All right.

Good evening, everyone.

Good meeting.

Welcome to the city's community meeting for the upcoming I-395 at Dew Street Ramp Modification Project.

I appreciate you all coming out this evening to learn a little bit about what we have planned.

So before we get started, let me mention that any questions you need to ask, we'll wait till the end of the presentation.

That's for all the in-person uh attendees and also for all of our attendees that are virtual.

So first and foremost, I'm the mod Frazier.

I'm with the City of Alexandria, and I have the privilege of managing this project from design phase all the way through the completion of construction.

So I will be engaging with you all probably for the next year or so.

Um while I have a chance, I would like some of my colleagues that are on the project team to introduce themselves so you'll also have some familiar faces other than myself.

Um I'll start with Daphne.

Good evening, everyone.

My name is Daphne Pott.

I'm the deputy director of the um transportation environmental services, the project implementation branch, which is the sponsor of the project here tonight.

I'll turn it over to Lydia.

Greetings, everyone.

My name is Lydia Durant.

I am also in the project implementation branch of TESS.

Um, and I provide uh variety of support services, including communications and talking.

And uh we um Dion.

And then I'm the WRA.

I'll be the construction manager out on the project with the inspect data full-time, and uh we'll be document and then make sure everyone's safe out there and make sure we can get a finished project on time.

All right, um Brian.

I think he's on the way, but we'll we'll let him introduce himself when he comes back online.

I don't know if we have also one.

Uh yes, we do have uh Brian.

Would you like to introduce myself?

I'm Brian Whitley.

I am a construction inspector for the test uh project implementation.

Armando, do you want to introduce yourself?

Hi, good afternoon, everybody.

Or sorry, good evening.

Um but yeah, my name is Armando Solo.

I'm with uh Fort Meyer Construction, and I'll be the project manager.

All right.

Thank you.

So we'll we'll move on and we'll talk a little bit about our uh agenda for the evening.

Uh we'll cover the project purpose, project overview, existing conditions, grant improvements, the construction plan, construction schedule, and all of the next steps.

Um, perfect time, you know.

Uh oh.

Ryan, if you don't mind, we we just have a quick uh introduction of all the project members.

If you don't mind, you can introduce yourself as well.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Ryan Knight.

I'm the transportation engineering division chief of the city of Alexandria, and I'm somewhat the sponsor of this project.

So this uh given the transportation environmental services department.

Um we're working with uh our project implementation uh division to uh get this project started and in construction.

Thank you, sir.

All right.

So let's start off with the uh project purpose.

Um for all that don't know uh this grant project is a necessity for providing safe access to the city's INOVA uh landmark location project that's up and coming.

So currently from northbound Interstate 395, when you're exiting to join Eastbound Duke Street, it is pretty much impossible for any vehicles to weave and transition over all the lanes in order to access the future hospital site.

So this project will provide a safe access point from the northbound I-395 RAM.

And it's in general, we're gonna reduce the what we call weaving complex, which is the movement for cars changing lanes from right to left.

And this movement will now be much safer.

Today's existing condition out there doesn't include a traffic signal or anything.

Currently, we're going to add a traffic signal at the end of the ramp where it connects to Duke Street, which will allow vehicles both to drive through on Duke Street and come off of the ramp and get into the left left lane and enter the project site.

So from a cost standpoint, um construction is estimated to cost 4.6 million dollars.

Of course, hopefully we we will come in under budget and maybe flip that about five bit a little bit.

We'll see.

The funding source are all from the city, uh, which is grouped in the capital improvements program.

The location of the project, um I don't know if that's clear for everyone, but the star is basically the location of the ramp from High 395 north going to eastbound Duke Street.

Uh, the future hospital site will be in this location, and we are trying to provide safe access from this point where the star is located up into the uh hospital site.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

All right, let's let's rewind.

That's good.

You want to see a dark?

Uh not too dark.

Yeah, I'm sure you'll have other.

