Environmental Assessment - National Capital Planning Commission

Environmental Assessment
Socioeconomics: In the short or medium term, because of the
relatively short distance between the current locations of NSMA
in Arlington County, VA and NSF Anacostia, it is not expected
that the proposed relocation of the agency would result in a
significant number of NSMA employees moving their residences. In
the long term, with normal personnel turnover, proximity to
Anacostia would become a factor to consider for new personnel
seeking housing, resulting in a change in NSMA staff’s overall
residential patterns. However, such change would take place
slowly and progressively, with negligible impacts at both the
local and regional level.
Construction of the proposed facility would have a positive
impact on the local economy as it would generate design and
construction jobs and revenues. However, in the context of the
Washington DC regional economy, this impact would be small.
The proposed relocation of NSMA to NSF Anacostia would not
disproportionately affect minority or economically disadvantaged
populations protected under Executive Order (EO) 12898. Nor
would it affect children under EO 13045.
Transportation: The Anacostia Metrorail Station, near the
intersection of Firth Sterling Avenue and Howard Road, SE, is
located approximately 4,500 feet from the project site. In
addition to the distance, the lack of adequate sidewalks and the
reputation of the surrounding neighborhood as a high-crime area
are likely to discourage Metrorail users. The Navy has prepared
a Transportation Management Plan (TMP) that outlines measures to
encourage transit usage among NSMA employees. At this stage, the
number of NSMA employees who would regularly ride Metrorail
cannot be estimated. However, it can be expected that any
increase in passenger loads at Anacostia Station would be
absorbed into the increase planned for by the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).
The relocation of NSMA to NSF Anacostia would generate new
traffic to and from the installation. To assess the impacts of
this traffic increase on the local road network, a level of
service (LOS) analysis was conducted for six intersections in
the vicinity of the installation for the year 2011. The analysis
showed that LOS under the Anacostia Alternative would be the
same as under no action conditions, though with slightly
increased delays: all study intersections would operate at an
overall LOS C or better, with the exception of the intersection
of South Capitol Street at Firth Sterling Avenue, which would
operate at LOS D during the PM peak period. LOS D is an
Executive Summary
ES-4