Briefing for: MOA Freight Advisory Commission January12, 2010 www.highway2highway.com
Project Team Lead Agencies Federal Highway Administration Federal Transit Administration Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Cooperating Agencies Municipality of Anchorage (signed MOU in 2006) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Purpose & Need Purpose The purpose of the Highway-to-Highway project is to reduce congestion by improving mobility and access for people and goods traveling to and from Anchorage s major urban activity centers between the Seward and Glenn highways. These improvements are necessary for reducing congestion and improving travel efficiency, creating better neighborhood connections, reducing crashes, and enhancing multimodal connections. Transportation Needs The following transportation needs have been identified:
Existing Connection
Congestion Failing Intersections A.M. Peak Hour P.M. Peak Hour Intersection Seward Highway and 36 th Avenue Seward Highway and Benson Boulevard Seward Highway and Northern Lights Boulevard Gambell Street and Sixth Avenue Ingra Street and Sixth Avenue Gambell Street and Fifth Avenue Ingra Street and Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue and Concrete Street Fifth Avenue and Reeve Boulevard Glenn Highway and Airport Heights Road 2008 2035 2008 2035 KEY: = LOS C or better = LOS D = LOS E or worse Sources: AMATS 2003, AMATS 2007b
Congestion High Demand Today Gridlock Tomorrow
H2H Project Statistics Would fix most congested intersection in the state - 36 th Avenue and New Seward Highway 5% of the crashes in the entire state happen in this single corridor that s 750 crashes per year Crashes costs $23M each year 8,000 hours stuck in traffic costs $45M each year Most important freight route in and out of Anchorage to and from the Port.
Freight and the H2H Project Although, freight users represent a small percentage of traffic on Anchorage s road network freight traffic is significant to Anchorage s economy. Most consumer goods arrive at: TSAIA Port of Anchorage ARRC
Freight Snapshot in the Project Area Port of Anchorage 90% of all the goods for the state arrive at the Port of Anchorage (2009). The Port handles more than 4 million tons of material annually. Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport World s 5 th busiest cargo airport in 2008. More than 5 million passengers arrive and depart annually, the majority arriving by car or bus. Alaska Railroad Corporation Transported 5.8 million tons of freight in 2008. Provide services (mostly visitors) to 564,800 passengers in 2007. Trucks Daily truck volumes = 3,500 vehicles on the Glenn; 2,200 on the Seward. 80% of truck volume = single-unit trucks such as box vans
Full Range of Alternatives No Build Alternative TDM/TSM Alternative Stand-Alone Transit Commuter rail Light rail Bus rapid transit Land Use & Transit Alternatives Concepts A, B, and C Multi-Modal Corridor Alternatives (Transit Options A & B) Cordova Gambell-Ingra Orca 15 th Northern Lights Boniface East City Seward-Glenn arterial expansion Arterial expansion
Alternatives Bus Rapid Transit Bus Rapid Transit
Screening Process
Upcoming Steps Jan. 2010 - Results from Screening Alternatives with technical and environmental criteria for fatal flaws (Recommendations for reasonable alternatives) Feb. 2010 - Public meetings March 2010 - Decision on reasonable alternatives for study in EIS