Appendix B to SEPA dated 8/3/15 Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis - 27 July 2015 Introduction Metro Parks plans to improve Pt. Defiance Park over the next 15 years to meet the needs of a growing regional population, to develop underused portions of the park, and to improve circulation and parking. The purpose of this report is to document the transportation impacts resulting from additional park development. This report is intended for use by the City of Tacoma in its review of a Development Regulation Agreement with Metro Parks guiding future land use in Pt. Defiance Park and its assessment of environmental impacts (SEPA). This report describes existing transportation systems, identifies seasonal and daily variation in the Park s traffic and parking demands, forecasts increases in traffic and parking, and evaluates future traffic operations. It also recommends specific actions to improve pedestrian and bicycle circulation, traffic operations and parking. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 1 27 July 2015
Existing Transportation Network Street System Figure 1 shows the street system in the vicinity of Pt. Defiance Park. Area streets have the following characteristics: Figure 1. Street System Near Pt. Defiance Park N. Pearl Street (SR-163) Designated a Principal Arterial, N. Pearl links the Fircrest neighborhood to Pt. Defiance. From the interchange with SR-16, N. Pearl Street is also State Route 163 that extends to the ferry dock at Pt. Defiance. The street is approximately 45 feet wide with two travel lanes and parallel parking on each side, and has a posted speed limit of 30 m.p.h. Left turn lanes are provided at major intersections. Sidewalks line both sides of the street. Ruston Way is a Collector Arterial generally following the Commencement Bay waterfront from Ruston to Shuster Parkway. It has two travel lanes and a width of 28 feet south of the Point Ruston development, and widens to 36 feet to include a left-turn lane along the development s frontage. The speed limit is 30 m.p.h. The Ruston Way walking/bike path parallels the street on its east side. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 2 27 July 2015
N. 51 st Street -- an unclassified two-lane street bordering the Town of Ruston and extending between Ruston Way and N. Mildred Street. Its width varies from approximately 28 feet west of N. Pearl Street to nearly 40 feet immediately east of N. Pearl Street where room is provided for a second westbound lane on the approach to N. Pearl Street. A combination of parallel and angle parking occurs depending on the block. The speed limit is 25 m.p.h. east of N. Pearl Street, and 30 m.p.h. west of it. N. 54 th Street an unclassified street running along the north side of the Town of Ruston. Approximately 20 feet wide with a speed limit of 25 m.p.h., this street is one-way westbound on its approach to N. Pearl Street. A sidewalk exists on the south side. No parking is allowed along N. 54 th Street. N. Park Avenue this is essentially N. 54 th Street west of N. Pearl Street. It terminates just west of N. Bristol Street. It s approximately 17 feet wide with a sidewalk on the south side. Parking is not allowed. N. Vassualt Street Designated a Collector Arterial, N. Vassualt connects N. 51 st Street to N. 37 th Street. Extensions of the street known by other names allow it to serve traffic from Pt. Defiance Park to SR-16 and further south. It has two travel lanes, two bike lanes and parallel parking. The speed limit is 30 m.p.h. N. Mildred Street The segment between N. 51 st Street and Pt. Defiance Park is designated as a Collector Arterial. It provides secondary access to the park. It has two travel lanes, parallel parking, and is 40 feet wide. The posted speed limit is 25 m.p.h. Yacht Club Rd. an unclassified two-lane street providing access to the Tacoma Yacht Club and the proposed Peninsula Park from the new roundabout intersection at Ruston Way. Newly reconstructed, this street has sidewalks on both sides. The extension of the Ruston Way path to Pt. Defiance Park crosses Yacht Club Rd. approximately 500 feet south of the marina basin. Within the park, most roads operate with one-way traffic. Exceptions to this are the access road along the west side of the zoo, which is two-way, a short stretch of Five-Mile Drive between the zoo s access road and N. Mildred Street, and N. Pearl Street down to the ferry landing and waterfront. Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Sidewalks exist on most roads leading to Pt. Defiance Park. Once entering the park, however, pedestrians face limited continuity in sidewalks: The sidewalk on N. Mildred Street stops before the park entrance and no sidewalks exist on Five-Mile Drive from the Mildred entrance. At the Pearl Street entrance, a sidewalk continues to the waterfront but none leads to the gardens, zoo or other upland destinations. Numerous hiking trails wind through the park offering over 13 miles of walks. Walks include the Promenade along the waterfront and various loops within forested areas. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 3 27 July 2015
Bicycles can reach the park on the Ruston Way path from downtown. Otherwise, no dedicated bike facilities serve the park. Sharrows are painted on N. Vassualt Street. Dedicated bicycle trails do not yet exist within the park. Transit Pierce County Transit routes 10 & 11 serve Pt. Defiance Park. Route 10 operates between the Tacoma Transit Center and the Pt. Defiance ferry landing offering 30-minute frequency between 6:45 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. on weekdays, and hourly frequency on weekends between 9:15 a.m. and 7:15 p.m. Route 11 runs between downtown and the ferry landing with hourly service between 6:45 a.m. and 6:05 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend service is also hourly from 9:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Transit stops with shelters are located at the ferry landing and on N. Pearl Street immediately south of N. Park Way. Ferry Washington State Ferries operates a 64-car ferry between Pt. Defiance and Talequah on Vashon Island. Sailings occur every 50 to 60 minutes in each direction from 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Traffic Volumes Existing traffic volumes in the park s vicinity were counted in April, 2015. Afternoon peak hour counts were conducted on Thursday, April 23, 2015, between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., while Saturday counts were done on April 25, 2015 between 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the time when the park generates its highest volumes. Additionally, counts on internal park roads were taken between Thursday and Saturday, April 23-25, to record both hourly and daily traffic volumes. Figure 2 shows weekday afternoon peak hour volumes at area intersections and Figure 3 shows them for a Saturday peak hour. