395 - GSA Development of St. Elizabeths Campus

The Study Area Network is shown in Figures 1-5A and 1-5B. See Section 3 for more informationon the Study Area street network. Major roadways within the Study Area include the following:Limited Access Facilities:• I-295 from the Naval Research Laboratory Road Interchange to the 11th Street BridgesInterchange• South Capitol Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to the Frederick DouglassBridge• Suitland Parkway from the Alabama Avenue interchange to South Capitol StreetArterials:• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue from South Capitol Street to the 11th Street Bridges• Malcolm X Avenue from Duncan Avenue to east of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue• Good Hope Road from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Minnesota Avenue• Alabama Avenue from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to Irving Street• Firth Sterling Avenue from South Capitol Street to Howard Road• Howard Road from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to South Capitol Street• 13th Street / Pleasant Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to 11th Street BridgesBus/Shuttle/Pedestrian Transit Circulation Areas:• Anacostia Metro Station• Congress Heights Metro Station1.2 Purpose and NeedThe purpose of the transportation and traffic study described in this Transportation TechnicalReport (TTR) is to evaluate the transportation impacts of the GSA’s proposed action to relocatethe Department of Homeland Security to St. Elizabeths Campus, as proposed in the Master PlanAmendment and the corresponding EIS. In some cases, this analysis was built upon previousanalyses, data, and documentation, while in other cases it required new analysis. The primarypurpose of GSA’s action is to develop 4.5 million Gross Square Feet (GSF) of secure office space,plus parking, in the District of Columbia to accommodate the Consolidated Headquarters ofDHS and its components, in accordance with the DHS mission requirements and housing plan.The need for this action is based on DHS’ need to consolidate a minimum critical mass of 4.5million GSF of secure office space, plus parking, to meet the Department’s missionrequirements and to develop a more cost-effective, efficient, and functional real estate portfolioin the National Capital Region (NCR). Further, DHS’ scattered current housing prevents it fromaccomplishing its mission to the best of its ability. This extreme dispersion results in significantinefficiencies in daily operations, and these inefficiencies are magnified considerably at the mostimportant moments - when the Department must act as a nimble and integrated teamresponding to significant natural disasters or terrorist threats.GSA determined that consolidating DHS at the St. Elizabeths campus was the most reasonablealternative. GSA signed a Record of Decision for the DHS Headquarters Consolidation onDecember 16, 2008. In addition, the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) approvedthe Final Master Plan for the DHS Headquarters Consolidation on January 8, 2009.1-6