HomeMy Public PortalAbout3C_Peer Review_Transportation_AOTC_2016-07-01
July 1, 2016
Mr. Matthew I. Shuman, P.E., Town Engineer
Town of Watertown Department of Public Works
124 Orchard Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Reference: Athena Arsenal, LLC - Arsenal on the Charles AODD Master Plan Special Permit Application
Peer Review of Transportation Impact Assessment, AODD Campus Plan Application, and
Transportation Improvement Program
Dear Mr. Shuman:
On behalf of the Town of Watertown, we have reviewed the above referenced Traffic Impact
Assessment (“TIA”) and related documents prepared by Vanasse & Associates, Inc. (VAI) and
proposed site plan prepared by Stantec Consulting, Inc. (Stantec) for the proposed The Arsenal on
the Charles (TAOTC) Master Plan by Athena Arsenal, LLC. Specifically, the following documents were
reviewed:
Arsenal on the Charles Amended Transportation Impact Assessment Draft Scope of Work,
February 18, 2016, VAI
Transportation Impact Assessment, December 2015 (amended April 2016 and May 2016), VAI
AODD Campus Plan Application, TAOTC, February 8, 2016, Stantec
AODD Campus Plan Application, TAOTC, May 6, 2016, Stantec
TAOTC – AODD Master Plan Special Permit Application – Internal Circulation Revisions DRAFT,
May 20, 2016, Stantec
TAOTC – AODD Master Plan Special Permit Application – Off-Site Improvements DRAFT, May 20,
2016, Stantec
Transportation Demand Management Program, May 2016 (as amended through June 6, 2016),
VAI
Revised Synchro analysis, June 7, 2016, VAI
Revised Site Plan and Circulation, June 22, 2016, Stantec
Transportation Improvement Program, June 27, 2016, VAI
Our review focused on the adequacy of the study and site plan with regard industry best practices for
analyzing traffic operations, estimating project generated trips and related potential impacts, and
providing safe and efficient site circulation. In addition, the proposed off-site mitigation measures
were reviewed in detail to ensure their effectiveness in accommodating projected future traffic
volumes with the development in place while also fitting with the long term needs and goals of the
Town.
Mr. Matthew I. Shuman, P.E.
July 1, 2016
Introduction
As indicated in the Traffic Impact Assessment, the Arsenal on the Charles (TAOTC) presently consists
of the following uses:
671,708± square feet of corporate office space;
The Arsenal Center for the Arts (ACA) – two theaters totaling 484 seats;
A 57,9626± square foot health club;
A 27,397± square foot day care center; and
10,966± square feet of restaurant space.
In addition, a seasonal farmers’ market operates on the site, and a food truck is in operation between
11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Under the proposed Master Plan, the campus would be expanded as follows:
284,172 additional square feet of corporate office space (total 955,880± square feet);
40,925 additional square feet of retail and restaurant space (total 51,891± square feet);
Two additional food trucks (total 3); and
37,650 square feet of covered open space.
Parking on site will be increased to 3,167 spaces, including construction of a new 1,623-space parking
garage on an existing surface parking area at the northwest corner of the project site. The proposed
project is estimated to generate an additional 4,410 vehicle trips on an average weekday, including
361 trips (317 entering, 44 exiting) during the morning peak hour and 456 trips (109 entering and 347
exiting) during the evening peak hour; and an additional 3,924 vehicle trips on an average Saturday,
including 416 trips (222 entering and 194 exiting) during the midday peak hour.
Study Area
The study area in the Amended TIAS includes 31 intersections (20 signalized, 11 unsignalized)
primarily along the Arsenal Street, North Beacon Street, and School Street corridors. In addition, the
signalized intersections at Watertown Square, Galen Street at Watertown Street at Nonantum Road,
Main Street at Pleasant Street, and Main Street at Church Street were analyzed to assess the impacts
of the project on the Watertown Square signal system. The intersections analyzed in the TIAS conform
to the study area established by DPW in collaboration with VAI and WorldTech at a meeting on March
10, 2016.
Future Conditions – Specific Development by Others
The proposed redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall by Boylston Properties will have an impact on the
study area for TAOTC, including all site access points. Recognizing that the Arsenal Mall project is in
its early stages, these impacts do not need to be evaluated immediately; however, traffic operations
including the volumes generated by the Arsenal Mall project must be considered prior to design and
implementation of off-site mitigation measures.
Mr. Matthew I. Shuman, P.E.
July 1, 2016
Project-Generated Traffic
The assumptions used to estimate traffic volumes generated by the proposed TAOTC campus
expansion follow ITE standards and industry best practices.
