Tysons Metrorail Station Access Management Study

October 4th 2011

Background and Goals• Board of Supervisors approved funding for TMSAMS in summer of 2009

1. Educate the public on alternative mode transportation improvement recommendations that have been made to improve access to the four Metrorail Stations in Tysons.

2. Identify how the public would like these improvement recommendations to be prioritized.

3. Identify areas or topics, pertaining to improving bus, bicycle and pedestrian access to the rail stations in Tysons, that need additional analysis or study.

Background and Goals

Ultimately

TMSAMS will be used as a tool for the Board to make funding decisions on multi-modal transportation improvement projects, to access the Metrorail stations in Tysons Corner, as funding becomes available.

Advisory Group

• Micah Himmel: Providence District Supervisor Staff• Sally Liff: Providence District Resident• Hillary Zahm: Tysons Corner Center/Macerich• Merrily Pierce: Hunter Mill District Supervisor Staff• Paul Davis: Hunter Mill District Supervisor Staff• Diane O’Grady: Hunter Mill District Supervisor Staff• Jenifer Joy Madden: Hunter Mill District Resident• Scott Konnath: Hunter Mill District Resident/Bicycle Advocate• Julie Ide: Dranesville District Supervisor Staff• Carol A. Martz: Dranesville District Resident• Dorothy McAuliffe: Dranesville District Resident• Sandy Stallman: FFC Parks Authority Staff• Kris Morley-Nikfar: FFC DOT Staff• Jason Tipton: Chairman Bulova’s Office Staff• Brian Worthy: FFC Office of Public Affairs Staff• Keith Turner: Business Community Rep• Aaron Georgelas: Business Community Rep• Mayor Jane Seeman: Mayor,Town of Vienna• Barry Biggar: Visit Fairfax Staff

19 Members Formed March 2010

Focused On

• Bus Service Improvements

• Pedestrian Improvements

• Bicycle Facility Improvements

No Permanent Daily or Long Term Parking at Tysons Metrorail Stations

Vibrant, Mixed-use Urban Center Single Purpose Rail StationsThe Goal Not The Goal

Tysons Corner Interim Parking Study ongoing to address short-term parking needs

Studies/Plans Included in

• Fairfax County Transit Development Plan (TDP)

• Tysons Corner Sidewalk Analysis

• Comprehensive Plan for Tysons Corner Urban Center (planned trail facilities)

• Tysons Bicycle Master Plan

Study Areas

Public Outreach with The Perspectives Group

• Created a thoroughly informative TMSAMS website including a web-based survey www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tmsams/

• Conducted 1 evening public meeting in each of the following three Fairfax County Supervisor Districts: Dranesville, Hunter Mill, and Providence, plus 1 daytime meeting in Central Tysons in March of 2011

• Held approximately 20 stakeholder meetings throughout Spring of 2011

Public Outreach with The Perspectives Group

• Booze Allen Hamilton• Capital One• Citizens for Traffic Calming on Old

Courthouse Road (CTCOCR)• Coalition for Smarter Growth• Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project• Dulles Corridor Rail Association• Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling

(FABB)• Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce• Fairfax County Economic Development

Authority (FCEDA)• Gannet• Great Falls Civic Association

• Lerner Enterprises• Lewinsville Coalition• Macerich• McLean Citizens Association• Northeast Vienna Citizens Association• Pimmit Hills Citizens Association• Rotary Club of Tysons Corner• VA Mega Projects• Vienna Tysons Regional Chamber of

Commerce• Wolf Trap Park for the Performing Arts• Fairfax Disability Board

Key Stakeholder Meetings With:

Highly Successful Public Outreach ProcessLocations of TMSAMS Online Survey Participants

• Over 250 people attended one of the TMSAMS public meetings.

