue Lengths
AM
PM
Pedestrian & Bicycle Operations
• Multimodal Evaluation framework – Shared street
right-of-way
• Identify pedestrian/bicycle space, travel speed, and
LOS in association with vehicle presence
Future Traffic Analysis
• 2035 No-Build Traffic Operations
• Conceptual Idea Screening
• Alternatives Analysis
• Regional Modeling (Diversions)
• Refined Local Analysis
Regional Travel Path Options
CASEY OVERPASS
Draft Local Travel Path Options
Outbound
Inbound
END
START
END
START
Inbound
Outbound
Path
Distance
North of Casey Overpass 2.3 - 3.2 miles
South of Casey Overpass 3.2 - 4.4 miles
Via Casey Overpass
2.4 miles
Path
Distance
North of Casey Overpass 2.2 - 2.8 miles
South of Casey Overpass 3.0 - 4.4 miles
Via Casey Overpass
2.4 miles
Revised Principles
Consolidated Goals & Objectives
Original Principles
• Address a structurally deficient bridge.
• Protect and respect the design for Arborway Yards.
• Improve safety for all users.
• Develop alternatives that meet ABP budget and
schedule.
Added Principles
• Adopt Principles of Universal Design
(accessible and barrier-free design).
• Strive to have an inclusive process for the sharing
of information.
• Improve quality of life for residents.
• Integrate artistic elements in designs.
Original Goals
Mobility
1. Improve roadway geometry to enhance circulation for all modes and
users
2. Strengthen local and regional corridor connections for all users (desire
lines, interest nodes, gateways, coordinate signals)
3. Improve access and intermodal connections to promote transportation
choices (modal transfers, options – park N ride, taxis, bike, pedestrian
etc.)
4. Integrate sustainability principles into design concepts (materials,
specs, maintenance, etc)
Livability
1. Remove Barriers for Neighborhood Connections and Circulation
2. Enhance the Human Connections and Create a Sense of
Community Place
3. Integrate Transit with Economic and Residential Areas
4. Celebrate the Area’s Architectural, Historic Transportation and
Landscape Features
5. Improve the Visibility, Connectivity and Access to Gateway Open
Spaces: Southwest Corridor, Franklin Park, Arnold Arboretum and
the Forest Hills Cemetery
6. Enhance the Quality of Life in Residential Areas (noise, air quality,
cut through traffic)
Consolidated Mobility and Livability Goals
• Improve roadway geometry to enhance circulation
for modes and users.
• Improve access, modal and intermodal local and
regional corridor connections to promote
transportation choices.
• Integrate sustainability into design concepts.
• Remove barriers for neighborhood connections and
integrate transit into economic centers and
residential areas.
• Create a destination and Sense of Place and
celebrate the area’s architectural, transportation and
open space history.
• Improve the visibility, connectivity and access to
gateway open spaces.
Sample Consolidated Objectives
• Improve roadway geometry to enhance circulation for modes and
users. – 21 objectives
• Improve access, modal and intermodal local and regional corridor
connections to promote transportation choices – 14 objectives
• Integrate sustainability into design concepts – 11 objectives
• Remove barriers for neighborhood connections and integrate transit
into economic centers and residential areas – 21 objectives
• Create a destination and Sense of Place and celebrate the area’s
architectural, transportation and open space history – 17 objectives
• Improve the visibility, connectivity and access to gateway open spaces
– 9 objectives
Improve access, modal and intermodal local and regional
corridor connections to promote transportation
choices – 14 Total Objectives
Examples:
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Seek ways to improve coordination of existing transit services where possible
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Explore the provision for expanded public transportation options in the study area
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Bus stops that don’t impede pedestrian flow
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Identify future transit demands and solutions to increase capacity
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Consider local streets as alternate east-west connections
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Better connections from Washington St to Hyde Park Ave through station
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Improve drop-off/pick-up at station/park & ride
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Improve usage of the "Pedal Park" facilities at Forest Hills T Station
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Identify solutions that include both short-term and long-term actions to improve traffic
flow and safety.
•
Seek ways to improve coordination of existing transit services where possible
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Explore opportunities for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
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Parking, Park 'n' Ride, Taxi locations and queuing
Integrate sustainability into design concepts –
11Total Objectives
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Increase tree canopy
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Reduce the amount of pavement and the resulting heat-island effect
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Manage storm water run-off to recharge the soil
•
Use native and low maintenance plants
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Reuse locally sourced low maintenance materials
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Utilize pervious pavements
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Reduce the amount of energy used/potentially generating power on-site
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Minimize future construction costs
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Develop designs to reduce the need for maintenance (low maintenance design)
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Minimize noise impacts on adjacent residences and other sensitive receptors
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Improve air quality
Create a destination and Sense of Place and celebrate the area’s
architectural, transportation and open space history
17 Total Objectives
Examples:
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Maximize potential reuse of land along the corridor
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Provide space for the 4th of July Celebration and other community gatherings.