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 4 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 5 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 6 27 July 2015
Existing Traffic Operations Intersection Level of Service Table 1 shows level of service results for study area intersections for both the weekday afternoon peak hour and the Saturday afternoon peak hour. Table 1. Intersection Existing Level of Service Intersection Weekday PM Peak Hour Traffic Control Existing Conditions Level of Service Delay (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way Stop A 9 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way Stop A 9 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 Intersection Saturday Peak Hour Traffic Control Existing Conditions Level of Service Delay (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way Stop C 16 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way Stop A 9 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 Traffic generally operates well at intersections. While overall delay is minimal, backups do occur on N. Pearl Street when ferry traffic leaves the park. The brief surge in volume from the ferry (a maximum of 64 cars) creates back-ups as those vehicles stop at the Pearl St/N 54 th Street intersection. Back-ups can also occur at N. Pearl St/N. 51 st Street, especially for westbound traffic, though northbound and southbound lanes can experience some congestion during the busiest times, including summer weekends. Speeding Other traffic operating concerns include high speeds on N. Mildred Street between Vassualt and Pt. Defiance Park. The street is very wide for its function, 40 feet wide for a daily volume of less than 1,500 vehicles, and although parallel parking is allowed, few cars park along the street. No driveways exist and only one side-street intersection occurs on this segment that is nearly one-quarter mile in length. The street slopes down from the park and becomes a natural raceway. Residents report continued speeding over many hours of the day despite the presence of a speed bump at the bottom of the slope. Indeed, evidence of lengthy skid marks before the speed bump and severe scrapes on the pavement past the bump indicate that numerous vehicles ignore the 25 mph limit. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 7 27 July 2015
Accident History Records of accidents reported to the City of Tacoma were reviewed for the past four years (2011 through March, 2015). Table 2summarizes the number and type of accidents. Table 2. Accident Totals 2011 March, 2015 Injury Non-Injury Fatality All Collision 9 21 1 31 Hit & Run 3 13 0 16 Totals 12 34 1 47 Source: City of Tacoma; The one fatal accident occurred near the Mildred Street entrance to Pt. Defiance Park in 2013. [FILL IN DETAILS] Figure 4 shows the locations of reported accidents in the study area for the last four years. [INSERT FIGURE ACCIDENT LOCATIONS] Of the 47 total accidents reported, 12 occurred within Pt. Defiance Park. Additionally, 16 occurred at Park entrances on Pearl Street (12) and Mildred Street (4). Parking Supply Parking is provided at each major destination within the park. Table 3 summarizes the existing parking supply by location. Table 3. Existing Parking Supply Boat Trailer Parking Boat Trailer Equivalent General Total General General Location Zoo 584 584 Former Camp 6 200 200 Rose Garden/Pagoda 138 11 22 160 Triangle 95 75 150 245 Waterfront 205 12 24 229 Fort Nisqually & Picnic Area 81 81 Owen Beach & Picnic Area 208 208 Gig Harbor Viewpoint & Picnic Area 30 30 Totals 1,541 98 196 1,737 Source: Parking Demand Figure 5 shows hourly parking demand for existing uses within the park. Parking demand is fully accommodated on most weekdays. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 8 27 July 2015
Figure 5 Source: Demand peaks at 1:00 p.m. with zoo parking amounting to nearly half of total weekday demand. Figure 6 shows demand for a summer Saturday when the zoo operates at a 98 th -percentile day s attendnce. Demand and supply for key areas in the park is shown for a summer Saturday in Figure 7. Source: Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 9 27 July 2015
Figure 7 Source: Demand exceeds parking supply on the busier days in the summer, mainly weekends but also on some weekdays. For the zoo, spillover demand of up to 250 spaces goes to the current gravel lot at the former Camp 6 for about 150 vehicles and to makeshift roadside parking for as many as 100 vehicles. Boat trailers park at the waterfront, throughout the Triangle and in the small lot east of the Pagoda. Spillover demand from the waterfront also competes for spaces with the Rose Garden and Pagoda. It should be noted that Owen Beach s demand peaks in the mid-afternoon (an estimated 203 spaces), effectively using all available parking. Accordingly, vehicles frequently recirculate in the parking lot waiting for spaces to open up. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 10 27 July 2015
