Welcome

Welcome to the Crystal City Streetcar Environmental Assessment Community Forum

Tonights meeting focuses on: Future No Build & Build Conditions Streetcar alignment Preliminary results of the Environmental Assessment Crystal City Sector Plan Opportunities for public comment and questions Presentation will be given at 7:00 p.m.
Or, contact the study team at: info@crystalcitystreetcar.com Public Comment Message Line: 571-482-9734

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

www.crystalcitystreetcar.com

Crystal City Streetcar P.O. Box 18023 Washington, DC 20036

What is the Proposed Project?

What is the Crystal City Streetcar Project?

Modern fixed rail streetcar line Links Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Potomac Yard Connects to Columbia Pike Streetcar line Complements existing transit network

The Environmental Assessment (EA) will: Document the project elements Evaluate the potential environmental impacts Identify necessary mitigation strategies

Photo rendering of Crystal City Streetcar

Relationship to Other Local Transportation Projects

CCPY Transitway Exclusive transit lanes along portions of the Route 1 corridor in Arlington County and City of Alexandria Station stops for buses and future streetcars Columbia Pike Streetcar Streetcar line along Columbia Pike from Skyline to Pentagon City Connects to Crystal City Streetcar in Pentagon City

No Build Alternative
The No Build alternative is the existing transportation network (both roads and transit) along with improvements that are

planned for construction. Arlington

County is committed to a number of transportation improvements including: Improvements to the street network identified in the Crystal City Sector Plan Construction of the Crystal City Potomac Yard Transitway Construction of the Columbia Pike Streetcar These improvements are considered part of the Future No Build condition.

Build Alternative
Power Substations Approx. 5 substations Stops 6 northbound and 6 southbound stops 8 stops will be built as part of the CCPY Transitway project Each stop will have: Storage and Maintenance Vehicle storage facility Hold up to 8 streetcars Could be incorporated into a building Maintenance facility built with Columbia Pike Streetcar Project Tracks Standard railroad gauge Embedded into the pavement In existing rights-of-way Overhead wires Vehicles Modern Electric-powered Low floor vehicles Carry up to 115 passengers Raised Platform for easy, level boarding Open Shelter Ticket Vending Machines Benches and trash cans

About 20'x30 of space

Substation With Architectural Treatment (Norfolk, Virginia)

Locations will be determined in design phase

Tacoma, WA

Portland, OR

Dublin, Ireland

Seattle, WA

Alignment Development
Sector Plan Alignment
SB alignment between 12th St. & 18th St. follows Clark-Bell St.

Alignment Development
Sector Plan Alignment
SB alignment between 12th St. & 18th St. follows Clark-Bell St.

Alignment Development
Sector Plan Streetcar Alignment
Southbound streetcar tracks along the west side of Clark / Bell Street between 12th and 18th Streets
New development parcels between Clark / Bell Street and Jefferson Davis Highway north of 18th Street

Refined Streetcar Alignment

Southbound streetcar tracks along east side of Jefferson Davis Highway between 12th and 18th Streets, at grade with Clark / Bell Street Maintains feasible new development parcels Direct access to the Crystal City Metro station Avoids potential conflicts with
o o o

Underground retail shops and corridors Low clearance over Bell Street Bus operations on Bell Street

Consistent with the Sector Plan vision

What are the potential impacts?

Natural Environment
Project is located in an Urbanized Environment with few natural features. Coordinated with VA Department of Environmental Quality, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Conservation and Recreation-Natural Heritage Program, and the U.S. Fish and
Typical environments to be impacted by the proposed streetcar

Wildlife Service.

Natural Resource
Rare / Threatened / Endangered Species Wetlands Waterways Wildlife Habitats Ecologically Sensitive Areas Water Quality Floodplains

Nature of Effect
No Resources Present No Resources Present No Resources Present No Resources Present No Effects on Resource No Effects on Resource No Effects on Resource

Cultural Resources
Cultural resources include: National Register of Historic Places Listed Historic Districts, Buildings, and Structures Area of Potential Effect - Archaeological Sites Possible effects could include: Changes to exterior appearance Affecting the view of or from resource Disturbing or destroying the resource National Register-listed properties: George Washington Memorial Parkway Aurora Highlands Historic District Well outside area in which effects on historic properties would occur Analysis results: Crystal City Streetcar project will have no effect on historic properties or archaeological sites

Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898 Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority and Low-Income Populations Environmental Justice evaluates potential impacts to minority and low income populations Conclusion: Minority and low-income populations are not disproportionately affected by project
Potential Minority Populations Potential Low Income Populations

Minority and Low-Income Populations in Study Corridor

Population Type Study Corridor Arlington County

Total Population in 2010

11,701

207,627

Minority Population in 2010 (% of Total Population) Population for whom low-income is determined in 2010 Low-Income Population in 2000 (% of Population for whom low-income is determined)
Source: 2010 U.S. Census Source: 2010 American Community Survey

3,137 (27%)

76,766 (36%)

9,128

194,187

646 (7%)

13,556 (7%)

Noise & Vibration

Noise and vibration levels were monitored at locations representative of typical background levels and at all noise-and vibration-sensitive locations. All residences & sensitive locations are considered in the analyses. Long term monitoring sites provide information on how noise levels vary during the day and night Short term monitoring sites provide information about the geographic changes in noise levels Vibration sites characterize vibration levels in the corridor

Noise & Vibration

Noise and vibration from streetcar operations generally compatible with an urban environment Mitigation may be needed for particularly sensitive locations or near sharp curves in the track Bells and horns on streetcars generally used only for emergency situations Detailed noise and vibration analysis included in EA document.
Sound Pressure Levels (in dBA) of Typical Noise Sources and Environments
Example Noise Source (at a Given Distance) Commercial Jet Takeoff (200 ft) Pile Driver (50 ft) Ambulance Siren (100 ft) Motorcycle (25 ft) Sound Pressure Level in dBA 120 110 100 90 Boiler Room Rock Music Concert Example Noise Environment Human Judgment of Noise Loudness Threshold of pain * 16 times louder than the sound of passing cars Very loud * 4 times louder than the sound of passing cars * Twice as loud as the sound of passing cars Urban Daytime Busy Office * Reference Loudness * Half as loud as the sound of passing cars * as loud as the sound of passing cars Quiet Very Quiet Just Audible Threshold of hearing

The only detectable vibration levels recorded were associated with passing freight trains. Freight trains generate significantly higher vibration levels than the proposed streetcars would generate due to the weight of the vehicle and the condition of the tracks.

Highway Vehicles (50 ft) Passing Cars (25 ft) Normal Conversation (5 ft)

80 70 60

Light Traffic (100 ft) Bird Calls (distant) Soft Whisper (5 ft) __ __

50 40 30 20 0

Suburban Daytime Rural Daytime Quiet Bedroom Recording Studio

Existing background noise levels in the study area were measured and ranged from 50-70 dBA. The sound of a running streetcar is typically in the range of 40-60 dBA at 50 feet.

Streetcar Operations / Safety

Safe streetcar operations are paramount in the design process. The streetcar design will provide for safe interactions with vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles. The Crystal City Sector Plan provides a plan for continuous sidewalks and bike routes, which will be maintained through the streetcar design. All streetcar facilities will be designed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
How will the streetcar function within traffic? Streetcars operate like other vehicles Controlled by same traffic signals Streetcars will mostly travel in their own travel lane In some areas, will travel in mixed-use lanes Detailed operational plan to be developed during design phase Areas needing special traffic control to be incorporated into design Detailed traffic simulation included in the EA How will passengers board the streetcar, particularly on Crystal Drive? Most boarding will take place curbside no need to cross travel lanes Center platforms will be accessed by signalized crosswalks How will cyclists be affected? Safe bicycle travel will be considered in the design phase Bike lanes are being added or modified as part of the No Build Alternative to assure safety for bicyclists

Proposed cycle track adjacent to Seattle streetcar (Source: Alta)

Bike lane adjacent to Portland streetcar track

What are the next steps?

Environmental Assessment and Project Milestones

Current Study Project Schedule
2013
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

2014
Apr May Jun

Baseline Conditions

Assess Environmental Effects

Prepare Draft EA Notice of Availability Public Comment Period Public Meeting Prepare Final EA

Current Project Timeline

We Encourage 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 By mail: Crystal City Streetcar P.O. Box 18023 Washington, DC 20036