• Over 1,800 people participated in the online survey

Highly Successful Public Outreach ProcessLocations of TMSAMS Online Survey Participants

Sidewalk Analysis (Study Area-Tysons Urban Boundary)

The following top five sidewalk priorities were identified based on responses received from the 806 people who answered the sidewalk question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• Segment 3 – 35.9%(Virginia Dominion Power Easement, between Higdon Dr and Leesburg Pike (Rt.7))

• Segment 18 – 31.9%(International Dr, East side, between Fletcher St and Ring Rd)

• Segments 2 & 1 – 30.6%(Westwood Center Dr, North and South sides, between Cul-de-sac and Sheraton Tysons Dr and Leesburg Pike (Rt.7))

• Segment 12 – 27.2%(Scotts Run Community Park Trail, between Colshire Meadow Dr and Magarity Rd)

• Segment 4 – 21.5%(Tyco Rd, from VA Dominion Power Easement and Spring Hill Rd)

Sidewalk Analysis (Study Area-Tysons Urban Boundary)

The following top five crosswalk priorities were identified based on responses received from the 962people who answered the crosswalk question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• Segments 24 & 25 – 20.1%(Chain Bridge Rd (Rt.123) and International D, East and North Side)

• Segment 36 – 18.6%(Chain Bridge Rd (Rt.123)/Old Meadow Rd/Capital One Dr, West Side)

• Segments 5, 6, 7, & 8 – 15.4%(Leesburg Pike (Rt.7)/Spring Hill Rd, North, West, East, and South sides)

• Segment 9 – 14.9%(Leesburg Pike (Rt.7)/Gosnell Rd/Westpark Dr, North Side)

• Segments 1, 2, 3, & 4 – 14.7%(Leesburg Pike (Rt.7)/Tyco Rd/Westwood Center Dr, North, South, East and West sides)

Planned Trails (Study Area-Tysons Urban Boundary)

The following top five trail priorities were identified based on responses received from the 856people who answered the trail question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• Segment D – 37.9%(Virginia Dominion Power Easement, between Higdon Dr and Leesburg Pike (Rt.7))

• Segment J – 36.7%(Tysons Central 123 Metrorail Station to International Dr, parallel and between Tysons Blvd and Westpark Dr)

• Segment K – 34.6%(Tysons East Metrorail Station to existing Scotts Run Community Park Trail)

• Segment L – 33.6%(Old Meadow Rd to existing Scotts Run Community Park Trail)

• Segment M – 31.0%(Magarity Rd to existing Scotts Run Community Park Trail)

Bicycle Master Plan (Study Area-3 Mile Radius of Tysons)

When asked if a planned bicycle facility will provide better access to the Tysons Corner Metrorail Stations, the following answers were provided.

• 56.8% Yes

• 43.2% No

The top locations where survey takers would like bicycle facilities are along:

• Rt.7

• Rt.123

• Old Courthouse Rd to Beulah Rd

• Magarity Road

• Old Dominion Drive

• Chain Bridge Road

• Lewinsville Road

• Towlston Road

Fairfax County Transit Development Plan(Study Area-Entire County for Regional Bus Service)

The following top five regional bus route priorities were identified based on responses received from the 509people who answered the regional bus route question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• Leesburg Pike Shuttle 2 (Rt.7) – 19.6%(From Colvin Run Rd to Loundoun County Line)

• Leesburg Pike Shuttle 1 (Rt.7) – 15.5%(From Colvin Run Rd to Tysons West Metrorail station)

• Metrobus 23A – 13%(Along Old Dominion Dr from Arlington)

• FC 574 – 10%(From Reston Parkway Metrorail station, along Baron Cameron Ave and Leesburg Pike, to Tysons West Metrorail station)

• FC 401 – 7.5%(From Springfield Metrorail Station, along Backlick Rd, Lee Hwy and Gallows Rd, to Vienna Metrorail station and Tysons Central 123 Metrorail station)

Fairfax County Transit Development Plan (Study Area-3 Mile Radius of Tysons)

The following top five neighborhood bus route priorities were identified based on responses received from the 966 people who answered the neighborhood bus route question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• FC 732 (Wolf Trap Park and Ride

Shuttle – 20.3%

• Metrobus 2T – 17.6%

• McLean Connector – 14.9%

• Metrobus 3T – 14.1%

• FC 463 – 8.8%

Fairfax County Transit Development Plan (Study Area-Tysons Urban Boundary)

The following top five link bus route priorities were identified based on responses received from the 594 people who answered the link bus route question in the TMSAMS online survey.

