3.0 Affected Environment - Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority

Knik Arm Crossing DraftFinal EIS
Affected Environment
The People Mover’s Route 14—Government Hill—provides daily service from the Transit
Center in Downtown Anchorage across the A-C Viaduct to Government Hill and Elmendorf
(see Figure 3.11). In addition, the Ship Creek Shuttle provides public transportation to the
Ship Creek waterfront area. The shuttle operates on a 30-minute schedule and serves various
destinations in the Downtown Anchorage and Ship Creek areas.
Anchorage planned roadway system
A number of transportation studies and plans have been conducted during the last 10 years to
assess the transportation system in Anchorage, including the 2005 Anchorage LRTP. These
studies have suggested many modifications to improve traffic flow within Anchorage and in
the vicinity of the Study Area. Specific issues addressed by the LRTP within the Study Area
include congestion on primary roadways. The following paragraphs describe plans that are
relevant to the KAC project. These plans are included in the transportation system used to
develop transportation models.
• The Whitney/Ocean Dock Road intersection, Downtown Anchorage, A-C Viaduct ramps,
and the planned Highway-to-Highway Connection were areas of special system planning
focus of the 2005 Anchorage LRTP.
• The Ingra-Gambell Extension project is a planned project into which the proposed KAC
project would tie. The Ingra-Gambell Extension is a new facility that would extend Ingra
and Gambell Streets from 3rd Avenue to Whitney Road to provide circulation and access
for freight movement in particular. Refer to the Anchorage LRTP for more information.
• Long-range plans call for a connection of the Glenn Highway to the Seward Highway to
meet travel needs in the corridor (Highway-to-Highway Connection project). Refer to the
Anchorage LRTP for more information.
• The 2003 Anchorage LRTP mentions an expansion of the A-C Viaduct to four lanes to
accommodate expected growth in traffic demand. Refer to the Anchorage LRTP for more
information.
Congestion
For the purposes of this Study for the proposed KAC project, roadway congestion has been
characterized by ADT, as shown on Figure 3.12. Congestion levels are defined on the map
using V/C, the number of vehicle trips per unit time compared with the capacity of each
segment of roadway. Traffic levels for V/Cs are:
• V/C greater than 1.0 = heavy congestion—traffic volume on the roadway is over capacity
• V/C of 0.75–1.0 = traffic flow is approaching capacity, but not over
• V/C of 0.5–0.74 = moderate traffic loads, given the capacity of the road
• V/C of less than 0.5 = low or no congestion
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