11-05-2019 City Center Access
City Council –
Study Session
November 5, 2019
Change header date for Land Use Meeting
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Project Overview and Background
Project Purpose and Need:
Improve economic vitality and quality of life:
Congested corridors, poor multimodal mobility, and delayed emergency response will continue to affect the quality of life and inhibit economic growth in the City Center.
Maintain integrity of the Interstate system:
Queues that backup on mainline I-5 impact regional mobility including freight and decrease safety. I-5 mobility needs to be maintained without impacting safety.
Decrease roadway congestion on S 320th Street as it affects transit and general travelling public to improve person mobility
Maintain or improve access to and from the City Center, considering side streets including key transit routes
Provide opportunities for through traffic to travel around rather than through the core.
Improve nonmotorized mobility to increase use of transit facilities
Improve I-5 mobility and safety by reducing I-5 off ramp queue
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Federal Way Future
Year 2045 No Build PM Peak Hour Forecasts
Alternative Screening
Evaluation
Criteria
Improve mobility by decreasing congestion on S 320th Street
Maintain or improve access to and from the City Center
Provide opportunities for traffic to travel around rather than through the core
Improve non-motorized mobility
Improve safety for the general traveling public on the Interstate and ramps, S 320th Street corridor, and study area
Be designed for feasibility and constructability
Address impacts to neighborhoods, parks, wetlands, and cultural resources
Address impacts to commercial and industrial properties and future land uses
Be acceptable to impacted residents and the public
Select Ramp Configuration – S 324th Street
x
x
Select Intersection Control – S 324th Street
x
x
x
Recommended Preferred Alternative: 2I
(2B grade separated ramps with roundabouts)
Under consideration is to not preclude a Diverging Diamond which has more capacity if land use changes
x
x
x
Select TDM/Nonmotorized Improvements
x
S 324th Street
x
Select TDM/Nonmotorized Improvements
S 324th Street
S 324th Street Alternative Screening Results
Study Support Team Recommends 2I: Grade Separated Ramps with Roundabouts
Blue outline shows which alternatives had 0 #1 ratings
Recommended subject to verification of freeway operations
Cars and trucks: Improved traffic flow on S 320th Street and ease of access to City Center from I-5.
Buses and light rail: Local street connections to future Link light rail station and expanded transit network, including extended HOV lanes on S 320th Street to support Bus Rapid Transit.
Bicycles, skateboards and scooters: A protected shared-use path on S 324th Street that crosses I-5 creates connections to existing and planned transit hubs and trail networks, including
the BPA trail.
Pedestrians and people with wheelchairs: A safer pedestrian crossing over I-5 at S 324th and S 320th streets creates access to the future Link light rail station and transit throughout
the area.
Planning for the Future of Federal Way
With Federal Way’s population and traffic congestion forecast to grow, residents will need to access City Center with a range of transportation options. This solution offers benefits
to all modes:
Local Elements - S 312th Street and 32nd Ave S
Alternative 2I meets the baseline needs without the S 312th Street and 32nd Ave S Local Elements.
Our stakeholders agree these should not be part of the project.
They will remain in the Comprehensive Plan.
2019 Public Outreach Overview
Traffic congestion
Interchange modification recommendations
Local impacts
Multimodal options and safety
Project coordination
Environment and open space
Key issues
By the numbers
Stakeholder Briefing Highlights
What we heard:
Concern about changing traffic patterns diverting traffic into neighborhoods
General agreement that the S 324th Street interchange modification is a reasonable solution
Agreement that a couplet along S 320th and S 324th streets west of I-5 negatively impacts businesses
Concerns about potential impacts to the natural environment, including trees and wetlands
Environmental Justice Briefing Highlights
What we heard:
Concerns about displacement of vulnerable community members as a result of the project
Concerns about mobility access for older adults and those living with disabilities in the City Center core
General support for the project and interest in the potential variations of the proposed solution (e.g. diverging diamond v. roundabouts, pedestrian and bicycle improvements, etc.)
Concerns about emergency service access to the roads in the couplet alternative
Questions and concerns about the source(s) of project funding and project approval process
Questions about why the project is not evaluating an interchange at S 288th Street, especially since Military Road S experiences high levels of congestion in that area
Online and In-person Open Houses
Participants discussed the project with the project team at the in-person open house on October 10.