• Central Link via Westpark – 27.9%

• West Link – 25.4%

• Beltway Link – 23.7%

• Greensboro Link – 13.3%

• East Link via Jones Branch – 9.6%

Advisory Group Recommendations

• To address the 3rd goal of the study which is to “identify areas or topics, pertaining to improving bus, bicycle and

pedestrian access to the rail stations in Tysons, that need additional analysis or study”.

• A total of 33 Recommendations Included.

• Intended to provide guidance to FCDOT Staff.

• Input collected throughout the TMSAMS public outreach process was used.

• Advisory Group recommendations are in addition to the pedestrian, bicycle and bus service improvements that were

presented to the public for prioritization through the TMSAMS public outreach process and are not intended to conflict

with those projects in terms of prioritization.

Advisory Group Recommendations Highlights

• FCDOT should work with VDOT to evaluate the use of median running, pedestrian/bicycle parks to

provide safe pedestrian and bicycle access into Tysons Corner, specifically along Rt. 7 and Rt.123

where they cross I-495 and/or the Dulles Toll Road.

• The Tysons Corner Sidewalk Analysis was incorporated into the TMSAMS effort to identify and

prioritize necessary sidewalk and crosswalk improvements within the Tysons Corner Urban

Boundary. FCDOT Staff should conduct a more extensive study to identify necessary sidewalk and

crosswalk improvements for the area within a 3-mile radius of Tysons Corner.

• In coordination with the Fairfax Connector, WMATA and the Fairfax County Supervisor District

Offices that encompass Tysons Corner, FCDOT should revise planned bus routes shown in the

Transit Development Plan to reflect input obtained through the TMSAMS effort.

Advisory Group Recommendations Highlights

• FCDOT should prioritize and “fast track” roadway projects, located within a 3-mile radius of Tysons

Corner, which enhance multi-modal travel and adhere to the complete streets policy.

• The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires the bare minimum in terms of facilities required

to accommodate people with disabilities. FCDOT should work with VDOT to ensure all transportation

projects within Fairfax County include standards endorsed by the U.S. Access Board.

• FCDOT should protect property owners in neighborhoods surrounding Tysons Corner from

commuters parking on residential streets to access nearby Metrorail Stations.

• FCDOT should continue its work on the Tysons Interim Parking Study to identify locations to provide

interim commuter parking facilities at the Metrorail Stations in Tysons Corner.

Advisory Group Recommendations Highlights

• FCDOT should take the following steps to ensure timely implementation of the multi-modal priorities

identified in the TMSAMS effort:

– Calculate preliminary engineering and total project costs for each project.

– Label TMSAMS priorities as such in the 2011 Annual Report for the Board’s Four-Year

Transportation Program, the subsequent Board’s Four-Year Program Quarterly

Reports, the Transportation Design Division Monthly Projects Status Report, and

VDOT’s Six-Year Plan.

– Request that VDOT re-evaluate Six-Year Plan Projects to advance allocations to

Tysons Corner priorities for timely implementation before the stations open.

– Include and account for study priorities in the annual report on the County’s Tysons

Corner Area Transportation to the Board, TYTRAN and the Tysons Partnership.

Next Steps

• TMSAMS Final report will be complete and posted on the TMSAMS website by mid-October.

• The TMSAMS Final Report will be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and, with a recommendation that it be, referred back to FCDOT staff to be used as a tool to develop a FCDOT Staff Recommended List of multi-modal transportation improvement priorities designed to access the Metrorail stations in Tysons Corner.

• TMSAMS will ultimately be used as a tool for the Board of Supervisors to make funding decisions on multi-modal transportation improvement projects, specifically designed to access the Metrorail Stations in Tysons Corner, as funding becomes available.

Questions?

Kris Morley-NikfarTransportation Planner II

Fairfax County Department of Transportation4050 Legato Road, Suite 400Fairfax, Virginia 22033-2895

(703) 877-5672Kris.morley-nikfar@fairfaxcounty.gov

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/tmsams/