Ferry Boat Feasibility Study

Chapter 5 - Landside Infrastructure Analysis

Access to a properly developed docking facility is critical to the successful operation of a passenger ferry boat service. This chapter examines the existing conditions for four potential ferry terminal sites selected in Chapter 3. These sites are:

1. Woodbridge, on the Occoquan River,

2. Fort Washington, located on Piscataway Creek,

3. The Navy Yard, located on the Anacostia River, and

4. The Pentagon, located on a lagoon adjacent to the Potomac River.

Each of these sites was investigated using a combination of literature research and field evaluation. Landside infrastructure cost estimates for selected alternative are shown in Chapter 7.

A ferry terminal on the Occoquan River near Woodbridge was proposed by a number of previous studies. The site provides excellent access to the I-95/US Route 1 corridor, as shown in Figure 5-1. The geographic advantages of this site include its proximate location and access to a major commuting corridor, location in relation to a VRE Station, proximity to the existing VDOT I-95/Route 123 and VDOT (Old Hechinger’s) Park and Ride facilities. One distinct locational disadvantage of the Woodbridge site is its distance from the Potomac River and the requirement for a ferry to travel south-southeast in order to travel north.

Figure 5-2 includes photographs for the Woodbridge ferry terminal location. The site is presently accessed from US 1 via Annapolis Way and Marina Way. Annapolis Way is a four lane divided roadway that provides access to industrial, business, and marina facilities. Marina Way is a two lane concrete roadway that accesses marina and parking facilities. The Woodbridge marina consists of a restaurant, supply store, and docking facilities for pleasure boat owners, as shown in the accompanying photographs. Conversations with the marina owner indicated a willingness to lease docking/parking space for a high-speed ferry boat terminal.

The Woodbridge Marina site would adequately function as a ferry terminal with minimal improvements. Reasonable road access is available to the site. Completion of the connection of Annapolis Way and Route 123 would significantly improve access from the west, including the two park and ride facilities. Parking facilities are of sufficient size to serve anticipated need. Parking by commuters would create minimal conflicts with other users of the restaurant and marina. Future overflow parking needs can be accommodated by the Route 123 park-and-ride lot with shuttle bus service, as needed.

The docking facilities would need to be reconstructed to safely accommodate pedestrian movement and to address ADA requirements. It is anticipated that a passenger waiting area would be constructed on shore. Ferry personnel would not staff land facilities. Fare collection would occur on board the vessel, much like a transit bus. Fare media should be coordinated with existing publicly operated rail and bus services to facilitate ease of movement among transit services and simplicity for patrons.

Figure 5-1 - Woodbridge Site Map

Figure 5-2 - Woodbridge Site Photographs

Figure 5-2 - (continued) Woodbridge Site Photographs



Access to Public Transportation

The Woodbridge Marina site is within 2,500 feet of bus service and 4,500 feet of a VRE station. There is no Metrorail service to the site.

The potential for operation of a bus collection/distribution system to facilitate ferry patron access to the terminal from home was evaluated. Potomac Riverjets is proposing this adjunct service to attract additional passengers. Given the Woodbridge site’s proximity to major highways, an auto intercept strategy is assumed for modeling purposes and no bus collector/distributor system was utilized. It may be feasible to coordinate bus/ferry transfers by re-routing buses serving the Woodbridge area. This coordination should begin in the ferry implementation planning phase and should address alternative service provisions with VRE when the ferry cannot operate due to inclement weather, ice, or other limiting conditions.

An environmental evaluation of the Woodbridge site revealed the following:

• Cultural Resources – little or no impact is anticipated with respect to historic or socioeconomic resources.

• Natural Resources – Topographic maps show wetlands near the Woodbridge docking site. Use of the existing parking lot, existing roads, and a floating dock will minimize the impact on wetlands. Water quality, endangered species, shoreline erosion, air quality, and noise receptors will receive little or no impact.

See Appendix 3-1 for a more detailed discussion of environmental concerns.

Landside improvements necessary for the implementation of a ferry boat service using Woodbridge as a terminal include:

• Minimal parking lot lighting,

• Pedestrian improvements to access the floating docks,

• Waiting shelters for patrons,

• ADA compliance measures,

• Minor access road improvements, including signage, and

• Possible completion of Annapolis Way to connect with the existing I-95/Route 123 Park and Ride lot.

