Current Projects: FY 2013 Technical Assistance Program

On July 18, 2012 the TPB approved nine technical assistance projects for the FY 2013 round of the TLC Program. For this application cycle, $220,000 from the TPB’s FY 2013 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) is available for technical assistance projects. In addition, MDOT committed $160,000 from their technical assistance account for projects in Maryland, with special emphasis on projects relating to transit-oriented development (TOD). Eight of these projects are being funded under the planning technical assistance program. One project is being funded under the new Design Pilot Program, which aims to support TPB jurisdictions so that they may advance a project towards implementation. All of these projects are expected to be completed by June 30, 2013.

The projects include the following:

TPB staff is working with the jurisdictions to refine the project descriptions and initiate contracts with consultants. More detailed project summaries will be provided once the project work has commenced.

District of Columbia

District of Columbia: Study of Affordable Housing with Access to Jobs via Multi-Modal Transit ($60,000)

The DC Office of Planning requested technical assistance for a study that will quantify the benefits of affordable housing locations with high quality access to employment opportunities via walking, bus, and/or rail public transportation through surveying residents on issues such as income, length of employment, and ability to find and accept a job, and surveying property managers on issues such as vacancy and default rates. This concept builds on a multi-jurisdictional study that was funded in the FY2012 TLC cycle that evaluated affordable housing supply and demand in areas surrounding transit stations in several of the region's jurisdictions.

Maryland

College Park Metro Station - TOD Analysis ($30,000)

The City of College Park is seeking technical assistance for a market analysis to recommend development potential for 18.2 acres of property located less than 1/10 of a mile from the College Park-University of Maryland Metro Station, the MARC Camden Line, and a proposed Purple Line station. This project builds off of a 2008 Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel Program, and will lay the groundwork for coordination between the City of College Park, Prince George's County, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the University of Maryland.

Greenbelt Bus Stop Safety and Accessibility Study ($30,000)

The City of Greenbelt is requesting technical assistance for the completion of a bus stop and accessibility study that will evaluate the existing safety and accessibility of 136 bus stops within the City. The results of this technical assistance will contribute to a multi-year strategic plan for achieving system-wide safety and accessibility.

Montgomery County: Study to Establish Parking Credits Related to Bike Sharing ($30,000)

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission is requesting technical assistance to review and analyze parking credits related to the construction of bike-sharing stations. This project will result in the development of a set of findings that address the relationship between the level and scope of bike-sharing and parking requirements within the same general geographic area

City of Rockville: Cross-Jurisdictional Development Impacts: Transportation Capacity Analysis ($30,000)

The City of Rockville is requesting technical assistance to conduct a transportation capacity study in a specific study area as a way to identify potential capacity improvements and recommend alternative transportation system analysis methods. The study area would focus on southern Rockville Pike, and include the City of Rockville's Twinbrook transit-oriented development, as well as the recently approved Montgomery County White Flint Area. The development in this study area is in part outside the city limits of Rockville, but has caused increased traffic volumes within Rockville itself. The analysis conducted through this project will therefore highlight transportation impacts across jurisdictional lines.

City of Takoma Park: New Hampshire Avenue Multi-Way Boulevard Feasibility Study ($50,000)

The City of Takoma Park is requesting technical assistance to conduct a feasibility study to assess the viability of converting New Hampshire Avenue, an existing arterial state highway, into a multi-way boulevard. Similar to K Street in the District, a multi-way boulevard is characterized as a wide thoroughfare where faster moving through traffic in center travel lanes are separated by tree-lined medians from side lanes, which are designated for slower-moving traffic, on-street parking, and bicycle facilities. The multi-way boulevard concept proposes to enhance the pedestrian realm of the corridor, while maintaining faster moving through-traffic and regional transit vehicles. The intent of this feasibility study is to examine the environmental, transportation and utility impacts of converting New Hampshire Avenue into a multi-way boulevard. This study complements a FY 2012 TLC project that developed a series of streetscape standards for the corridor that provide guidance for consistent streetscape improvements as properties redevelop along New Hampshire Avenue.

Virginia

City of Falls Church: Analysis of Transportation Demand Management along the Washington Street Corridor ($40,000)

The City of Falls Church is requesting technical assistance to develop recommendations to increase the use of alternative modes of transportation along the Washington Street Corridor, which connects the East Falls Church Metro Station (home to the Orange and future Silver lines) with the city's southern gateway at South Washington Street. Because the study area is located between a quarter-mile and a mile from the East Falls Church Metro Station, the study will contribute to a traffic demand management program that evaluates and promotes transit-oriented design principles beyond the traditional quarter-mile radius.

Town of Middleburg/Loudoun County: Washington Streetscape Improvement Plan ($30,000)

The Town of Middleburg, with the endorsement of Loudoun County, is requesting technical assistance for a streetscape improvement project for the town's main street, Washington Street, which was a recipient of the 2010 American Planning Association Great Streets Award. The project will develop plans including cost estimates and implementation time-frame while considering a host of unique factors such as historic preservation, aging street lights, and a succession plan for overgrown trees.

Design Pilot Program

City of Frederick: East Street Trail Project Design ($80,000)

The City of Frederick is requesting funding for the design of a trail that includes a combination of bike lanes, sidewalk upgrades, and the development of a shared-use path. The project will benefit a large and established residential area and will provide access to new mixed-use and commercial developments. The new trail will connect to the MARC rail station and to a newly installed bike lane that leads to Frederick Memorial Hospital, Hood College, and Fort Detrick, which is the largest employer in Frederick County.