Future Background Conditions This section describes changes to the transportation network independent of the proposed development in Pt. Defiance Park as well as traffic added to the street system by other planned projects. Planned Changes to the Transportation Network Street System and Traffic Controls No changes to area streets or intersections are planned in the area near Pt. Defiance. Recent changes due to development of Point Ruston have included extension of Ruston Way, connection of Baltimore Street to Ruston Way, and new roundabout intersections at Point Ruston s main entry and at Yacht Club Rd/Baltimore. Those improvements were in place in 2014. Within the park, construction is underway on a new boat trailer parking area and access road. Trailer parking and boat ramp access will subsequently occur immediately east of the existing waterfront access road. Pedestrian and Bike Facilities Tacoma s Comprehensive Plan proposes these additions to the bicycle network: Short-Term Medium-Term Long-Term Bike Lane on N. 51 st St (Vassult to Ruston Way) Sharrows on Mildred & N.51 st St. to Vassault Point Defiance Trail (Point Ruston to Ferry) Sharrows on N. Pearl St. (N. 51 st St to Ferry landing) Sharrows on Ruston connection (N. 51 st St. to Ferry landing) Development at Point Ruston has allowed extension of the mixed-use Ruston Way path to Pt. Defiance Park. Metro Parks is currently building a new trail connecting the Ruston Way path to the core of Pt. Defiance Park. This connection includes a new pedestrian/bike only bridge across the ferry access road. This trail enhancement is being developed in advance of other proposed development in the park. The new trail connection is expected to be open by 2017, meeting the Comprehensive Plan s long-term goal. Transit No changes are planned to Pierce County Transit routes #10 or #11 currently serving Pt. Defiance. Ferry Existing ferry service is expected to continue without change. Background Traffic Volumes Growth in traffic not related to Pt. Defiance Park has been calculated based on an assumed 0.5% annual growth rate, plus traffic from known developments in the area. Point Ruston is the only known development. Figure 8 shows weekday background volumes for year 2020, and Figure 9 shows Saturday background volumes for year 2020. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 11 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 12 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 13 27 July 2015
Given Pt. Defiance s location at the tip of the peninsula and its stable surrounding residential neighborhood, little growth is expected in background traffic from the neighborhood itself. Indeed, the park accounts for approximately 50% of traffic volumes north of N. 51 st Street during the weekday peak hour, and roughly 68% during a Saturday peak hour. For this reason, a relatively low growth rate is applied to existing, non-park trips. Rather, most background growth will occur due to development of Point Ruston, a mixed-used project now under construction at the former ASARCO site on Ruston Way. Initially expected to reach completion in 2014, the recession slowed the start of construction such that the project is now expected to be complete by 2020. The project s Final Environmental Impact Statement identified weekday afternoon peak hour traffic volumes for Point Ruston and they have been incorporated in this study. Additionally, Saturday peak hour traffic volumes have been estimated for Point Ruston based on its land uses using trip rates reported by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Trip Generation Manual, 9 th edition and the same assumptions used in the FEIS for pass-by traffic and internal trip capture (see Appendix _ for trip calculations). Intersection Level of Service Table 4 reports levels of service for study area intersections for year 2020 background conditions. Table 4. Future Background 2020 Level of Service Weekday PM Peak Hour Existing Conditions Background 2020 Intersection Traffic Control (Existing/Future) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way/Roundabout A 9 A 9 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 C 23 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way A 9 A 9 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 A 5 Saturday Peak Hour Existing Conditions Background 2020 Intersection Traffic Control (Existing/Future) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way/Roundabout C 16 C 16 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 E 75 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way A 9 A 10 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 A 3 Traffic operations in 2020 without further development of Pt. Defiance Park would be good with area intersections operating at LOS C or better on both weekdays and Saturdays. One exception occurs at N. Pearl St/N. 51 st St where the Saturday level of service would drop to LOS E. This is due to the addition of Point Ruston traffic to the westbound left-turn movement. The high volume of left turns exceeds capacity and experiences considerable delay bringing the intersection as a whole to the low range of LOS E. Point Ruston s Final EIS noted potential congestion at N. Pearl St/N. 51 st Street for weekdays in the summer due to the addition of left-turn conflicting with higher summer volumes on Pearl showing that the intersection could fall to LOS E. The text of the Point Ruston FEIS did not further detail the degree of Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 14 27 July 2015