Fort Washington

A ferry terminal on Piscataway Creek at Fort Washington has also been recommended in previous studies. The site has poor access to Route 210-Indian Head Highway. It is approximately four (4) miles from Route 210 to the Fort Washington Marina. Much of the road is in established residential neighborhoods. Currently, the existing marina and restaurant generates some car/trailer traffic in off-peak and weekend travel times. Additional peak hour traffic through the residential neighborhoods to access the ferry would likely meet with opposition.

Figure 5-3 provides a location map of the Fort Washington Marina. This facility, owned by the State of Maryland, is accessed through several neighborhoods from State Road 210 – Indian Head Highway. Route 210 is a primary north/south commuting artery from southern Maryland to the District of Columbia.

The Fort Washington Marina consists of a restaurant, supply store, and docks for pleasure boaters. The parking lot is graveled and serves as dry storage for boats in the winter, limiting the availability of parking spaces. The marina once belonged to the U.S. Park Service and was recently acquired and improved by the State of Maryland. (Figure 5-4).

The docking facilities would require minor improvements to accommodate a floating dock and provide adequate access for patrons. Passenger waiting could be accomplished in the existing building or shelters closer to the dock site could be erected.

There is no access to public transportation at the Fort Washington site. No public transportation improvements near the site are planned. The State of Maryland does plan to construct HOV facilities on Route 210, which would improve transit/commuter travel time in the corridor. These improvements would reduce the travel time advantage currently projected for a passenger ferry boat service from Fort Washington to Washington, DC.

The potential to operate a bus collection/distribution system from Indian Head Highway was evaluated. Traffic generated from local neighborhoods around the Fort Washington site would not support starting such a service, according to MWCOG travel data. Bus service to and from points south of the Fort Washington Marina site would require travel through low speed limit residential neighborhoods. The time advantage of using ferry service versus driving into the District of Columbia is somewhat negated by the distance from Route 210 to the marina site, the lower speed limit, and the transfer time required. Any present day advantage will be lessened by introduction of HOV facilities on Route 210 by the State of Maryland.

Figure 5-3 - Fort Washington Site Map

Figure 5-4 - Fort Washington Site Photographs

Figure 5-4 - (continued) Fort Washington Site Photographs


Environmental Impacts

The Fort Washington site was evaluated for potential environmental impacts. The results of this evaluation are:

• Cultural Resources – potential impacts to historical sites are possible. The Fort Washington Park and Piscataway Park, both owned by the National Park Service, are near the marina site. No socioeconomic impacts are foreseen.

• Natural Resources – no significant impacts to water quality, wetlands, endangered species, shoreline, or air quality are anticipated. A potentially high noise impact may be anticipated due to the residential development on bluffs overlooking the marina site.

Landside improvements needed at Fort Washington Marina to accommodate a passenger ferry boat terminal include:

• Road construction to reduce the impact of vehicular traffic on residential neighborhoods (right-of-way for this road relocation exists),

• Expansion and paving of the existing parking lot,

• Pedestrian improvements to provide safe access from parking areas to the ferry dock,

• Waiting shelters, and

• ADA compliance measures.

The Navy Yard (Figure 5-5), located on the Anacostia River, has become a more attractive ferry service destination due to its own employment growth, projected employment growth surrounding the Navy Yard, and access to Metrorail. The southwest portion of Washington, DC including the Navy Yard, is undergoing significant renewal and increased travel demand is projected to result from the re-development.

Photographs of the proposed docking site and the Navy Yard landside features are shown in Figure 5-6. The Navy Yard is a gated working military facility. The facility receives a large number of visitors to the Navy Museum. Provision for civilian access to and from the ferry dock will be important to the successful use of this site. Discussions with Navy Yard officials indicate a willingness to solve access problems by using the adjacent 11^th Street for pedestrian and shuttle bus access.

The docking site is located on the southeast corner of the Navy Yard and is well suited for the placement of a floating dock for access to a ferry vessel. A controlled pedestrian access system to and from 11^th Street will require fencing and the installation of passenger waiting areas. As construction of new employment facilities is completed, it may be advantageous to move the dock site to a more central location on the Navy Yard wharf. While better serving Navy personnel, this change would create a more complicated pedestrian access problem for civilians, due to the increased distance to walk through the Navy Yard facility. One possible solution to this relocation would be greater reliance on shuttle buses to meet passengers at the dock.

