STEP 1 | STEP
2 | STEP 3 | STEP
4 | STEP 5 | STEP 6
One of the
first steps in this process was to compile a list of options
that could be applied to the corridor. Take a look below to learn
more about options—encompassing a range from transit to highway to pedestrian
improvements—studied in this project. For more detail, see the report titled
"Preliminary List of Multi-Modal Options/Strategies" on the Reports page of this website.
Transit
Options and Components
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The Glenn Highway is a key transit corridor. Six
People Mover bus routes, carpools, and vanpools use the Glenn Highway and 5th
or 6th Avenues as the primary roadway traveled. Running parallel
to the Glenn Highway between the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su) Valley and
Anchorage is the Alaska Railroad’s main line. A number of opportunities
exist for expanding the role of bus and rail transit to meet current
and future needs.
Bus Options |
Increased Bus Service Levels
Increasing the frequency of bus service reduces the time people spend waiting for a bus
and therefore increases the number of times they choose to take the bus. Express Bus Service
Unlike regular bus service, express bus service operates from a single or limited number
of origin points to a single or limited number of destinations. An express bus service can
attract new riders by saving them money and/or time. |
Smart Shuttle
This is a new transportation concept that uses advanced technologies— telephones,
debit cards and other prepayment media, and shuttle tracking and dispatch using a
global-positing systems (GPS). Smart shuttle services can attract new riders by offering a
greatly valued amenity—convenience. |
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Rail Options |
Commuter Rail
Locomotive and passenger rail cars are standard components of a commuter rail
system, although the look of these trains can vary from the traditional
(the Alaska Railroad’s current train set) to the modern (sleek, silver-bullet-like
models). Commuter rail transit systems operate on standard railroad tracks
and pick up passengers at designated railroad stops. Generally operated
over longer distances with few stops, this system provides a comfortable
ride at high speeds and therefore is a good option for people traveling
long distances. Diesel
Mobility Units (DMUs)
Another commuter rail option is the DMU, also known as the "Bud
Car." DMUs are
self-propelled train cars (each unit has its own engine and passenger
seats) that operate on existing railroad tracks. Depending on the
specific vehicle, they are capable of carrying 70 to 100 passengers
per car, making them a good alternative in areas where demand is
light. They can be used singly or coupled to provide greater capacity.
They can also provide short-haul service with frequent stops more
easily than a standard locomotive pulling passenger cars. |
Light Rail
In many ways, light rail systems are the descendents of old-time streetcars. Light rail
systems include a separate set of tracks set in or adjacent to the highway, and they
operate much like buses, loading and unloading passengers throughout population centers.
Light rail usually runs by electricity, and overhead lines above the tracks are the norm.
Light rail travels at slower speeds than the heavy, commuter rail, so it is intended more
for the short distance traveler as opposed to the longer distance commuter. Also, the ride
is often less comfortable compared to commuter rail. |
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Support Components for Bus and Rail Options |
Park and Ride Lots
Providing an efficient point of collection for commuters is an important aspect of any
transit scenario. Park-and-ride lots provide a safe and secure location for commuters to
congregate to form carpools or use transit to complete their commute. |
Transfer Stations
Transfer stations or transit centers provide travelers access to alternative modes of
transportation. Transfer stations can serve local and express bus service, light rail, or
commuter rail. They can include park-and-ride for transit as well as for
carpools/vanpools. They can also include facilities for bicycle commuters. |
Transportation
System Management
and Transportation Demand Management
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Transportation system management (TSM) and transportation demand
management (TDM) strategies are aimed at making more efficient use of existing
transportation system infrastructure. The strategies with potential for the Glenn Highway
corridor are presented below.
| Access Management |
| Vehicles entering and exiting the traffic stream
via driveways and side streets impact traffic flow and reduce the traffic carrying
capacity. Access management strategies appropriate for the Glenn Highway could include
consolidation and elimination of driveways, closure of side streets, and elimination of
on-street parking. |
| Turn Prohibitions |
| Turning vehicles reduce through-traffic capacity
and decrease level of service. Prohibiting left turns into cross-streets or driveways, for
example, (particularly during peak traffic periods) could be a component of an effective
solution. |
| Pedestrian Connections with Transit |
| The pedestrian environment is an important
consideration. "Pedestrian friendly" features—safe sidewalks, interesting
and direct routes—contribute to people’s willingness to use transit. |
| Bus Traffic Signal Preemption |
| In the absence of a dedicated bus lane, bus traffic
signal preemption allows buses to travel relatively unimpeded through arterial
intersections, thereby reducing bus transit travel times and making bus transit more
competitive with the automobile. For maximum effectiveness, bus traffic signal preemption
could be implemented in combination with a bus by-pass lane so that buses can approach the
intersection without waiting through vehicle queues. |
| High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV) |
| These lanes allow qualifying vehicles (usually
vehicles with two or more people) to travel in a separate dedicated lane that is less
congested than the adjacent general-purpose lanes. The reduced congestion and increased
travel speeds provided by the HOV lane provide motorists with an incentive to carpool. |
| Ridesharing Program |
| This type of program includes a variety of
strategies that an employer implements to encourage employees to begin ridesharing.