congestion, but the level of service worksheets contained in its appendices show that the westbound left-turn and through movement would fall to LOS F, as would the northbound through and right movement. It was shown that if more westbound traffic turned south on Baltimore than Pearl, conditions would improve. No mitigation or other action was recommended to alleviate this congestion. Point Ruston s EIS did not evaluate a Saturday in the summer. Future Conditions with Additional Development of Pt. Defiance Park Development Program Metro Parks proposes a variety of expanded functions and new uses within the park. Table 5 summarizes the change in uses noting their size and timing. For the purposes of the traffic analysis, development is evaluated in three phases, each occurring in 5-year intervals. Table. Pt. Defiance Park Developments and Phasing Plan Added Floor New Parking Phase Years Zone Land Use Floor Area (Note 1) (Note 2) Remarks I 2016-2020 Triangle Event Hall 30,000 Includes 25,000 sq. ft. education space Boat Trailer Parking 280 Accommodates 140 boat trailers Peninsula Park Open air event lawn 100 Fort Nisqually Plank House 2,500 Camp 6 Multi-use 20,000 125 Owen Beach Picnic Pavillion 1,500 Baker Tract Relocated Dog Park Zoo Aquarium 30,000 465 Education Building 33,000 SAMI to relocate here Phase I Total 117,000 970 II 2021-2025 Triangle Visitor's Center / Admin / Multi-Use 25,000 Retail 10,000 450 Serves all Triangle uses Restaurants (Café, mid-size & large) 18,000 53,000 450 Camp 6 Outdoor Education Venue 1,250 125 100 person capacity Picnic Shelter 2,000 3,250 125 Pt. Defiance Marina New Multi-use space, second floor 26,000 32,500 Baker Tract Children's Play Area 0.5 acre 75 Phase II Total 88,750 650 III 2026-2030 Triangle Lodge with Conf. Space 60,000 0 100 guest rooms plus conference area Phase III Total 60,000 0 Buildout 2030 TOTALS 265,750 1,620 Notes: 1. Includes new structures generating new employment and visitor trips. Excludes replacement of restrooms, utility & maintenance buildings and zoo exhibits other than new aquarium. 2. Reflects newly constructed spaces. Some existing spaces will be displaced or rebuilt, so net increase will be less. Source: BCRA; Changes to Park Circulation and Parking In order to support the new uses with appropriate access and parking, and to improve walking and cycling in the park, Metro Parks proposes the following actions: Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 15 27 July 2015
Roads and Intersections Construct a roundabout at the Pearl Street entry. A roundabout would better handle traffic from the multiple roads leading to this intersection, reducing congestion and confusion. It would alleviate back-ups for ferry traffic, and would allow easier access to the Triangle area. Convert the road from the Zoo to Pearl Street to two-way flow and extend two-way operation past the Zoo to Ft. Nisqually. This change would allow traffic to reach the Zoo and Ft. Nisqually directly from the Pearl Street entry without driving through the Bowl and around the north end of the Zoo, reducing conflicts with pedestrians and distance driven. On the waterfront access road, reallocate the lane now used for access to the boat ramp for use as a holding lane for the ferry. Pedestrian and Bike Trails Extend the path from the proposed bridge across the waterfront access road to Owen Beach, along Five-Mile Drive to create a protected share-use path. Five-Mile Drive, west of the Zoo s access road, currently has two lanes up to Owen Beach so the right-hand lane would be converted to create a protected path. Provide a walking path from the Pearl Street entry to the Zoo and beyond to the former Camp 6 area. Parking Deck a portion of the Zoo lot to create an additional 465 spaces to meet the Zoo s design day needs. Provide parking at the Triangle to meet its future needs (approximately 450 spaces). Provide new boat trailer parking (already under construction) to consolidate and formalize parking for boat trailers. Expand parking at Owen Beach by using the area located at the top of the existing lot to meet demand on busy days. Approximately 60 new spaces could be added. Add permanent parking to the former Camp 6 site to support its uses. 120 stalls are proposed. Create a limited amount of parking at key trailheads on Five-Mile Drive. Approximately stalls would be added. Estimating Transportation Demands The variety of uses and activities at Pt. Defiance Park generate tremendous variation in the number of people visiting the park on any given day. Strong daily and seasonal patterns occur, influenced by weather, new exhibits, and special events. For most uses in the park, this study uses visitor and employee populations as the starting point to estimate travel demands. Not surprisingly, the Zoo generates the largest number of visitors to a single activity in the park on a busy day. Therefore, forecasts of park-wide transportation demand start with careful analysis of Zoo attendance patterns to identify when its busiest days occur. Selection of Zoo Design Day Attendance Daily attendance records for the Zoo were reviewed for 2009 2011 (obtained for previous planning efforts), and for 2013-2014, to identify peak, average, weekday and weekend attendance. Figure 10 shows the ranking of daily attendance from the highest day of the year to the lowest. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 16 27 July 2015
Figure 10 Source: PDZA; The design-day attendance, reflecting a high day but not the highest day of the year, is derived from the pattern of the curves, as well as objectives to accommodate traffic and parking on most days of the year. The chart shows a steep drop from the highest day s attendance and a slight leveling around the 10 th highest day. After that, a gradual slope down generally occurs. That leveling point suggests an appropriate design-day value. Accordingly, a 98 th -percentile day, equivalent to about the 8 th highest day of the year, has been selected as the basis for anticipating Zoo traffic and parking demands. Table 6 shows additional information on the relation of the 98 th -percentile day to overall Zoo attendance for the last two years. Table 6. Design Day Attendance Comparisons 2013 2014 Daily Admissions 584,498 573,384 Peak Day 6,157 6,434 98th %-ile Day 4,978 4,806 Average Day 1,601 1,554 Zoo Lights 115,308 121,123 Annual Total 699,806 694,507 98th %-ile as % of Annual Total: 0.71% 0.69% In 2014, the top ten attendance days occurred between mid-may and early September, and almost all (8 days) occurred on a weekend, especially on Saturday (6 days). Only one top-ten day occurred on a Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 17 27 July 2015
