Welcome

Welcome to the Crystal City Streetcar Environmental Assessment Community Forum

Tonights meeting focuses on: The purpose of the study The Crystal City Streetcar and its relationship to other area transportation modes and improvement projects Issues that will be studied as part of the project Environmental Assessment Opportunities for public input Presentations will be given at 5:30 and 7:00 pm

To learn more about the study or to submit your questions or comments, visit our website:

Or, contact the study team at: Email: info@crystalcitystreetcar.com Public Comment Message Line: 571-482-9734 Crystal City Streetcar P.O. Box 18023 Washington, DC 20036

www.crystalcitystreetcar.com

What is the Crystal City Streetcar Project Environmental Assessment?

Arlington County, in cooperation with the Federal Transit Administration, has initiated an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Crystal City Streetcar Project. The streetcar was identified in plans and policies as a key component of the transportation system to serve Pentagon City, Crystal City and Potomac Yard. The EA will evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the streetcar project and identify mitigation strategies, as necessary.

What is the Crystal City Streetcar Project?

The Crystal City Streetcar Project would establish a fixed rail streetcar line from the vicinity of Potomac Avenue and South Glebe Road to the Pentagon City Metrorail Station in Arlington County, VA. Streetcars would be introduced into the Route 1 corridor within Arlington County as a complement to and extension of the existing transit network, which includes Metrorail, Metrobus, OmniRide, and Virginia Railway Express (VRE).

Purpose and Need

The purpose of the Crystal City Streetcar Project is to: Serve planned development Complement existing transit service Link Arlington County activity centers Improve mobility for the transit-dependent population Increase transit mode share Support environmental sustainability Contribute to community identity Accommodate future travel demand

Purpose and Need: Arlington County is Growing!

The Crystal City Streetcar Project will link the residential and commercial uses in Pentagon City, Crystal City and Potomac Yard to the Metro and VRE stations, improving regional access by extending the service area of these stations. It will provide connections to jobs and services within the study area to enhance mobility for area residents by: Distributing trips to and from Metrorail and VRE Distributing trips within the study area Connecting to the Columbia Pike corridor New commercial and residential buildings are going up in Crystal City and Pentagon City with further growth planned for the immediate and long-term future. Transit improvements are being phased in to accommodate new development being planned in the area. Master and small area plans have been completed by Arlington County to guide dense, mixed-use, market-driven redevelopment activity, including: Master Transportation Plan (2005, with appendices completed 2007-2011) Crystal City Sector Plan (2010) Crystal City Multimodal Transportation Study (2010). Investment in a high-capacity transit mode like streetcar is necessary to meet the transportation needs of the study area: Route 1 corridor travel markets will change as a result of planned development The existing transportation network will be unable to meet increased demand
Conceptual rendering of anticipated redevelopment in Crystal City. Buildings shaded in blue represent potential redevelopment locations.

Streetcar investment will support the local vision for growth

Purpose and Need: Increases in Population and Employment

High-capacity transit investment within the corridor will be necessary to meet the increased travel demand that will be generated by increases in both population and employment densities by 2035.
Expected Increases in Population 2010-2035 Expected Increases in Employment Density 2010-2035

NoNo-Build Alternative
The Crystal City streetcar project is one component of the multi-modal transportation system planned to serve the increasing travel demand in the Pentagon City, Crystal City, Potomac Yard area. The Environmental Assessment will evaluate the potential impacts of the streetcar project relative to a No-Build alternative which includes the following planned and programmed transportation system improvements: Metrorail - The study area is served by the Metro Blue and Yellow lines. Access improvements are planned at both the Pentagon City and Crystal City Metrorail stations. A new Potomac Yard Metrorail station is planned for Alexandria. Bus the Crystal City Potomac Yard (CCPY) Transitway is currently being designed and constructed in Arlington and Alexandria. Streetcar The Columbia Pike Streetcar Project will connect Pentagon City to the Columbia Pike corridor to the west. Roadway Improvements including: Two-way conversion of 12th Street, Crystal Drive, S Clark Street, and S Bell Street Completion of 12th Street between S Eads Street and S Fern Street Reconstruction of 15th Street, 18th Street, and 23rd Street in Crystal City Demolition of elevated S Clark Street Reconstruction of Long Bridge Drive Reconstruction of S Hayes Street in Pentagon City Boundary Channel Drive improvements Bicycle and pedestrian improvements on S Joyce Street and Army-Navy Drive
Metrorail

Bus

Streetcar

What is a Streetcar?
Streetcars generally operate as a single car on city streets with power provided by overhead wires. They can provide a high level of passenger capacity with frequent service, and are appropriate for an urban environment with frequent stops.