Trip Distribution and Assignment
The trip distribution in the TIA was reviewed for consistency with the list of residence zip codes for
athenahealth employees provided on June 3, 2016 and reasonably reflects probable routes to and
from the campus. Additionally, the proposed driveway usage reasonably reflects the circulation,
placement of uses, and locations of parking within the campus, assuming that access is allowed
between the west parking garage and the North Beacon Street at School Street and Charles River
Road access point.
Traffic Operations Analysis
Comments on the Synchro analysis in the TIA were transmitted to VAI on May 31, 2016. These
comments have been resolved with revised analyses received from VAI on June 7, 2016. There are no
further comments on existing conditions analyses.
It should be noted that very large delays reported at unsignalized intersections in the study area – up
to 4,472.9 seconds (approximately an hour and a quarter) – are theoretical in nature and do not
reflect actual field conditions. These delays are typically due to existing cut-through traffic along the
minor STOP-controlled approaches, and any increases in delay would likely be offset by reductions in
cut-through traffic. In the future with the proposed project, operations are likely to remain
unchanged from existing conditions.
Site Circulation
The site circulation plan has been through several iterations during the review process to incorporate
changes recommended by DPW and DCDP. Comments relating to the Internal Circulation Revisions
dated June 22, 2016 are as follows:
The west (existing) parking garage was initially proposed to have only one egress, onto the
Kingsbury Avenue shared street and out to Arsenal Street via Talcott Avenue. This has since been
revised to add an exit from the north side of the garage onto the Wooley Avenue shared street,
allowing vehicles to exit to North Beacon Street via the Wooley Avenue and School Street shared
streets.
Restricting Wooley Avenue along the north side of Building 313 to emergency, service, and
loading vehicles only as previously proposed would restrict parking for the Arsenal Center for
the Arts, particularly for handicapped access. This has been revised in the June 22 submission to
allow parking for the ACA along this segment of Wooley Avenue. However, the roadway dead-
ends west of Building 313, leaving a difficult turnaround for those parked along this segment.
The proposed angle spaces for valet and drop off at the northwest corner of Building 312 creates
backing conflicts with vehicular and bicycle traffic on Kingsbury Avenue. Back-in angle parking
may be more appropriate given the mix of users on the Kingsbury Avenue shared street.
Mr. Matthew I. Shuman, P.E.
July 1, 2016
The Watertown Community Path extension east to Arsenal Park is proposed to detour through
the site via the Wooley Avenue and Kingsbury Avenue shared streets. This results in the path
sharing space with motor vehicles through the entire campus. Proper guide signs should be
provided to help cyclists find their way through the campus, as well as appropriate warning signs
to alert drivers that they are sharing space with a through bicycle route. The Kingsbury Avenue
segment is especially of concern, as it is also the main vehicular access to the east garage and
the retail portion of the site. It is also unclear how westbound bicycles will travel through the
site, as the segment of Kingsbury Avenue between the east garage and Building 312 is one-way.
A dedicated bicycle or shared pedestrian/bicycle path would be more appropriate as the
designated Community Path, although it is understood that site constraints make this difficult.
Proposed Off-Site Mitigation
The proposed mitigation package outlined in the Transportation Improvement Program
memorandum dated June 27, 2016 is the culmination of a lengthy collaboration between
athenahealth, DPW, and DCDP and represents a significant investment in the Town of Watertown’s
transportation infrastructure. The improvements proposed not only mitigate the Arsenal on the
Charles development’s fair share of impacts to the Arsenal Street corridor, they will also result in
improved traffic operations, better accommodations for pedestrians and cyclists, and are consistent
with the Town’s continued efforts in implementing Complete Streets principles in its transportation
network.
The June 27, 2016 Transportation Improvement Program memorandum indicates that the proposed
traffic signal at Arsenal Street and Wooley Avenue will incorporate the Lexus of Watertown driveway
on the north side of Arsenal Street, opposite the proposed garage and approximately 60 feet west of
the intersection of Wooley Avenue (the proposed garage entrance) and Arsenal Street. This
intersection was analyzed as a “T” intersection in both the Traffic Impact Study and revised Synchro
analysis, not incorporating the driveway. Due to the intersection offset, incorporating the driveway
will require split phasing, potentially resulting in increased delay on Arsenal Street. If this is the intent,
the Applicant should conduct traffic counts at the Lexus of Watertown driveway, provide a sketch of
the proposed intersection configuration, and analyze the intersection as proposed. However, VAI
clarified via e-mail on June 30 that the Lexus driveway would likely not be incorporated into the signal.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me directly at
any time.
Sincerely,
WORLDTECH ENGINEERING, LLC
Michael Pompili
Project Engineer