weekday that was not part of a long holiday weekend. This is consistent with the daily patterns analyzed previously for 2011, as shown in Figure 11. Figure 11. Source: In light of that pattern, it is assumed for this study that the design-day attendance will occur on a Saturday. Zoo attendance peaks during the early afternoon around 1:00 p.m. Data from year 2011 show the highest level of arriving visitors occurring between 11:00 a.m. and noon on the busiest days. With an average length of stay of 3 hours, attendance peaks between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Source: Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 18 27 July 2015
Growth in Zoo Attendance Zoo attendance is anticipated to grow with the opening of the new aquarium in 2018. Assuming adequate parking to accommodate visitors, the Zoo anticipates an annual total of 826,000 visitors by 2020, a 19% increase over 2014. After 2020, attendance is assumed to grow 1% annually. The 2020 projected annual attendance implies a design-day volume of 5,800 visitors (826,000 annual visitors x 0.70 % on 98 th -percentile day). Annual growth would increase that volume to 6,400 visitors by 2030. Use of Classroom and Event Venues The facilities available to hold classes and host events in Pt. Defiance Park and their assumed level of use are shown in Table 7. Facility Table 7. Use of Event & Classroom Space Weekday Events Afternoon Evening Capacity Start Start (Persons) (Persons) (Persons) Saturday Events Afternoon Start (Persons) Evening Start (Persons) Pagoda 200 105 0 160 0 Multi-use Building at former Camp 6 200 200 0 100 0 Zoo New Education Building (SAMI) 450 450 0 30 0 Boathouse Marina Event Space Boathouse Marina Classrooms 670 670 670 240 0 0 335 120 0 0 Rose Garden (Weddings) 110 0 0 105 0 Triangle Event Hall 300 255 255 255 255 Source: Assumptions for the use of these spaces include: Pagoda this rental facility is expected to continue with its wide range of receptions, classes, and meetings. Although evening use does occur, many events occur midday and are used here to indicate traffic in the peak hour. Multi-use Building at former Camp 6 this space is planned for high school students associated with SAMI, and other visiting schools during weekdays in the school year. On weekends, it could offer general interest programs to the public. Zoo New Education Building (SAMI) this building will become SAMI s new school for up to 450 high school students. During summers, it will offer morning programs with an expected enrollment of approximately 75 students. Additionally, classrooms would be available during the summer for other public use in the afternoons. It is assume that up to 100 persons would use the classrooms over two separate hour-long afternoon sessions. Boathouse Marina Event Space the addition of a second floor (26,000 sq. ft.) to the Marina Boathouse offers both event and classroom space. It is assumed that 10,000 sq. ft. would be used as a rental event space, with a seated capacity of 670 persons. This large space would be used for weddings and wedding receptions, parties, banquets and other similar events. Boathouse Marina Classrooms Also located on the new second floor, from 5 to 10 classrooms could be built. Classrooms could host seminars, training sessions, general interest programs, and other educational offerings. For transportation purposes, classrooms are assumed to operate between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. with an average of 16 sessions per day, 15 Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 19 27 July 2015
participants per class and each lasting 1.5 hours. Weekdays are assumed to host twice the volume of Saturdays, with 240 and 120 participants, respectively. Rose Garden Weddings A popular location for outdoor weddings in fair weather, the Rose Garden is assumed to host up to two weddings on a summer Saturday. Triangle Event Hall this new rental event space would be expected to hold weddings, receptions, banquets, parties and other catered events. It is anticipated to book midday and evening events on busy weekdays and weekends. For this analysis, two events per day are assumed. Added Transportation Demands Trip Generation. Table 8 summarizes vehicle trip generation for each phase of development in Pt. Defiance Park. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 20 27 July 2015
Table 8. TRIP GENERATION SUMMARY WEEKDAY TRIP GENERATION 2020 PH I Weekday 2020 PH II Weekday 2030 PH III Buildout -- Weekday Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Zoo & Aquarium 2,750 45 275 320 Zoo & Aquarium 2,850 50 290 340 Zoo & Aquarium 2,960 50 300 350 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 1,790 55 100 155 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 1,930 60 105 165 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 2,000 65 110 175 Waterfront 2,160 90 70 160 Waterfront 2,890 115 75 190 Waterfront 2,890 115 75 190 Gardens 820 25 35 60 Gardens 840 25 35 60 Gardens 910 25 40 65 Peninsula Park 208 10 11 22 Peninsula Park 208 10 11 22 Peninsula Park 239 12 13 25 Triangle 1,160 50 35 85 Triangle 3,640 135 165 300 Triangle 3,900 150 170 320 Entire Park 8,888 275 526 802 Entire Park 12,358 395 681 1,077 Entire Park 12,899 417 708 1,125 Existing -- Weekday Existing -- Weekday Existing -- Weekday Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Zoo & Aquarium 1,180 10 65 75 Zoo & Aquarium 1,180 10 65 75 Zoo & Aquarium 1,180 10 65 75 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 1,630 55 100 155 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 1,630 55 100 155 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 1,630 55 100 155 Waterfront 2,150 90 70 160 Waterfront 2,150 90 70 160 Waterfront 2,150 90 70 160 Gardens 860 25 40 65 Gardens 860 25 40 65 Gardens 860 25 40 65 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Triangle 110 0 15 15 Triangle 110 0 15 15 Triangle 110 0 15 15 Entire Park 5,930 180 290 470 Entire Park 5,930 180 290 470 Entire Park 5,930 180 290 470 Net Change in Traffic Volumes with Phase I Net Change in Traffic Volumes through Phase II Net Change in Traffic Volumes through Phase II Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Peak Hour (4-5 