I-95 Sector B SAC Meeting #5 April 2, 2019

Agenda

• Sector B Project Updates • Central to South

Philadelphia Planning Study

• Central Access Philadelphia

• Public Outreach • Agency Updates • Coordination and Next

Steps 2

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Corridor Context

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CSP Planning Study • Meet the multi-modal transportation needs

of the City, region, and eastern seaboard • Replace an aging I-95 in an urban context • Improve access to important expanding

economic nodes • Penn’s Landing • Port • Stadium District • Navy Yard

• Consider I-95, Columbus Blvd., and adjacent street network

• Investigate opportunities for “early action” improvements

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CSP/CAP Timeline

TODAY

CSP Updates

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Status

• DVRPC 2045 traffic model forecasts have been developed • Using data to develop, evaluate, & refine conceptual design

alternatives • Analyzing interchange segments:

• Broad Street • I-95/I-76 interchange and surface street connections • Penn’s Landing

• Share approach and initial ideas for feedback today • Fall 2019 Sector B SAC will present conceptual alternatives

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Approach • Conceptual designs seek to:

• Improve access & connectivity from I-95 & city systems • Manage congestion & improve operations • Address existing highway design deficiencies • Minimize lane expansion • Consider potential resiliency approaches

• Focus has been on making the ramps work better: • Transportation function • Access to traffic generators

• Identify construction approaches to rebuild structure in context of a dense urban environment: • Minimize widening • Maintain 3-lanes of traffic in each direction during construction

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Broad Street Design Challenges • High volumes at Navy Yard are

creating need for more capacity at the interchange, design is considering: • Increase from 3 to 4 lanes, OR • Use of shoulders to create flex

lanes during peak demand • Need to avoid impacting existing

rail lines and FDR Park • Need to maintain egress

circulation in the stadium district • Single access point to Navy Yard

won’t be sufficient at buildout

Source: PIDC

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Broad Street Design Focus • Make ramps function better to

improve access to Navy Yard and Stadium District • Direct Navy Yard access from

northbound I-95 • Accommodate traffic needs at

build out • Meet or reduce stadium event

traffic egress times • Improve bicycle and pedestrian

safety between Navy Yard, FDR Park, Stadiums, and SEPTA Station

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FDR Park • Master Plan to revitalize park

includes new and existing facilities under I-95

• I-95 stormwater runoff identified as an important concern

• May be short-term opportunities reduce runoff • Maintenance contracts • Partnerships with planned

airport wetlands mitigation project

• Skate park coordination and maintenance

Autonomous Vehicle Concept of Operation Study

• Studying the potential of an automated vehicle (AV) shuttle in South Philadelphia as a part of traffic control measures during construction

• Implementation would require state legislative action

• Initiating a Concept of Operation Study for AV shuttle feasibility • Traffic control • Service needs

12 Source: AECOM

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I-95/I-76 Interchange Design Challenges

• Complex needs • Interstate to interstate connections • Local access to major economic generators

• Must maintain local access to Front St./Packer Ave. • Port access • Broad St. interchange function

• Difficult to serve all access needs within safe ramp spacing parameters • Need to minimize impacts to adjacent properties

• Port • Rail • PWD SE treatment plant

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I-95/I-76 Interchange Design Focus

• Full access between interstates

• Direct Port access

• Direct “fourth corner” Stadium District access

• Second Navy Yard access point

Port Access Update

• Port is continuing to pursue a weekday closure/detour for Columbus Blvd. • From Oregon Ave. to Pattison Ave./Front St. • Weekdays 7:00am to 5:00pm, except during events • Maintain local access • One-year renewable highway occupancy permit

• Status: Decision anticipated by late spring 2019 • Bikes will be detoured onto Oregon Ave. to 7th St.

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Penn’s Landing Design Challenges

• Highway Ramps • Relocate to better serve current and future land uses • Consolidate where possible and create a full-movement interchange

• Provide highway access onto Columbus Blvd. only • Relieve congestion and improve multi-modal function of Columbus

• Support improved bicycle and pedestrian environment • Provide space for future transit improvements • Consider needs of extended South Street Pedestrian Bridge

• Focus any footprint expansions to the east side of I-95 • Current and future flooding due to low highway & street elevations

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Penn’s Landing Design Focus • Create additional access south of Washington to minimize travel path on

Columbus Blvd. • Evaluate removing ramps where feasible, potentially including:

• Market St. • Lombard St. • Morris St.