Guaranteed Ride Home, Ride-Share Matching Services, an On-Site Transportation Coordinator,
and on-site amenities are examples of elements of employer sponsored rideshare programs.
Employers may be able to develop incentive packages as part of their rideshare program
that can be geared toward encouraging their employees to either begin to use transit or to
carpool, or to increase the frequency of their current non-single-occupant vehicle usage. |
| Parking Controls |
| Similar to pricing strategies, disincentives can be
established to penalize solo commuters by restricting the availability of parking spaces.
This type of restriction makes it difficult to find parking on a daily basis and can
therefore discourage motorists from driving alone. Combined with free and unrestricted
parking for carpools, this strategy makes the thought of carpooling or ridesharing much
more appealing. |
| Public Sector Parking Pricing |
| Pricing strategies help control supply and demand
on facilities including parking areas and along roadways. This type of strategy would also
create a disincentive to driving alone while providing free or subsidized parking to
people who participate in carpools. |
Intelligent Transportation Systems
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Over the past several
years, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) have gained a lot
of momentum as a means of reducing traffic congestion and improving
transportation systems around the country. In general, ITS refers
to "the
application of advanced sensor, computer, electronics, and communication technologies and
management strategies – in an integrated manner – to increase the safety and
efficiency of the surface transportation system." This strategy consists of an
advanced traffic operations center that gathers and processes traffic-related information
from a variety of equipment sources— traffic signal systems, detectors,
closed-circuit televisions— and then determines and implements the
optimum solution for improving traffic flow. Important ITS components
are below.
| Incident Management |
| The ability to detect incidents
and divert traffic is an important means of improving traffic flow, and ITS incident
management equipment allows this. Equipment in the field detects incidents, and then
relays this information to the traffic operations center, which initiates a response and
notifies other drivers to choose an alternate route. |
| Ramp
Metering |
| A widely used form of freeway
traffic control, ramp metering is an ITS component that allows constant monitoring of the
numbers of vehicles on the highway and when a predefined threshold is met, limits the
traffic entering the freeway. |
| Telematics – Information
Dissemination |
| This ITS component allows the
traffic operations center to relay important information to the roadway user. Many devices
are available to relay information, such as cable TV, radio, Internet, changeable message
signs, and in-car information systems. The more devices used to relay information, the
quicker users can adjust their travel plans. |
| Reversible Lanes |
| The main advantage of reversible
lanes is that they can typically be incorporated within the existing roadway corridor. The
use of reversible lanes is typically restricted to roads that have a measurable imbalance
in peak hour traffic. It allows the use of an additional lane to accommodate the traffic
during the peak hour. The method for designating these travel lanes ranges from overhead
signs to mechanical devices to physically direct drivers into the correct lanes. |
Highway
Improvement Strategies
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Two main highway strategies are available for
improving the level of service within this corridor. In general terms, the strategies
consist of reducing conflicts and increasing capacity by adding lanes. Reducing conflicts
helps to increase the potential of the existing system, while adding lanes increases the
aggregate capacity. The following are several options to consider to reduce conflicts
within the Glenn Highway corridor:
| Intersection
Improvements |
| The 1999 Safety
Study: Airport Heights/Glenn Highway recommended that the Glenn
Highway-Airport Heights intersection be reconstructed to allow regular phase timing to
simultaneously accommodate traffic travelling in the opposite direction. This signal
timing would allow more green time on the east/west movement than the current split-phase
timing, which staggers traffic turning movements in this intersection |
| Intersection
Consolidation |
| Many streets, including Karluk
Street, Concrete Street, and Reeve Boulevard, intersect the Glenn Highway within a short
distance. Reducing the number of intersections could reduce conflicts, and therefore
increase capacity in this corridor. |
| Grade Separation |
| This strategy could improve the
level of service and reduce traffic conflicts not only for through traffic along the
Glenn, but also for vehicle and pedestrian traffic crossing the corridor. |
| Additional Lanes |
| Opportunities to increase
capacity by adding lanes will vary depending on location within the corridor, right-of-way
constraints, and cost considerations. Options for adding lanes include using the center
left turn lane for a reversible lane, using the Merrill Field Frontage Road, or creating a
one-way couplet using 3rd Avenue-Commercial Drive as the westbound alignment and East 5th
Avenue as the eastbound alignment. |
Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities
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Many things shape the decision to use a bicycle as a primary
means of commuting to and from work each day. Some that top the list are included below.
These facilities and programs are options to consider throughout the development of
project alternatives.
- Bike racks on busses to allow bicyclists the opportunity to
commute farther distances to and from work.
- Dedicated and separated bike trails along the Glenn Highway
corridor.
- Promotional programs with employers to encourage the use of bikes
by their employees by providing on-site amenities and other incentive programs.
- Bike lockers at park-and-ride facilities and at employment
centers.
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