PM) Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Zoo & Aquarium 1,570 35 210 245 Zoo & Aquarium 1,670 40 225 265 Zoo & Aquarium 1,780 40 235 275 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 160 0 0 0 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 300 5 5 10 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 370 10 10 20 Waterfront 10 0 0 0 Waterfront 740 25 5 30 Waterfront 740 25 5 30 Gardens -40 0-5 -5 Gardens -20 0-5 -5 Gardens 50 0 0 0 Peninsula Park 208 10 11 22 Peninsula Park 208 10 11 22 Peninsula Park 239 12 13 25 Triangle 1,050 50 20 70 Triangle 3,530 135 150 285 Triangle 3,790 150 155 305 Entire Park 2,958 95 236 332 Entire Park 6,428 215 391 607 Entire Park 6,969 237 418 655 SATURDAY TRIP GENERATION 2020 Ph I Saturday 2025 Ph II Saturday 2030 Ph III Buildout -- Saturday Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Total Pk Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Hr Zoo & Aquarium 3,600 260 470 730 Zoo & Aquarium 3,770 270 480 750 Zoo & Aquarium 3,940 285 490 775 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 3,340 305 240 545 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 3,340 305 240 545 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 3,340 305 240 545 Waterfront 3,390 150 110 260 Waterfront 3,760 410 110 520 Waterfront 3,760 410 110 520 Gardens 610 135 70 205 Gardens 610 135 70 205 Gardens 610 135 70 205 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Triangle 620 10 20 30 Triangle 4,170 185 220 405 Triangle 4,410 185 220 405 Entire Park 12,080 886 938 1,824 Entire Park 16,170 1,331 1,148 2,479 Entire Park 16,580 1,346 1,158 2,504 Existing -- Summer Saturday Existing -- Summer Saturday Existing -- Summer Saturday Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Total Pk Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Hr Zoo & Aquarium 1,840 120 345 465 Zoo & Aquarium 1,840 120 345 465 Zoo & Aquarium 1,840 120 345 465 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 3,090 280 235 515 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 3,090 280 235 515 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 3,090 280 235 515 Waterfront 3,390 150 110 260 Waterfront 3,390 150 110 260 Waterfront 3,390 150 110 260 Gardens 680 150 70 220 Gardens 680 150 70 220 Gardens 680 150 70 220 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Peninsula Park 0 0 0 0 Triangle 360 10 20 30 Triangle 360 10 20 30 Triangle 360 10 20 30 Entire Park 9,360 710 780 1,490 Entire Park 9,360 710 780 1,490 Entire Park 9,360 710 780 1,490 Net Change in Traffic Volumes with Phase I Net Change in Traffic Volumes through Phase II Net Change in Traffic Volumes through Phase II Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Peak Hour (1-2 PM) Total Pk Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Total Daily In Out Hr Zoo & Aquarium 1,760 140 125 265 Zoo & Aquarium 1,930 150 135 285 Zoo & Aquarium 2,100 165 145 310 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 250 25 5 30 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Beach 250 25 5 30 Camp 6/Ft. Nisqually/Owen Bea 250 25 5 30 Waterfront 0 0 0 0 Waterfront 370 260 0 260 Waterfront 370 260 0 260 Gardens -70-15 0-15 Gardens -70-15 0-15 Gardens -70-15 0-15 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Peninsula Park 520 26 28 54 Triangle 260 0 0 0 Triangle 3,810 175 200 375 Triangle 4,050 175 200 375 Entire Park 2,720 176 158 334 Entire Park 6,810 621 368 989 Entire Park 7,220 636 378 1,014 Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 21 27 July 2015
At buildout, Pt. Defiance would roughly double existing weekday traffic volumes (assuming a 75 th - percentile attendance day at the Zoo), and would add about 70% more traffic on a busy summer Saturday (at 98 th -percentile day at the Zoo). Specific assumptions used to calculate vehicle trips are described for each use below. Land Use & User Groups Persons WEEKDAY at BUILDOUT 2030 % Auto Average Vehicle Occupancy % of Daily Volume in Peak Hour (4-5 pm) PM Peak Hour (4-5 pm) In Out Total Daily Zoo & Aquarium Visitors (75 th -percentile day) 3,870 98% 3.56 7.6% 50 160 210 2,125 Employees 142 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 280 Zoo Education Building (SAMI) Students 450 60% 1.42 5% 0 20 20 380 Staff 30 100% 1.00 19% 0 10 10 60 Event Visitors 0 0 0 0 0 Day Care at SAMI Children 20 95% 1.13 0% 0 0 0 70 Staff 4 100% 1.00 0% 0 0 0 10 Multi-Use Building at Camp 6 Students 200 60% 1.42 0% 0 0 0 170 Staff 25 100% 1.00 0% 0 0 0 50 Event Visitors 0 0 0 0 0 Boathouse Marina Customers 230 100% 1.92 10% 10 15 25 240 Staff 5 100% 1.03 20% 1 1 2 20 Boathouse Marina Event Space Event Visitors 670 100% 1.86 5% 0 50 50 1,030 Staff 9 100% 1.03 5% 0 1 1 20 Boathouse Marina Classrooms Event Visitors 240 95% 1.23 9% 25 10 35 370 Staff 9 100% 1.03 5% 0 1 1 20 Marina Boat Launch Boat Trailers 58 100% 1.0 12% 0 15 15 120 Staff 4 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 10 Anthony s Restaurant Customers 600 95% 2.02 2% 10 5 15 565 Staff 40 100% 1.03 23% 5 30 35 150 Pagoda Event Visitors 105 100% 2.17 5% 0 5 5 100 Staff 5 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 10 Lodge Visitors Center Event Visitors 410 100% 2.11 5% 10 10 20 370 Staff 2 100% 1.00 20% 0 1 1 5 Rose Garden General Visitors 1,165 35% 1.88 9% 15 25 40 430 Event Visitors 0 0 0 0 0 Triangle Event Hall Event Visitors 510 100% 2.17 2% 0 10 10 470 Staff 12 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 25 Triangle Café Customers 150 75% 2.08 2% 1 1 2 110 Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 22 27 July 2015
Staff 6 100% 1.00 10% 2 0 2 20 Triangle Restaurants (2) Customers 840 90% 2.00 3% 10 10 20 755 Staff 48 100% 1.03 24% 5 35 40 180 Triangle Hotel Guests 162 75% 1.66 10% 15 5 20 200 Staff 25 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 50 Triangle Retail Customers 1,490 95% 1.88 11% 80 80 160 1,500 Staff 9 100% 1.03 5% 0 1 1 20 Fort Nisqually Visitors 230 96% 2.35 7% 1 8 9 135 Staff 39 100% 1.09 30% 0 20 20 70 Owen Beach Visitors 885 83% 2.15 7% 15 35 50 680 Staff 5 100% 1.00 5% 0 1 1 10 Gig Harbor Viewpoint Visitors 1,190 100% 2.04 10% 55 60 115 1,170 Peninsula Park Visitors 460 50% 1.92 10% 10 15 25 240 Source: Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 23 27 July 2015