Metrorail and Metrobus, as well as a number of other private transportation providers, serve the Navy Yard. The challenge will be to create a convenient accessway from the dock to points external to the Navy Yard facility. Both Navy Yard and Potomac Riverjets representatives plan to solve this problem by using shuttle buses operated in coordination with the ferry schedule.

A shuttle bus collection/distribution system is critical to the use of the Navy Yard as a ferry terminal. Private providers trying to start service have proposed operating a dedicated shuttle bus service to Metrorail stations and major employment centers to entice additional patronage.

The environmental evaluation conducted at the Navy Yard yielded the following findings:

• Cultural Resources – no impacts are anticipated. The Navy Yard and Naval Reserve Station monopolize this section of the Anacostia River. A small park at the eastern end of the Douglas Bridge should not be impacted.

• Natural Resources – no significant water quality, wetlands, endangered species, shoreline erosion, air quality, or noise impacts are projected.

Landside improvements needed to outfit a Navy Yard ferry terminal include:

• A floating dock,

• Waiting station, and

• Access control and pedestrian access to 11^th Street.

The Pentagon has often been proposed as a logical docking site for a passenger ferry boat service. Located on a lagoon adjacent to the Potomac River, the Pentagon is a major employment center that provides excellent access to the Metrorail system (Figure 5-7). The Pentagon is well served by existing public and private transit, van pools, and car pools, and has extensive parking for Pentagon employees.

Figure 5-5 - Navy Yard Site Map

Figure 5-6 - Navy Yard Site Photographs

Figure 5-6 - (continued) Navy Yard Site Photographs


Site Evaluation

Figure 5-8 provides several photographs of the dock site and the Pentagon. The dock is on a lagoon that is accessed from the Potomac River by navigating under the Mt Vernon Memorial Highway Bridge. The dock site is approximately 1,000 feet from the nearest Pentagon staff entrance and over 1/4 mile from the Metrorail system. A shuttle bus system would need to be implemented as part of the ferry service for passenger convenience. ADA compliance would require the construction of a ramp system from the dock site to street level, an elevation change of approximately 20 feet. Currently, concrete steps access the dock site from street level.

The dock site would be compatible with a floating platform for ferry service. The lagoon depth will be of critical importance for ferry operation. Navigational charts show depths of nine (9) feet at the Potomac River and depths of seven (7) feet at the Pentagon. As this area is not regularly used by boats and susceptible to silting, further study of the worst case depth scenarios and the need for dredging should be performed prior to implementing service.

The Pentagon is well served by a variety of public and private transportation services. Access from the dock site to these services, as well as to the Pentagon, will require a shuttle bus service.

Several potential environmental impacts are anticipated if the Pentagon dock site is used for a passenger ferry boat service. These are:

• Cultural Resources – the Pentagon site is very urbanized, with small areas of public land use, including Lady Bird Johnson Memorial Park, the Waterfowl Sanctuary, and the Naval/Marine Memorial. The Pentagon is a national historic monument. Any improvements will come under considerable historical and aesthetic scrutiny.

• Natural Resources – review of available documents and site visits reveal little or no impact on water quality, wetlands, endangered species, shorelines, air quality, or noise considerations.

Landside improvements needed to establish ferry service include:

• A floating dock,

• Ramping system for ADA compliance, and

• Study the need for dredging.

This chapter presented a review of existing conditions for four potential ferry terminal sites. Based upon the analysis of landside infrastructure and possible needs, the following conclusions can be drawn:

• All four terminal sites have adequate water transportation access.

• Using a floating dock for vessel interface with landside facilities is preferred to construction of docks based on cost, permitting, and flexibility consideration.

• Access to public transportation from the Woodbridge docking site will require a collector/distributor transit system.

• A collection/distribution bus system is needed at the Navy Yard and the Pentagon.

• Several sites had potential environmental impacts on cultural and natural resources that may require further study.

• All sites require varying degrees of infrastructure improvements to establish a functional passenger ferry boat terminal.