October Open House Highlights
What we heard…
Nonmotorized access and mobility for bicycles and pedestrians is a priority
Preferred intersection modifications are acceptable
Concerns about additional weave in hybrid option
Concerns regarding Sound Transit coordination (construction timelines)
Concerns about displacement of Belmor Park residents
Preference for roundabouts
Traffic congestion is a major concern in Federal Way
Next Steps
Timeline to move forward:
Nov. 19 – Council adopts the preferred solution
Jan. 1 – Project team begins preliminary design and environmental documentation
Address known issues
More community outreach
Seek funding for design and construction
The concerns we heard from your constituents are precisely what we’ll address in the environmental and preliminary design phase of the project. Our partners, stakeholders and the broader
community agree that the S 324th Street modified interchange is the right approach– now we need your help to get to the next step.
Questions?
Following Slides for Reference if Needed
7/17/2019 19
7/17/2019
Bryan make this black page
Future Traffic Origin-Destination
Source: 2040 No Build travel demand model select link analysis
Year 2045 No Build PM Peak Hour
Outbound
Inbound
50% to City Center
5% to the North
30% to the West
15% to the South
45% from the East
20% from I-5 Northbound
35% from I-5 Southbound
Legend
50% of the future traffic crossing the chokepoint is bound for the City Center
Review Alternatives
S 312th Street Modified Interchange Ramps
21
Review Alternatives
S 324th Street Modified Interchange Ramps
22
Review Alternatives
312th/S 324th Street Combo Modified Interchange Ramps
23
Alternative Screening
The S 312th Street and S 324th Street interchange alternatives improve operations on S 320th Street and reduce queue spillback to I-5, thus meeting the baseline needs for traffic
Traffic Forecasting (312th vs 324th Alternatives)
We received several comments that 312th alternatives would solve the problem better wondered how the 324th options could work as well.
Not a big difference between the two alternatives:
Example – at our chokepoint just west of I-5, there is a difference of 50 cars per hour, or 1% difference
Be ready to quote other locations of interest
Traffic Forecasting (312th vs 324th Alternatives)
S 320th Street Multimodal Improvements
Alternatives at S 324th Street Screening
Process
Select ramp configuration
Select intersection control
Select TDM/Nonmotorized improvements
Sound Transit and Cumulative Effects
Looking at full build layout without and with Belmor potential land use changes
I-5 future widening: 12’ thru lane, 4’ buffer, 14’ bus on shoulder, 12’ auxiliary lane
Without Belmor LU Change: 2I (RAB)
With Belmor LU change: 2F (DDI)
TDLE alignment revision (underway)
October Open House Highlights
What we shared…
Purpose and need
Project background & timeline
Project benefits
Detailed information about proposed solution:
Modified interchange at S 324th Street: new overcrossing and extended ramps Options for ramp configuration
Additional street improvements: HOV lanes, extended S 324th Street, intersection improvements at S 324th Street and Pacific Highway
Possible street improvements: I-5 overcrossing at S 312th Street, extended 32nd Avenue S, intersection improvements at Military Road S and S 320th Street
Intersection options at S 324th Street
Connections for nonmotorized transportation
Next steps
Alternative 2A – split Diamond
8/21/2019 31
Alternative 2B – Grade Separated Ramps
8/21/2019 32
Alternative 2C – Arterial Couplet
8/21/2019 33
Alternative 2D – Grade Separated Ramps + Compatible with S 324th St SE Quadrant Loop Ramp
8/21/2019 34
Alternative 2E – Split Diamond + Compatible with S 324th St SE Quadrant Loop Ramp
8/21/2019 35
Alternative 2f – Grade Separated Ramps with Diverging Diamond
8/21/2019 36
Alternative 2g – Split Diamond with Roundabouts
8/21/2019 37
Alternative 2H – alt 2A + 2B Hybrid
8/21/2019 38
City Center Access Project
Urban growth center
In 1992 and 1993, Federal Way community members helped develop a vision for the creation of a Federal Way City Center. The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) designated the Federal
Way City Center as an urban growth center in 1994.
City Center Core: An area designed to handle the highest levels of infrastructure demand within Federal Way.
City Center Frame: A zone for dense, mixed-use development that surrounds and supports the core.
Urban growth center: A focal point for planned growth, economic development, and transportation infrastructure investments.
What is the problem?
The existing S 320th Street cannot handle the number of vehicles using it
Congestion moving into, out of, and around the City Center hinders economic vitality, including the movement of goods and services and future development opportunities
Congestion affects transit reliability
Inadequate pedestrian and bike access to the City Center
Emergency response on S 320th Street is affected
Traffic will back up on the I-5 ramps affecting I-5 through traffic
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