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D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017) |
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Title 10. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT |
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SubTilte 10-A. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN |
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Chapter 10-A4. TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT |
Section 10-A407. T-2.1 TRANSIT ACCESSIBILITY
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407.1The District and its region are served by the second largest rail transit system and the fifth largest bus network in the United States. The bus and rail systems are operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which provides service throughout the Washington region. 407.1
407.2WMATA was created in 1967 by an Interstate Compact to plan, develop, build, finance and operate a balanced regional transportation system in the National Capital area. Construction of the planned 103-mile Metrorail system began in 1969 and was largely funded by the federal government. The first phase of Metrorail began operation in 1976 and was completed in early 2001. In 2004, three new stations opened-two extended the Blue Line east of the Beltway and the first infill station (New York Avenue) opened on the Red Line. The system now totals 106 miles, 38.3 miles of which are located within the District itself. Close to half of the stations on the system-40 of 86-are located in the District. The Metrorail system is shown in Map 4.1. While much of the city is within ½ mile of a station, some areas such as Georgetown, the New York Avenue corridor, and Bolling Air Force Base, are not. 407.2
407.3As the core of the region and the hub of the Metrorail system, much of WMATA’s transit usage centers on the District. In May 2005, the total average weekday boardings at all Metrorail stations was 687,000. Nearly 60 percent of these boardings occurred at District stations. 407.3
407.4Metrorail trains often fill to capacity in the suburbs in peak periods, leaving little space for District residents by the time trains arrive in the city. Downtown station platforms are congested. The District and WMATA are studying the feasibility of underground pedestrian connections between Gallery Place/Metro Center and Farragut North/Farragut West to relieve overcrowding. 407.4
407.5The WMATA Core Capacity Study investigated options to increase capacity of the system, but there are several obstacles to making long-term, large scale improvements. For instance, the Orange and Blue Lines share a track through downtown Washington, greatly limiting the capacity of both lines. Likewise, the interlinking of the Green and Yellow Lines between L’Enfant Plaza and the Convention Center discourages capacity increases on either of those lines. Adding tracks in these areas would require extraordinary costs and service disruption. 407.5
407.6Because of the very high cost of building entirely new Metrorail subway lines within the District, the city is instead proposing better connections to and among the various spokes of the Metrorail system with investments in surface transit. These improvements include bus rapid transit, streetcar, and improvements to local bus service through the use of new technologies. In addition the city is working with WMATA to make more efficient use of existing infrastructure through measures such as increasing train lengths from six cars to eight cars. The increased train length would add about one-third more capacity to each train, greatly helping to alleviate short term congestion problems in the system. This technique would not require any changes to railroad or station infrastructure, although power delivery infrastructure would need to be upgraded and new rail cars would need to be acquired. 407.6
407.7Map 4.1: Metrorail System
407.8WMATA also operates the Metrobus regional bus service. The buses run approximately 163,500 miles on an average weekday carrying about 431,000 trips. Approximately 55 percent of these trips are within the District. Metrobus operates 157 major routes on 1,442 miles of roadway throughout the metropolitan area. Within the District, Metrobus operates 58 major bus lines on 298 miles of roadway or 27 percent of the roadway system. Average weekday ridership on these lines ranges from about 200 persons to over 22,000 persons. Some of the high volume bus routes include Pennsylvania Avenue (routes 30, 32, 34, 36), 14th Street NW (routes 52, 53, 54), and Georgia Avenue-7th Street (routes 70, 71). 407.8
The Metrobus buses travel about 163,500 miles on an average weekday carrying about 431,000 trips. Approximately 55 percent of these trips are within the District.
407.9WMATA faces complex and unique funding and budgetary challenges to maintain and operate the transit system. Research shows that over half of the total capital spending for other transit systems in other cities comes from dedicated sources of one kind or another. However, WMATA receives no funding from such sources. For operations spending, other transit systems obtain about one-third of their total funding from dedicated sources. For WMATA, it is less than two percent. Most of WMATA’s operating budget comes from direct subsidy payments from cities and counties in the region, including the District. The amounts vary from year to year. 407.9
407.10WMATA needs a stable, reliable, and dedicated revenue source to take the pressure off passenger fares and the local governments’ annual subsidy. The District will continue to actively collaborate with jurisdictions throughout the region and with the federal government to pursue a dedicated and more stable revenue stream, such as a sales tax. 407.10
407.11The District is served by a number of regional bus carriers in addition to Metrobus. In Maryland, these include MTA Commuter Bus, Dillon, Eyre, and Keller Transportation. In Virginia, these include Lee Coaches, National Coach, Quick’s, Loudoun County Commuter Bus, and PRTC OmniRide. A number of private bus services also provide circulation within the District for schools, hospitals, universities, and other areas or attractions. The District is also served by regional commuter rail (discussed in the next section). 407.11
407.12In addition to the regional WMATA bus service, the District began the DC Circulator service in July 2005 with 29 new buses on two routes linking Union Station with the Washington Convention Center and Georgetown via K Street, as well as connecting the Convention Center to the Southwest Waterfront through Downtown and the National Mall. A third route was added in March 2006 to expand circulator service around the National Mall. 407.12
407.13Ongoing and Planned Transit Improvements
The District is working to increase transit options for intra-District trips. These options will include a variety of transit technologies including neighborhood circulators, streetcars, bus rapid transit, and rapid bus. The intra-District system will be designed to be cohesive, supplement and complement existing Metro services, and support District land use objectives. 407.13
407.14Map 4.2 illustrates the corridors recommended in the 2005 District of Columbia Alternatives Analysis (DCAA). The DCAA examined the major travel corridors in the District and provided analysis of their propensity to support premium transit service. Recommended transit technologies were also provided. As the DCAA is refined, a system plan will be developed that reflects a timeline for its implementation. 407.14
407.15Some aspects of the DCAA are already being implemented. Planning for “Phase 1 DC Streetcar” has begun and service is expected to begin in Summer 2007. Plans for integrating the rail construction with the streetscape project on H Street NE are also underway. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is currently being planned for the K Street corridor and rapid bus service is scheduled to be implemented on Georgia and Pennsylvania Avenues in 2007. 407.15
407.16Other ongoing transit improvement initiatives include:
a.K Street Busway: The busway would provide two travel lanes for exclusive use by buses between Washington Circle and Mount Vernon Square, with further extensions to Georgetown in the west and Union Station in the east. The busway is scheduled to open in 2008.
