Baltimore-Washington Parkway Widening Feasibility Study

Baltimore-Washington Parkway Widening Feasibility StudyTraffic and Transportation Impacts5.4.2.32040No-Buildto2040PartialBuildFigure 5.8 documents the anticipated change in the AM and PM peak hour level-of-service for the 2040Partial-Build scenario relative to the 2040 No-Build Scenario. Key observations associated with thiscomparison include the following:Level-of-service improves under the 2040 Partial-Build Scenario on widened segments south ofMD 175, but degrades on the three-lane segments north of MD 175. This reflects additionaltraffic seeking the benefits of a widened north-south commuter link which has an adverse effecton operations for segments north of MD 175 where widening has already taken place under the2040 No-Build scenario.A reduction in the projected peak-hour level-of-service is also noted for the B-W Parkwaysegment from the Capital Beltway to MD 193 on which the auxiliary lanes between the closelyspacedinterchanges provide three lanes in each direction under existing conditions. Thissection of the Parkway is not anticipated to experience any widening under the 2040 Partial-Build scenario compared to either the 2005 Existing Conditions or 2040 No-Build Scenarios.The PM peak hour conditions on those Parkway segments south of the Capital Beltway aregenerally worse as these segments are assumed to remain two lanes in each direction under the2040 Partial-Build scenario.Figure 5.8. Change in Level-of-Service from 2040 No-Build to 2040 Partial Build51 November 2012