FAIRFAX COUNTY TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMISSION (TAC)
Meeting Summary
Regular Meeting – April 19, 2016 at 7:30 PM – FCDOT, 4050 Legato Rd, Fairfax, VA 22033
TAC Members in Attendance: Vice Chairman Jennifer Joy Madden (Hunter Mill), Secretary Roger Hoskin (Mason), Alan Young (At-Large), Kevin Morse (Braddock), Harry Zimmerman (Lee), Michael Shor (Mt. Vernon), Eric Thiel (Springfield), and Donald Kissinger (Fairfax Area Disability Services Board).
TAC Members Absent: Chairman Jeff Parnes (Sully), Mike Champness (Dranesville), and Micah Himmel (Providence)
Others in Attendance: FCDOT Staff: Calvin Lam, Arpita Chatterjee, Kristin Calkins and Tom Burke.
The meeting was called to order by Vice Chair Jennifer Joy Madden at 7:35 p.m. The minutes of the last meeting were approved without any changes.
Note Taker: Eric Thiel
Main Topics Discussed
Fairfax County TCM in Land Development
Bree Clohessy of FCDOT briefed the TAC on the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Process. The TDM has three main goals:
· Make the process easier for developers to understand, and thus implement and comply with county goals
· Arrive at mutually agreed and understood proffers and plan, usually contemporaneous, but can be separated in time in order permit varying levels of detail as plans progress
· Start with ITE (Institute of Traffic Engineers) rates in terms of sites and trips and then proceed with reductions
Ms. Clohessy pointed out that it is important that this be a collaborative process across interested parties and that proffers be tied to the land use planning process.
Using the ITE values for square footage, distances to Metro and related transit, FCDOT works with developers to create plans for TDM based on established rates for trip reduction. Exemplar data showed that distances to transit, such as Metro, and overall density are drivers for the TDM plan. Usage data are collected annually or biennially with surveys of users every three years.
A TAC member asked if the goal is trip reduction or congestion reduction. As the metrics are trip reduction, that is the measured goal, but it should also reduce congestion. A follow-up question asked if the developer had to meet trip reduction, or just implement the agreed-to-plan. For the Tysons area, there is a Penalty Fund and money is lost by the proffer if the trip reduction goal is not met. Other rules apply in other areas. The enforcement process in Tysons has both a Remedy and a Penalty fund structure with graduated scales depending on how large the deviation from the plan. (See Enforcement slide for details). Neither fund has been required to be used yet.
TAC members asked about verification methods. Direct county measurements would exceed capabilities, but data are provided by consulting groups and are reviewed by the county.
TAC members also asked about which methods seemed to work best. Shuttle to Metro is best, followed by ‘Pre-Loaded’ Metro cards. Marketing and enthusiasm by the developer and their team also are key contributors.
Questions regarding Bike Share were also discussed. Bike share can help meet goals, but is typically not in proffers. Bike share is usually in the detailed plan. There have been few new plans since bike share started. Merrifield and Tyson’s developers are looking at it. TDM funding can be used for secure bike parking, showers, etc.
TAC members asked about mode share and mode split measurements and how the county monitored the compliance data. Developers generally measure the compliance parameters and the county sets key goals—primarily peak hour Single Occupancy Vehicle (SOV)—so the mode split data is not currently a key parameter. The mode split data is available for analysis and use, but it may not yet be as complete as other data.
Ms. Clohessy also noted that developers are very focused on meeting the specific requirements and some are willing to go “above and beyond” due to enthusiasm and benefits to clients. Kala Quintana from FCDOT added there is now significant pressure from customers and clients for the amenities associated with TDM.
TAC members asked about TDM countywide and how parking is assigned. There are several other locations across the county participating and parking is assigned as part of the zoning process with zoning consulting with TDM staff.
Fairfax County DOT/Transportation Services Group (TSG), Employer Services in Fairfax County
Marcus Moore of FCDOT briefed the TAC on the TDM program in the Transportation Services Group. TSG provides TDM outreach to employers to reduce peak SOV and to move trips out of peak periods. TSG has an established Employer Services Program (ESP) to provide data and assistance to employers.
The program includes Telework, schedule alternatives, GIS maps, guaranteed ride home, and Car/Van pooling, etc. Funding assistance, such as for a vanpool creation, is available. GIS services, for example, can aid employers and employees with vanpool creation, and overall TDM planning. Other services can be assistance with the creation of ride subsidies for use of commuter transit. The program helps employers show compliance with SOV reduction goals via a scoring system. For example, Telework scores highest because it removes two trips and alternate work schedules score lower since the trip still occurs. Mr. Moore pointed out that even modest goals, such as using bus/rail 1 or 2 days per week has very significant impacts on SOV use and overall traffic impacts. Also, TDM appears to improve morale, reduce costs, and reflects good corporate citizenship.