• Expand from 3 to 4 lanes from Queen St. to the “bathtub” • Eliminate a current and worsening bottleneck • Minimize highway foot print expansion in the design

• Consider resiliency needs for I-95 and Columbus Blvd. • Early action improvements for Columbus Blvd.

• Traffic signals • Left turns

Resiliency Issues • First phase of construction in

10 years • Sea level rise • Policies and tools are being

updated • Design & manage for:

• Robustness • Redundancy • Resourcefulness • Rapidity

• Apply to diverse facilities: • Viaduct • “Bathtub” • Adjacent surface streets

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Resiliency Coordination Needs

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• City agency coordination • Office of Sustainability • PWD • L&I (City’s Floodplain

Manager) • PCPC • Office of Emergency

Management • oTIS

• Federal & state agencies

CAP Update

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CAP Planning Study & Design • Construct a new, extended

cap/bridge structure over I-95 and Columbus Boulevard between Chestnut and Walnut Streets

• Extend the South Street pedestrian bridge

• Construct the Delaware River Trail on Columbus Boulevard under the Penn’s Landing Cap

Status • Conceptual approval for Penn’s Landing cap structural approach • Refining designs for cap topside amenities • Final design to begin mid-2019 • Coordination with Washington Ave. and Delaware River trails

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Penn’s Landing Cap Footprint Expansion

• Agreement to continue current ownership & maintenance roles for greatly expanded facilities

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Ownership & Maintenance of Expanded Cap

• Agreement to continue current ownership & maintenance roles for greatly expanded facilities

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Feasibility Study Site Plan

• Plazas • Play • Water feature • Ice/roller skating • Café/restroom/skate/office

pavilion • Multi-purpose lawn areas • Trees • Gardens • Amphitheater • Memorial considerations

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Topside Refinements

Feasibility Study Revision 3: Shifted Revision 2: Rotate Revision 1: Flipped

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Current Draft Design Alternative • Strengthen E/W connectivity • Improve views to river • Reorient program based on structure profile • Program embedded within tree groves –

shade/comfort/ placemaking • Strengthen relationship of pavilion/café to

river • Environmental play • Flexibility for memorials • Flexible amphitheater space • Trail connections • SEPTA connection on Chestnut St.

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Topside Refinements: Programming

• Resiliency designs • Memorial locations • Event space • Access from city

streets • Inclusive programming

• Accommodate existing activities

• New programs consistent with an iconic waterfront destination

Continued Evolution

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Memorial Relocation

• Move during construction, consistent with the City’s public art policy

• Plans include options for relocation on cap within structural limits

• Also evaluating permanent relocations off of the cap that would be agreeable to memorial groups

• Coordination is ongoing with:

• Philadelphia Parks and Recreation • Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy • oTIS • Irish and Scottish memorial groups

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Front Street Access: Current

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Front Street Access: Proposed

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Front Street Access: Proposed

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Floodplain & Resiliency Issues • Project involves fill in the floodplain • Requires coordination with Pennsylvania DEP and Philadelphia

L&I on floodplain fill and development • Waterside

facilities to be flood proofed – designed not to be damaged by inundation

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Views to the River: Chestnut St.

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Views to the River: Skating Rink

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Views to the River: Café Outdoor Seating

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Views to the River: Water Play Area

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South Street Bridge • Confirmed

technical feasibility of cable-stay structure approach

• Coordination with CSP for structure locations

• Agreement in principle for PennDOT ownership

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Project Coordination Needs • Washington

Ave. Connector • Delaware River

Trail • Memorials • Bicycle access • Approach for

Market/ Chestnut connection • Transit

operations • Development

needs

Birdseye Rendering of Delaware River Trail Design at Pier 38-40, DRWC

Public Outreach

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2019 Public Outreach Elements • Coordination needs

• CSP & CAP messaging • Joint DRWC/City of

Philadelphia/PennDOT CAP outreach

• Stakeholder coordination • Agency discussions • CAP Sustainable Action

Committee • CAP public outreach meeting

Agency Updates

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Agency Updates

• DRWC update • Washington Ave. Connector • Delaware River Trail

• City agencies

Next Steps

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Next Steps • Develop preliminary alternatives for CSP – fall • Begin AV shuttle concept of operations study – summer • Begin South Street Bridge design for CAP – summer • Expand public outreach to inform CAP design refinements

• Memorial discussion with City agencies (4/2) • Memorial groups (May) • CAP Sustainable Action Committee (May) • CAP public meeting (June)