I-66 Multimodal Study Final Report - Virginia Department of ...

Mobility OptionsKey FindingsThis option transforms U.S. 50 into a limited access expressway, which increases its capacityand increases vehicle traffic. The increased transit speeds and services from the bus-only lanesdo not offset the effects of the capacity improvements for autos. In part, the transit serviceprovided in the option does not fully serve the most productive transit markets. Other findingsbased on the MOEs detailed in Table 2.3 include:Total VMT in the study area stays relatively constant, while the percentage of congestedVMT does decrease as shown in Figure 2.16;The large observed shift in PMT from arterials to freeways is caused primarily by the reclassificationof U.S. 50 as an expressway;The percentage of non-SOV travel decreases as new roadway capacity is made available,offsetting the benefit of additional transit service; andAn analysis of cutline volumes shows that this option increases person throughput at eachof the cutlines, indicating increased mobility inside the study area.Figure 2.16 Morning Peak Period VMT by Level of Service – Option EAdditional observations about this mobility option are noted below.Some of the access management improvements included in this option might have animpact on the overall character of U.S. 50 and the surrounding neighborhoods. Of particularconcern was the ability to maintain an urban grid of street and pedestrian connections inthe eastern portion of the corridor in Arlington County.2-26 I-66 Multimodal Study