395 - GSA Development of St. Elizabeths Campus

2.4.2 Build Transportation Alternative 2Alternative 2 describes the first of two recommended transportation improvement plans thatare chosen for further analysis for the Build scenario, which assumes that DHS consolidationand relocation to St. Elizabeths does occur. Transportation improvements suggested under thisalternative include providing new access to St. Elizabeths, modifying existing connectionsbetween network links in the vicinity, and changing roadway geometry and operations toimprove efficiency. For the key improvement of Malcolm X Avenue at I-295 in this alternative,the cost estimate is $92.2 million. It would also require taking some 10.2 acres of NPS Parkland.Specific transportation improvements suggested under this alternative for the West and EastCampuses and surrounding network are listed below:• A new north-south three-lane arterial called the West Access Road, which providesvehicle and pedestrian connections between Firth Sterling Avenue and Malcolm XAvenue, will be built. The north portion of the West Access Road between Gate 4 andFirth Sterling Avenue is included in the amended Record of Decision (September 28,2011) issued as part of the TIER I EIS for the West Campus therefore it is included in NoAction alternative. In the Alternative 2, the West Access Road will be extended fromGate 4 to the south to connect with Malcolm X Avenue at a reconfigured 4-leg signalizedintersection and to connect with I-295 and South Capitol Street via a fly-over rampconnection, a new elevated signalized intersection and new slip ramps. The extension ofWest Access Road will include two inbound lanes and one outbound lane.• The I-295/Malcolm X Avenue interchange is modified as follows:- Replace the existing I-295 NB loop off-ramp with a new one-lane slip ramp furthersouth to connect to a collector-distributor road which then connects to a newelevated signalized intersection- Remove the existing I-295 SB fly-over ramp to SCS and replace with a new one-laneoff-ramp that connects directly to the elevated signalized intersection- A two-lane roadway will allow traffic access the reconfigured Malcolm X Avenueintersection from the elevated intersection- A two-lane-two way fly-over ramp will connect between West Access Road and theelevated intersection- A one-lane fly-over ramp will allow traffic to access I-295 SB from the elevatedintersection- Bicycle accommodation is included as outlined in the SCS improvements including abike lane on SCS in both directions from Suitland Parkway to SCS (south end)• A new one-lane slip ramp will connect the SCS NB to the collector-distributor road inorder to access Malcolm X Avenue or West Access Road.• The South Capitol Street/Malcolm X Avenue interchange will remain the same.• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue will be modified. Between Golden Raintree Drive andLebaum Street it will have sidewalks, buffer and five travel lanes including a center twoway-left-turn(TWLT) lane; from Lebaum Street to Alabama Avenue it will have2-10