Land Use & User Groups Persons SATURDAY at BUILDOUT 2030 % Auto Average Vehicle Occupancy % of Daily Volume in Peak Hour (1-2 pm) PM Peak Hour (1-2pm) In Out Total Daily Zoo & Aquarium Visitors (98 th -percentile day) 6,400 98% 3.56 15% 270 250 520 3.560 Employees 142 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 280 Zoo Education Building (SAMI) Students 0 0 0 0 0 Staff 3 100% 1.00 19% 1 0 2 10 Event Visitors 100 90% 1.69 15% 15 0 15 85 Day Care at SAMI Children 0 0 0 0 0 Staff 0 0 0 0 Multi-Use Building at Camp 6 Students 100 60% 1.42 0% 0 0 0 85 Staff 10 100% 1.00 0% 0 0 0 40 Event Visitors 100 90% 1.69 17% 20 5 25 115 Boathouse Marina Customers 1,255 100% 1.92 11% 100 50 150 1,305 Staff 5 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 20 Boathouse Marina Event Space Event Visitors 355 100% 1.86 45% 230 0 230 515 Staff 9 100% 1.03 35% 15 0 15 40 Boathouse Marina Classrooms Event Visitors 120 95% 1.23 13% 15 10 25 185 Staff 9 100% 1.03 35% 15 0 15 40 Marina Boat Launch Boat Trailers 175 100% 1.0 8% 10 20 30 350 Staff 4 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 10 Anthony s Restaurant Customers 1,130 95% 2.02 13% 55 80 135 1,060 Staff 40 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 150 Pagoda Event Visitors 160 100% 2.17 45% 65 0 65 150 Staff 5 100% 1.03 30% 3 0 3 10 Lodge Visitors Center Event Visitors 410 100% 2.11 20% 30 30 60 315 Staff 2 100% 1.00 0% 0 0 0 5 Rose Garden General Visitors 1,500 35% 1.88 11% 30 35 65 560 Event Visitors 210 100% 2.17 2% 5 0 5 200 Triangle Event Hall Event Visitors 510 100% 2.17 11% 55 0 55 470 Staff 24 100% 1.03 20% 10 0 10 50 Triangle Café Customers 255 75% 2.08 12% 10 15 25 195 Staff 6 100% 1.00 0% 0 0 0 20 Triangle Restaurants (2) Customers 1,550 90% 2.00 14% 70 120 190 1,400 Staff 48 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 180 Triangle Hotel Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 24 27 July 2015
Triangle Retail Fort Nisqually Owen Beach Gig Harbor Viewpoint Peninsula Park Source: Guests 162 75% 1.66 2% 5 0 5 200 Staff 25 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 50 Customers 2,130 95% 1.88 10% 110 100 210 2,150 Staff 9 100% 1.03 0% 0 0 0 20 Visitors 455 96% 2.35 32% 85 10 95 280 Staff 39 100% 1.09 0% 0 0 0 70 Visitors 1,555 83% 2.15 23% 80 60 140 1,205 Staff 5 100% 1.00 5% 0 1 1 10 Visitors 2,065 100% 2.04 20% 215 195 410 2,020 Visitors 1,000 50% 1.92 10% 25 30 55 520 Internal Capture Many land uses in the park are primary destinations, such as the Zoo, Owen Beach, Fort Nisqually, and event spaces. However, other uses, such as restaurants and retail shops, would capture some of their business from people visiting the primary destinations. Assumptions for internal capture apply to these land uses: Land Use Internal Capture Triangle Retail 20% Triangle Café 90% Triangle Restaurants 10% Picnic Areas 10% Anthony s Restaurant 5% Internal Trips as share of All Park Trips 6% Source: Traffic Distribution Figures 12 through 15 show the expected distribution of vehicle trips generated by Pt. Defiance Park. Traffic counts revealed that more visitors arrived at the Pearl Street entrance than departed by it and, conversely, more people departed at Mildred Street than arrived there. Accordingly, separate distributions have been determined for inbound and outbound vehicles on a weekday and on a Saturday. The resulting total volumes for each phase of development are shown on Figure 16 for weekdays and Figure 17 for Saturday. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 25 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 26 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 27 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 28 27 July 2015
Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 29 27 July 2015
Traffic Operations Table 9 summarizes intersection level of service results for each phase of development in Pt. Defiance Park. Table 9. Intersection Level of Service Weekday PM Peak Hour Existing Conditions Background 2020 Phase 1-2020 Phase 2-2025 Phase 3-2030 Intersection Traffic Control (Existing/Future) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) Level of Service Delay (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way/Roundabout A 9 A 9 A 5 A 5 A 5 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 C 23 C 24 C 28 C 30 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way A 9 A 9 A 9 A 9 A 9 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 A 5 A 5 A 5 A 5 Saturday Peak Hour Existing Conditions Background 2020 Phase 1-2020 Phase 2-2025 Phase 3-2030 Traffic Control Level of Delay Level of Delay Level of Delay Level of Delay Level of Delay Intersection (Existing/Future) Service (seconds) Service (seconds) Service (seconds) Service (seconds) Service (seconds) N Pearl St/N 54th St All-way/Roundabout C 16 C 16 A 6 A 7 A 7 N Pearl St/N 51st St Signal B 18 E 75 F 117 F 143 F 143 N Vassualt St/N 51st St All-way A 9 A 10 B 11 B 11 B 11 Ruston Way/Yacht Club Rd Roundabout A 3 A 3 A 3 A 3 A 3 Notes: 1. At N Pearl St/N 51st Street - Signal timing was optimized /adjusted for each future phase. Assumed 90 second cycle length. 