•
Create areas for activities: under bridge(s) and along corridor
•
Make the space memorable and visible – Create Gateways
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Create areas for art
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Improve visual sightlines to area's architectural, open space/landscape and historic
features
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Design roadways, viaducts, sidewalks and landscaping to be compatible with existing
community context (green)
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Provide interpretive signage for destination and history
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Restore lost historic landscape elements
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Restore the significance of Parks on the National Register of Historic Places
Improve the visibility, connectivity and access to
gateway open spaces – 9 Total Objectives
Examples:
• Restore lost historic landscape elements
• Enhance the prominence of Parks on the National Register of Historic
Places
• Develop coordinated signage/identification (branding)
• Incorporate identity features into design at-grade or bridge
• Art - Celebrate Connections Greenway connections
• Connection from Hamsted Neighborhood to Arboretum for bike &
pedestrians
Break Out Sessions
Concerns and Opportunities
What are the top three transportation concerns facing
this area, locally and regionally?
What do you think will happen if the bridge goes away?
Break Out Sessions
Report Back
Public Meeting #2
May 18, 2011
Working Group Participation
•Part of the Presentation
•Assigned Speakers
•Agenda
Draft Agenda
1. Project Overview – Purpose and Goals
a. ABP program – budget and schedule
b. Planning & Concept Design Phase
2. Traffic Analysis: Local and Regional – 2010 to 2035
3. Framework for Design
a. Approach and Method
b. Presentation of 3 Frameworks
c. Selection Process
4. Design Principles, Goals and Objectives
a. Process and Purpose of Evaluation Criteria
b. Presentation of Principles
c. Presentation of Goals
5. Next Meeting Date
Planning Study Meeting Schedule
Meeting 1 Project Purpose, Goals and Existing
Conditions
Meeting 2 Issues & Opportunities, Evaluation
Criteria, 2035 Traffic Projections,
Framework for Design Alternatives
Meeting 3 Development of Alternatives, Refinement
of Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 4 Finalization of Alternatives, Apply
Evaluation Criteria
Meeting 5 Selection of Preferred Alternative
46
Assignment #2
Due TODAY
Reference Material
Boston Region MPO
• The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) is responsible for conducting the federally required
metropolitan transportation-planning process (often called
the 3C—continuing, cooperative, and comprehensive—
process) for the Boston metropolitan area.
• The MPO uses this process to develop a vision for the
region and then decides how to allocate federal and some
state transportation funds to programs and projects—
roadway, transit, bicycle, and pedestrian—that support
that vision.
• The work of the MPO is conducted by the Central
Transportation Planning Staff (CTPS) under the direction
of the Boston Region MPO.
Boston Region MPO
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Role of Boston MPO.
Develops regional vision.
The work of the MPO is performed by CTPS.
MPO uses and provides direction on assumptions
used in the regional model.
• Adopts MPO land use assumptions
• Identifies future transportation investments for the
area in a fiscally constrained Long Range
Transportation Plan
MPO Process
• Forum for regional transportation planning
• Reason for maintaining regional model – long
range transportation planning and its impact on
air quality, environmental justice, and finances.
• Adopts MPO land use assumptions
• Identifies future transportation investments for
the area in a fiscally constrained Long Range
Transportation Plan
Overview of Travel Demand Model
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Geography
Transportation Analysis Zones (TAZ)
Demand Side – land use (RPA)
Supply Side – transportation system
Data Sets Used in Model
Outputs from Model
Five Step Travel Demand Model
How an Analysis is Performed
Outputs from the Model
Highway
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Traffic volume by time period for links
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Congested speeds, VMT, and VHT
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Emissions from highway and transit
Transit
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Transit use by mode and time period
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Loads on the lines
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Transfer activity
Develop A Common Platform for
Mobility and Livability Goals:
MOBILITY: the ability to reach a destination and to use, choose and
transfer modes in a time and cost that are satisfactory. Mobility is
higher when average travel times, variations in travel times, and travel
costs are low. The provision of multi-modal opportunities is essential
for good mobility
LIVABILITY: the use of transportation investments to improve the
standard of living, the environment, and quality of life for all
communities. Livable communities are places where transportation,
housing and commercial development investments have been
coordinated so that people have access to adequate, affordable and
environmentally sustainable travel options.