Tacoma, WA

Tacoma, WA

Portland, OR

Dublin, Ireland

Seattle, WA

Substation With Architectural Treatment (Norfolk, Virginia)

Power substations require a space of approximately 20 ft. x 30 ft. The Crystal City Streetcar will require approximately 5 power substations. The design team will make every effort to place them within existing public right-of-way, but property acquisition may be required in some cases.

Tracks will be standard railroad gauge embedded into the pavement, within existing street rights-of-way. Overhead wires suspended over each track will provide power to the streetcars, and will introduce a new visual element into the streetscape.

The Crystal City Streetcar will have approximately 9 stops along the route, each consisting of a raised boarding platform, an open shelter, and supporting elements such as benches, trash cans and ticket vending machines. Many of the stops will be constructed as part of the CCPY Transitway project and be re-used by the streetcar.

The Crystal City Streetcar Project is also likely to include a vehicle storage and light maintenance facility for up to 8 vehicles, which could be incorporated into another building.

Proposed Alignment
The Crystal City Streetcar Project At A Glance: 2.5 miles from Pentagon City to South Glebe Road @ Potomac Avenue Connection to the Columbia Pike Streetcar line at Pentagon City Both streetcars and buses to operate in the CCPY Transitway alignment

Relationship to Other Local Transportation Projects

CCPY Transitway The Crystal City Streetcar is being planned in coordination with the Crystal City / Potomac Yard (CCPY) Corridor Transit Improvement Project, which will: provide an exclusive transit lane (or Transitway) for buses throughout portions of the Route 1 corridor in Arlington County and City of Alexandria develop station stops that will eventually be used for both buses and streetcars Columbia Pike Streetcar The Crystal City Streetcar is being designed to tied in at its northwest end with the eastern point of the proposed Columbia Pike Streetcar Project, allowing extended transit access to points west in Arlington County along Columbia Pike.

How Will Arlington County Pay for its Streetcar System?

Arlington County is making a strategic investment in streetcars, just as it did a half-century ago in Metrorail. By investing in this crucial infrastructure now, the County is ensuring that the heavily traveled Route 1 corridor, an area that is growing rapidly, will attract high-quality development and become more transit oriented and pedestrian friendly. The funding plan for the implementation of the Crystal City Streetcar consists of previously approved local funds and state capital grants plus future local funds and anticipated state capital grants. The local funds come from five sources identified in Arlington's FY 2013-2022 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP): 1) Arlington's countywide commercial and industrial real estate tax revenue dedicated to transportation capital projects and called the Transportation Capital Fund (TCF) 2) the Crystal City, Potomac Yard, Pentagon City Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Fund district 3) Local revenue bonds supported by the TCF 4) Local revenue bonds supported by the TIF 5) General Obligation (GO) bonds (which would require passage of a local referendum)

Environmental Considerations
Natural & Human Environment
Transportation Resources Air Quality Economic Development Land Use & Zoning Communities / Neighborhoods Environmental Justice Communities Property Acquisition & Displacements Visual & Aesthetic Character Cultural Resources Public Parks & Recreation Lands Section 4(f)/6(f) Properties Noise & Vibration Hazardous Materials Ecologically Sensitive Areas & Endangered Species Water Resources Wetlands Floodplains Indirect & Cumulative Effects Construction Impacts -------

Potential for Project Effect

Nature of Effect
Enhanced Options To Be Assessed in EA Consistent with Plans Consistent with Plans / Transit Oriented Development Enhanced Access / Connectivity To Be Assessed in EA Fee Simple & Easements / No Displacements Anticipated Vehicles / Infrastructure To Be Assessed in EA No Effects No Effects To Be Assessed in EA To Be Assessed in EA No Effects No Effects No Effects No Effects To Be Assessed in EA To Be Assessed in EA
-Resource to be evaluated in Environmental Assessment (EA) Resource not present / evaluated

Environmental Assessment And Project Milestones

Project Schedule
2012 Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 2013 May June July Aug

Purpose and Need Baseline Conditions NEPA Alternatives Concept Design Assess Environmental Effects Prepare Draft EA FTA Review and Comment Prepare Final EA Notice of Availability Public Comment Period Public Meeting Response to Comments Draft FONSI FTA Review and Comment Notice of Availability

Project Timeline

We Welcome Your Feedback!

Please take a few moments to share your views with the study team to help us better meet the needs of the community. Be sure to include your contact information if youd like to receive future updates as the project progresses. To learn more about the study or to submit your questions or comments at a later time, visit our website: www.CrystalCityStreetcar.com

Or, contact the study team at: Email: info@crystalcitystreetcar.com Public Comment Message Line: 571-482-9734 Crystal City Streetcar P.O. Box 18023 Washington, DC 20036