Fairfax County DOT/Transportation Services Division, Student Free Fare Program UPDATE
Nick Perfilli and Kala Quintana of FCDOT briefed the TAC on the Student Free Fare Program. The pilot program started in FY2015 as a response to a BOS initiative requesting FCDOT work with FCPS to explore improved student transit options.
The program started with two goals, first provide students with expanded transportation related to school activities and second, to increase future workforce commuter preparedness. It also has the benefit of increasing Fairfax Connector bus ridership. The program requires parental permission (Both parent and student must sign a form.) and the student is issued a bus pass by the school. Initially the program was intended to operate from 6AM to 8PM, but rapidly expanded to all bus hours—partially due to difficulty with enforcement (Bus driver training stressed that a student was never to be left without transportation as a bus stop.) and the fact that multiple school activities extend beyond 8PM. A key part of the program was bus driver training to ensure that drivers were familiar with the program and the free passes, etc. The cost of the passes was shared between FCDOT and FCPS. Videos were developed for social media explaining the program and stressed good behavior on public transit.
The program was test run in a focus group of 5 schools resulting in over 75,000 student trips in 29 weeks. Student ridership peaks on school days at 7AM and 3PM. 52% of students heard about the program from standard school announcements, but 22% were informed by friends. Almost 12% of students used the pass afterschool to travel to employment. Response very positive: Improvement suggestions focused on adding weekend days, extending hours, and letting other schools know about the program. Both students and administrators were very enthusiastic about the program. After some initial concern about possible student behavior on busses, drivers described it as a “non-issue” and rated behavior as the “same as other passengers” and good to very good.
The most significant change to the program is a perceived need for a photo ID bus pass due to some concerns about un-authorized use of the free passes. Future plans are to brief the BOS in late May 2016 and to move forward with expanded hours and weekend days starting in September 2016. Further work to include Fairfax CUE may occur.
TAC members asked about including MetroBus. Staff noted that the BOS wanted the program to be revenue neutral and that other jurisdictions pay for student use of MetroBus and so that was not part of the program. The current program, beyond training and bus pass printing, did not have significant costs because the buses were already running on their original schedules and adding a few more riders was not a cost driver.
Multiple TAC members expressed enthusiasm about the program.
Other Business:
As the time was after 10PM, other TAC business was deferred until the next meeting.
Planned Agenda for Next Meeting
- May 17, 2016: Bike Share Program – Adam Lind (FCDOT)
Topics for Future Meetings (Candidates for holding meetings at alternate location indicated in bold)
- June 21, 2016: Update on I-66 Project – Sung Shin and Leonard Wolfenstein (FCDOT)
- July 19, 2016: Route 7 Core Widening (Marshall High School?) – Tad Borkowski, FCDOT)
- August 16, 2016: Reston Network Analysis – Kristin Calkins (FCDOT)
- September 20, 2016: I-395 Express Lanes – Susan Shaw/Amanda Baxter (VDOT)
- October 18, 2016: Fairfax County Parkway Corridor Study – Neil Freschman
- November 15, 2016: Update on Tysons Transportation Projects – Ray Johnson (FCDOT)
- December 20, 2016: Legislative Update – Noelle Dominguez (FCDOT)
- TBD: Comprehensive Plan and Transportation staff and Planning Commission discussions with TAC on what their vision is for future development and any changes in planning and zoning guidelines that may be needed to account for future work environment given the pace and impacts of technology advances (including guest speaker to explain impact of self-driving/smart cars, buses and trucks on traffic, roadways and intersections). Joint meeting date with the Planning Commission’s Transportation Committee will be determined.
Closing and Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m.
Upcoming Events:
Through Spring 2016 Share ideas and opinions as part of the Route 7 Corridor Transit Study
April 27, 2016 10AM Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Reston Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic Counter
May 2, 2016 Input Is Needed On Virginia Transportation Projects That Are Scored And Recommended For Funding
May 5, 2016 Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) Open House and Public Hearing
May 9-11, 2016 Public Information Meetings on the widening of I-66 eastbound from the Dulles Connector Road to Fairfax Drive.
May 23-25, 2016 Public Hearings on I66 Outside the Beltway on the procurement and HOV-2 to HOV-3 conversion.
Upcoming Meetings:
May 3, 2015 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
May 17, 2015 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
June 7, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
June 21, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
June 7, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
June 21, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
July 5, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
July 19, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
August 2, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
August 16, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
September 6, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
September 20, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
October 4, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
October 18, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
November 1, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
November 15, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)
December 6, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Work Session (FCDOT)
December 20, 2016 7:30 pm TAC Regular Meeting (FCDOT)