b.Circulator: There are two to three additional planned Circulator routes. One route would likely provide service to major points of interest along the western portion of the National Mall, such as the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and Jefferson Memorial. A second, larger loop route would likely connect Union Station with the US Capitol Building, the White House, Metro Center, and Foggy Bottom.
c.Water Taxis: Water taxis are proposed to extend from the mouth of Rock Creek on the Potomac River to Children’s Island on the Anacostia River, and to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Privately owned and operated, water taxis would load and unload passengers at docks built with public-private funding. 407.16
407.17Policy T-2.1.1: Transit Accessibility
Work with transit providers to develop transit service that is fast, frequent, and reliable and that is accessible to the city’s residences and businesses. Pursue strategies that make transit safe, secure, comfortable, and affordable. 407.17
407.18 Policy T-2.1.2: Bus Transit Improvements
Enhance bus transit service by implementing Information Technology Systems (ITS) to improve scheduling and reliability, providing timed transfers, reducing travel time, providing relief for overcrowding, increasing frequency and service hours, and improving both local access and cross-town connections.
407.19Policy T-2.1.3: WMATA Funding
Support the creation of dedicated, reliable funding sources for Metro, generated through the equitable participation of all jurisdictions in the region that benefit from the system. 407.19
407.20Policy T-2.1.4: Maintenance of Transit Facilities
Work with the WMATA Board to ensure that necessary investments to the transit system are made to keep it operating safely and to maximize its useful life. 407.20
407.21Map 4.2: Proposed BRT/LRT Corridors
407.22Figure 4.3: Mass Transit Under Consideration
407.22a Policy T-2.1.5: District Streetcar System
Expand transit options for District residents by developing a citywide streetcar system. Create a streetcar network that will connect neighborhoods and key destinations, and create walkable, amenity-rich, and diverse communities along streetcar routes. Explore various value-capture strategies to obtain private and other financial support for the construction and ongoing operation of streetcars.
407.23Action T-2.1-A: New Streetcar or Bus Rapid Transit Lines
Develop transportation and land use plans to construct a network of new premium transit infrastructure, including bus rapid transit (BRT) and streetcar lines to provide travel options, better connect the city, improve surface-level public transportation, and stimulate economic development. As needed, replace existing travel and parking lanes along selected major corridors with new transit services, such as the streetcar, BRT, and DC Circulator, to improve mobility within the city.
407.24Action T-2.1.B: Eight-Car Trains
Increase Metrorail train lengths from six cars to eight cars for rush hour commuting and other peak periods. 407.24
407.25Action T-2.1.C: Circulator Buses
In addition to the circulator bus routes planned for Downtown, consider implementing circulator routes in other areas of the city to connect residents and visitors to commercial centers and tourist attractions and to augment existing transit routes. 407.25
407.26Action T-2.1.D: Bus Stop Improvements
Improve key bus stop locations through such actions as:
•Extending bus stop curbs to facilitate reentry into the traffic stream;
•Moving bus stops to the far side of signalized or signed intersections where feasible;
•Adding bus stop amenities such as user-friendly, real-time transit schedule information;
•Improving access to bus stops via well-lit, accessible sidewalks and street crossings; and
•Utilizing GPS and other technologies to inform bus riders who are waiting for buses when the next bus will arrive. 407.26
407.27Action T-2.1.E: Financing
Continue the campaign to establish a regional dedicated funding source to finance the expansion and rehabilitation of the Metrorail and Metrobus systems. 407.27
407.28Action T-2.1.F: College Student Metro Passes
Explore potential partnerships between WMATA and local colleges and universities to provide Metro passes to college students. As part of this program, improve connections between campuses and Metrorail stations during both on- and off-peak hours. 407.28
407.29Action T-2.1.G: Water Taxis
Explore public-private and regional partnership opportunities to provide water taxis on the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers to serve close in areas around the District as well as longer-distance routes from points south such as Indian Head on the east side of the Potomac and Woodbridge on the west. In addition to improving mobility and access, water taxis and ferries provide a safe alternative for commuters and an alternate mode of transit in the event Metro service or bridge traffic is disrupted. 407.29
407.30 Action T-2.1.H Transit Amenities
Seek opportunities to dedicate space in the right-of-way for surface transit amenities, such as bus stops, signage, and shelters. Follow best practices in bus-stop siting (most often on the far side of an intersection) yet evaluate each case on an individual basis. Consider opportunities for enhanced stops and amenities with large-scale developments and redevelopments.
407.31 Action T-2.1.I Performance Measures
Develop, apply, and report on transit performance measures to identify strengths, deficiencies, and potential improvements and to support the development of new and innovative facilities and programs.
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