2. Results reflect HCM 2010 calculated LOS. 3. Roundabouts analyzed using Sidra 6.1, following WSDOT guidelines for roundabout analysis. Traffic operations are favorable except for the design-day summer Saturday at N. Pearl/N. 51 st Street, which falls to LOS F. That poor result reflects the conflict between high westbound volumes and elevated northbound volumes. Long delays would be expected on other summer weekends even when zoo attendance is less than the design-day level. Effect of Circulation Changes The most influential change in vehicle traffic would come from conversion of Five Mile Drive to two-way flow between Pearl Street and Fort Nisqually. That change would allow vehicles entering the park to drive directly to the Zoo, the former Camp 6 and Fort Nisqually without passing through the Bowl and around the north end of the Zoo. It is estimated that this change would decrease traffic through the Bowl by approximately 3,000 daily vehicles on a weekday at buildout, and 4,000 daily vehicles on a summer Saturday. Pedestrian circulation would face fewer conflicts with automobiles when walking to and from the Rose Garden, due largely to the reduction in vehicle traffic through the Bowl noted above. The addition of the pedestrian bridge from the Triangle over the ferry landing road will separate pedestrians from vehicles when walking between the Triangle and Rose Garden/Pagoda. Pedestrian access to the Zoo would be provided directly from the Pearl Street entry via a new dedicated walkway. A pedestrian bridge will also link the new Zoo education building to be used by SAMI to hiking trails west of the Zoo s access road. Bicycles would gain dedicated access to the park with extension of the Ruston Way path, with the new bridge from the Triangle, and with continuation of the shared walking/bike path to Owen Beach. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 30 27 July 2015
Parking Changes to parking will be concentrated in areas where new construction is planned. Those areas include the Zoo, Triangle, and the former Camp 6 area. Table 10 shows the increase in parking supply at buildout over current conditions. Table 10. Parking Supply Source: Existing Supply Net Added Future Supply Boat Trailer Parking Boat Trailer Parking Boat Trailer Parking Equivalent Total Equivalent Total Equivalent Boat Trailer General General General Boat Trailer General General General Boat Trailer General General Zoo 584 584 465 465 1049 1049 Former Camp 6 200 200 120 120 120 120 Rose Garden/Pagoda 138 11 22 160 0 0 138 11 22 160 Triangle 95 75 150 245 450 65 130 580 450 140 280 730 Waterfront 205 12 24 229 0 0 205 12 24 229 Penisula Park n/a n/a n/a n/a 100 100 100 100 Fort Nisqually & Picnic Area 81 81 0 81 81 Owen Beach & Picnic Area 208 208 60 60 268 268 Gig Harbor Viewpoint & Picnic Area 30 30 0 0 30 30 Totals 1,541 98 196 1,737 1,195 65 130 1,325 2,441 163 326 2,767 The added supply would meet design-day parking demands at the zoo, Triangle and most other park functions. One use that could experience a parking deficit is the second floor Boathouse Marina event and classroom space. Also, Fort Nisqually could face parking shortages if events in the planned Long House overlap with regular visitor and picnic demands. Figure 18 shows demand and supply forecasts for major uses within the park. Total General Figure 18 Source: Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 31 27 July 2015
Mitigation Measures Transportation impacts from the proposed further development of this regional park are limited mainly to busy summer weekends. Those impacts include: Increased congestion at the intersection of N. Pearl St./N. 51 st Street on summer Saturdays, resulting in long delays compared to current conditions, although the increase in delay will occur in part due to Point Ruston s added traffic. Potential parking shortages along the waterfront and Owen Beach. Additionally, continued use of N. Mildred Street for access to the park and to the new dog walk and playground areas raises questions about how best to manage traffic speeds on the street. Recommended Measures 1. N. Pearl St/N. 51 st Street. Monitor traffic performance on weekends through each phase of development to pinpoint sources of delay and extent of back-ups. Implement these actions as necessary: Upgrade traffic signal detection and timing systems to provide real-time information that would allow the signal to respond more effectively to changing traffic conditions. Consider restricting westbound left-turns during peak periods on summer weekends. The purpose is to reduce delay and back-ups. Advance warnings should be displayed so that drivers on N. 51 st Street know that the turn is restricted and could choose instead to turn at Baltimore or Vassault. 2. N. Mildred Street. Methods to reduce racing on this street between N. 51 st Street and Pt. Defiance Park should be implemented. These would most likely include techniques to narrow the traveled way to two lanes of modest width, consistent with its 25 mph limit. Specific measures could include: Striping the lane edges to delineate travel lanes from parking lanes. Guidelines published by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) suggest lane widths of 10 feet as appropriate for a low-speed street in a residential area without transit service. Add landscaped islands at intervals along the street to break up the parking lane. These islands would extend from the existing curb out to the edge of the travel lane. They would serve multiple functions: creating the perception of narrowness in the street; preventing the parking lane from being used as a travel lane; and providing protection from traffic to cars parked along the curb. Step up enforcement, especially during the evening after the park is closed. 3. Owen Beach parking. Consider marking the area above the existing paved lot for parking to meet demand on summer weekends and other busy days. Approximately 60 spaces could be provided. A permeable surface would be appropriate to handle the busiest days when demand would need these extra spaces, occurring probably three-dozens days per year. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 32 27 July 2015
4. Waterfront parking. Use of the Marina Boathouse second floor for classroom and event functions would create parking demand that cannot be met nearby, especially on summer weekends. To alleviate this parking shortage, consider these actions: Limit its use to non-peak periods including weekdays (Monday to Thursday) and weekends outside of summer. Create remote parking options served by a shuttle, either within the park or outside of the park. Limit the size of the class and event space to approximately 100 persons. Parking demand could be more readily accommodated for that size of class or event. Pt. Defiance DRA Transportation Analysis 33 27 July 2015