TLC Technical Assistance Projects

Analysis of Jurisdictional Standards

A Review of Rezoning Cases to Compare Projected and Actual Transportation Impacts: Fairfax County, VA (2007)

The Fairfax County Department of Transportation applied to the TLC Program for technical assistance to assess the accuracy of projected transportation impacts caused by new developments in the county. The consultant compared projected traffic rates and volumes from before the construction of the development with measurements taken on-site after completion of the development.

The consultant reviewed three developments in Fairfax County: Marlo Chantilly, JPI at Edsall and I-395, and Springfield Metro Center. These case studies looked at the number of proposed units, number of constructed units, square footage of retail (proposed and constructed), and the trips generated during a peak travel period.

The consultant suggested alternative trip generation prediction methods for future developments containing retail. Residential trip generation rates were found to be accurate; however, trip reduction factors for transit and HOV modes will need to be made on a case by case basis. The study found that the estimates for level of service (LOS) for vehicles at off-site intersections proved to be accurate. The report also recommended that HOV and transit trip reduction factors be applied based on site-specific locations. This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the link below to review the final report for this project.

A Look Back at Rezoning Cases to Compare Projected and Actual Transportation Impacts

A Review of the Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Program: City of Alexandria, VA (2007)

The City of Alexandria requested consultant services to review their Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Program, which was designed to increase multimodal transportation use around dense development. The consultant reviewed best practices on TMP programs around the country, including the Arlington County Site Plan Review Process. Additionally, the consultant interviewed staff, stakeholders, and residents involved in different aspects of the TMP Program. These interviews helped the consultants develop recommendations that met the different needs of those involved in the TMP program.

The consultant provided the City with recommendations for improving the policy framework and implementation of the TMP Program. Recommendations include policy goals and objectives to include reduced VMT and the many benefits tied to the current official goal of reducing VMT and peak congestion conditions. The consultant also recommended a new process for structuring the TMP program and encouraged the City to facilitate TMP consolidation by offering various TMP models and options to better fit the variety of affected developments. The consultant recommended that the City shift from its current focus on program processes (setting funding levels, ensuring compliance with surveying and investment requirements at each TMP) to mandating outcomes (setting broad performance targets on the District/TMA level). This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the link below to review the final report developed for this project.

City of Alexandria Transportation Management Plan Special Use Permit Program Review

Analyzing Transportation Impacts of Neighborhood-Scale Retail: Montgomery County, MD (2010) Montgomery County Trip Generation Graphic

This report discusses the results of a travel patterns survey of retail customers from several establishments in Montgomery County, Maryland. The objective of the study is to examine whether retail trip generation rates show a clear variance depending on proximity to transit or other services. The County will use the results of the study in considering more context-sensitive revisions to retail trip generation rates with the next update to their Local Area Transportation Review (LATR) / Policy Area Mobility Review (PAMR) Guidelines, the document used for development approval. The LATR/PAMR Guidelines already incorporate similar implicit or explicit adjustments for transit proximity for residential and office uses based on both national and local data.

The study presents differences in trip generation rates and other travel characteristics between retail sites in three development contexts: within ¼ mile (or an approximately five minute walk) of a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metro station, within a regional activity cluster as defined by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) (but beyond ¼ mile of a Metro station), and outside of an activity cluster (and also beyond ¼ mile of a Metro station). The trip generation rates are compared with conventional trip rates from the Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation Handbook, which typically reflect a suburban (auto-oriented) context and single uses. The rates are also compared to the County’s LATR/PAMR trip generation rates, which incorporate some additional local data but reflect primarily suburban sites.1 Providing context sensitive trip generation rates for the County is critical to support the County’s goals of encouraging more infill, mixed use, and other “smart growth” development types and sustainable transportation options. This project was completed for $40,000.

Please follow the link below to review the final report and presentation developed for this project.

Montgomery County Transportation Impacts of Neighborhood-Scale Retail Analysis

Automobile "Levels of Service" in Transit Station Areas: Fairfax County, VA (2007)

Fairfax County, Levels of Service around Transit Oriented Development

 

 

 

 

Fairfax County recently amended its Comprehensive Plan to incorporate a locally recognized definition of transit-oriented development, which is to be a key component of the County’s growth management strategy. One of the issues that was to be addressed in that strategy is the acceptable level of vehicular congestion within and around transit station areas. The existing County policy describes qualitatively how different modes of transportation should perform in a transit station area, but the challenge is to develop a mechanism to implement this policy guidance. This project investigated how this particular issue has been addressed by other jurisdictions around the country and this region, and based on the available literature and best practices how to define how vehicular congestion should be addressed within and adjacent to transit-oriented development.

A project initiation meeting between the consultant team, TPB staff, and Fairfax County transportation and land use planning staff was held at the Fairfax County Government Center on May 4, 2007, at which the direction of research and end product development was further defined.

The consultant conducted a review of best practices in the areas of transit-oriented development and multimodal level of service, addressing these key questions:

  • What qualitative and quantitative performance/service measures are being used for various modes?
  • What are the proper standards or levels of service for each mode for planning purposes?
  • How do these standards differ for different contexts or station areas?
  • Are there multimodal approaches that combine these measures for planning purposes that permit examination of tradeoffs in service levels between modes?
  • How are these measures and approaches used in the planning process?

