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T
he purpose o the Environmental
Assessment is to examine the eects
the proposed streetcar will have on
the community by identiying possible
environmental impacts and related solutions.
The Crystal City Sector Plan identied a
proposed streetcar route that served as the
starting point or this assessment. Examination
o the Sector Plan route identied potential
impacts that could be addressed by modiying
a portion o the route. The Crystal City SectorPlan showed the southbound streetcar tracks
along the west side o Clark Bell Street
between 12th and 18th Streets. The Rened
Alignment locates the southbound streetcar
tracks immediately adjacent to the east side
o Jeerson Davis Highway between 12th and
18th Streets, yet at grade (level with) with
Clark Bell. The remainder o the streetcar routeis identical to the Sector Plan. The proposed
route modication reduces community impacts
while eectively supporting the urban design
and growth policies contained in the Sector
Plan. The streetcar route modication is only
slightly dierent than the original alignment,
but contains adjustments that will provide
solutions or:
Underground Spaces
The Sector Plan alignment passed over a
number o underground spaces that would
have required structural reinorcement like
those at the Crystal City Shops causing
potential disruption o use. The alternative
alignment minimizes those impacts by shiting
the southbound tracks to the west, adjacent to
Jeerson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 1).
Station Operations
The Sector Plan shows anticipated major
residential and commercial growth in Crystal
City, which will require new transportation
modes that all must work in concert to move
people eiciently through the area. Speciically,
the plan identiied the need or a multi-modalstation or buses, Metro and the streetcar.
In its original alignment, the intersection o
18th Street and Clark-Bell was identiied as
a potential pinch point on the streetcar
route. The alternative alignment minimizes
conlicts with existing bus operations, provides
convenient access to Metro and meets the
requirements o the proposed multi-modal
transer acility.
Low Building Clearance
Growth will bring changes to buildings along
the U.S. Route 1 corridor, and the Environmental
Assessment must consider environmental
issues as they relate to both existing structuresand predicted development. In assessing
existing structures along the original route
alignment, it was determined that clearance
beneath a building on Bell Street will not be
adequate or streetcar passage. The updated
alignment now eliminates that issue.
Assessment Identifies Need for Route Refinement
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Crystal City Sector Plan
Proposed Route
Proposed Route
Modifications
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As part o the Environmental Assessment, a number
o environmental concerns have been identied andare being investigated. Many o these concerns were
received at public meetings and through comment
orms and email:
NoiseStudies in other cities have ound that the noise rom
streetcar operations is generally compatible withan urban environment. Areas that are particularly
sensitive and/or near sharp curves in the track may
require additional study. A detailed noise analysiswill be included in the Environmental Assessment.
Trafc
In general, streetcars operate just like othervehicles on the road and are controlled by the same
trac signals. As the detailed operational planis developed, conditions requiring special trac
control will be identied, analyzed and incorporated
i t th t t d i Th P j t T i
Saety
Sae streetcar operations are paramount in thedesign process. The streetcar design needs
to provide or sae interactions with vehicles,pedestrians and bicycles. The Sector Plan providesa plan or adequate sidewalks and continuous
bike routes, which will be maintained through thestreetcar design. In addition, all streetcar acilities
will be designed in compliance with the Americanswith Disabilities Act.
Community Character
The Sector Plan anticipates that there will be 8,500additional residents and 35,500 additional jobsin Crystal City and Pentagon City by 2040. The
proposed streetcar system will encourage high-quality, mixed use development, and help the
community mature into a vibrant, attractive, livable24/7 neighborhood.
Cultural Resources
C l l i l d b h di hi i
Preliminary Environmental Findings
Project Timeline
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2013 2014
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Baseline Conditions
Assess Environmental Eects
Prepare Drat EA
Notice o Availability
Public Comment Period
Public Meeting
Prepare Final EA
Project Schedule
W w !
Heres how you can reach us:
571-482-9734
Crystal City Streetcar Project
P.O. Box 18023, Washington, DC 20036
www.CrystalCityStreetcar.com