The consultant developed recommendations for an approach for Fairfax County in the form of a technical report, including proposed options for level of service standards for vehicular traffic on various facilities within transit station environments in the County. This report can serve as an example and rich resource for other communities that are attempting to balance vehicular movements with transit and pedestrian access. This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the link below to review the report developed for this project:

Automobile Level of Service in Transit Station Areas: A Survey of Current Practice

Development of Urban Roads Standards: Charles County, MD (2007)

Charles County requested technical assistance for the development of urban roads standards for the Bryans Road Town Center and the Waldorf Sub-Area in the St. Charles Urbanized Area. The County vision for these communities includes denser, walkable communities with a mix of residential, commercial, and community amenities. The missing link in the transformation for these areas was the creation of a complete urban road network that increases connectivity for motorists, integrates transit, and is accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists. The County’s current road standards do not allow the flexibility to implement the type of road and streetscape design needed to transform these areas into compact, pedestrian-friendly areas. This technical assistance provided County staff with functional and thoroughfare type classifications for both existing and proposed roads in the St. Charles Urbanized Area according to context-sensitive design principles.

St. Charles Urbanized Area, Development of Urban Roads Standards

The technical assistance for the Charles County project produced an urban roadway classifications table and intersection plan figures that will be applied to future development in the recently rezoned urban districts of the St. Charles Urbanized Area. The consultant drew from existing examples of model developments in other jurisdictions in the region; a mixed-use development in Arlington is pictured at right, demonstrating the successful implementation of the types of standards Charles County hopes to incorporate in the St. Charles Urbanized Area.
The consultant saw the value in reviewing successful classifications in neighboring jurisdictions to which County staff could relate. This project serves as an example for other outer jurisdictions wishing to promote similar development in their communities. This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the links below to review the urban roadway classifications and plan figures developed for this project:

Project Summary

Summary of Design Criteria - Designated Urban Areas

Intersection Plan Figures

Freight Transportation and Land Use Connection: Frederick, MD (2011)

This study reviewed freight-dependent land-use designations for opportunities to maximize the utility of freight rail and truck corridors. To develop strategies to improve coordination of freight-oriented land use and transportation investments in the County, the study team analyzed traffic, land use, and economic data and conducted extensive outreach with stakeholders. The study team also investigated and recommended best practices observed nationally for accommodating freight movement while maximizing safety, air quality, and quality of life. Ultimately, the study produced a set of recommendations and a toolkit of strategies for the County to use in the future. The final product includes recommendations for implementation and incorporation of study findings into upcoming small area and corridor plans, and local and regional transportation plans. This project was completed for $60,000.

Please follow the link below to review the documents developed for this project.

Frederick County Freight and Freight Dependent Land Use Plan: Final Report

Frederick County Freight and Freight Dependent Land Use Plan: Technical Appendix (6 MB)

Parking Management Plans - Process Improvements for Parking in New Development: Arlington County, VA (2008)

Arlington County applied for technical assistance through the Transportation/ Land-Use Connections Program to review the parking management process of the County’s site plan approval process. The consultant conducted a review of the approval process for garage facilities in new developments, and the development and approval of Parking Management Plans (PMP) — a required condition of the County’s current Site Plan review process.

The consultant held several focus groups with staff from multiple County departments as well as the development community. The consultant also completed a peer review of the parking management process in Portland, Oregon. Based on the findings from these activities, the consultant concluded that the County needed to amend several aspects of the parking review process, including timing of the PMP development and approval, the approval process, and the role of the County Parking Manager.

Following the analysis of the above findings, developed a set of recommendations to improve the Arlington County Parking Management Plan Process. The recommendations included adding requirements to the Site Plan Submittal process. A number of details related to parking garage management and functionality could be provided at this early stage of the Site Plan process, indicating that the developer has begun addressing key issues. The consultant also suggested requiring the County Parking Manager approve all PMPs, formalizing an expanded role for the County Parking Manager within the Site Plan process. The consultant recommended adding options for flexible parking standards within the PMP, including fees payment, added Transportation Demand Management conditions, or the swapping of standard spaced for public spaces, or those reserved for carpools or bicycles. This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the link below to review the final report.

Parking Management Plans: Review Process for Site Plan Buildings

Recommendations for Performance-Based Parking Regulations Near the Nationals Ballpark: District of Columbia (2008)

The District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) applied for consultant assistance to review the potential of variably pricing on-street parking around the Washington National's Ballpark as a means to best meet the goals of the community. DDOT adopted a policy to price the on-street parking in the area according to occupancy levels. This Performance Parking Program is a three-year pilot aimed in part at preserving the needs of the residential neighborhoods and encouraging the use of non-automobile transportation choices.

The guidelines were developed to assist municipal parking managers in implementing and monitoring the on-street parking management program. The guidelines describe a five-step process for parking management: establish guiding principles; analyze parking conditions; establish operating standards; define program parameters; and monitor for ongoing management.

The Technical Memorandum addresses the application of the guidelines to performance parking programs implemented by the District Department of Transportation. The memorandum outlines the specific data needs for the initial assessment of conditions for the National's Ballpark and Columbia Heights pilot zones. This memorandum also provides a description of potential technology options to assist in monitoring and reporting of parking conditions for ongoing management of the performance parking program. This project was completed for $20,000.

Please follow the links below to review the final report and technical memorandum developed for this project.

Guidelines for Effective Parking Management: Parking Management with Variable Pricing

Technical Memorandum: Assistance for Initial Assessment and Monitoring

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