Yes, yes, yes.

All right, so from a figurative standpoint, the road that we we took to get to this point.

Um, back in July 2021, we had um uh CD approval that was provided.

Um moving on to 2023 to 2025.

Uh the city uh was approved to begin the design phase, which has been completed.

Um during the design phase, we were able to get a traffic study approved by VDOP, which was a huge huge uh chore, but successfully we got that done.

Ryan was instrumental in obtaining that approval, which we needed in order to move forward with the construction of the project.

Umstruction phase is where we are today.

So we um we've pretty much completed all the construction procurement.

A contractor has been awarded the construction contract.

That is Fort Meyer, who's based out of Washington, DC, and the rep identified himself earlier during our roll call.

Um we are anticipating that construction physically out in the field will begin in April of this year.

Um we are looking at a little over a year duration to complete the project, and we have a goal to complete the project before January 2028.

All right, so here is a better illustration of what's happening out there today.

Um here we go again with 395.

The northbound lanes are going this way towards Washington, DC.

Our exit ramp going towards Eastbound Duke Street is here, and you can see this horrible transition point, which is what we call our weave condition, which makes it almost impossible for vehicles to get from this lane all the way into this entrance point here at the future hospital site.

There is currently an existing concrete median, which was uh previously used to channel traffic that was driving into the landmark and law site.

All right.

So this image pretty much summarizes what we're proposing for this project.

You'll see we're putting in a new retaining law, which will separate the modified ramp from the I-395 lanes.

So there's a great enough difference in elevation between the ramp and the existing 395 lanes to where we're going to need a structure to actually hold the ramp in place.

So not only for vehicles accessing the hospital, we're also having to modify the pedestrian access route that is adjacent to the eastbound lanes of Duke Street.

Part of the safety improvements with regards to pedestrian traffic.

Our pedestrians are going to have to cross this ramp.

Today's condition, it's pretty much at risk of the pedestrian.

There's just a crosswalk out there, painted on the ground.

So it's up to drivers to slow down and avoid contact with any pedestrians trying to cross the ramp at this point.

Our project will provide a traffic signal, which will have a signalized crosswalk for pedestrians to cross the connecting point of the ramp at Duke Street.

Will that be a pedestrian activated one or will it be tied to the traffic light?

The new traffic light.

So there were in over the last past years, there were uh pedestrian detected crosswalks, but we are removed them, and today we just have the signs.

So before we I want to clarify that why did we not have the right to do that?

So all this project is what's called um VDEX limited access.

So VDI actually controls this area.

So when non-RAM refers to VDI, you can ask the project.

It is, but within VDOX control because they control the area around the ramp in the interstate.

Thank you.

Um I could barely hear you.

If if you don't mind, we'll capture everyone's questions at the end of the presentation.

So we'll we'll open the floor up this board for everyone to ask questions, we express concerns.

Um, in addition to some of the uh vehicular pedestrian improvements, uh, pretty much wherever we're grading, we'll replace with some sort of vegetation, uh, mainly grass.

So there will be new grass area out in the vicinity of all the locations where we're excavating and grading.

Uh there's an existing sound wall that runs along the outer edge of the ramp today.

We are not going to modify that ramp.

There, there are a few structural connections that have to be changed just because of the vicinity, the close vicinity that we're working next to the sound wall, but the sound wall will remain.

Um we have a new segment of sidewalk that's going to extend along the eastbound lane of Duke Street, and it'll tie into an existing run of sidewalk that continues on to South Walker Street.

All right.

Track light gives them the green.

They're safely able to cross over Dew Street and into the left current lane that will provide access to the hostility.

All right.

So during construction, um, it's going to be a lot of work going on.

So it'll look different.

Traffic may slow down.

People like to look at machinery and what have you.

So there might be delays, but the lanes will remain open.

So however you get to where you're going now using this ramp, you'll continue to do so during construction.

There may be some construction work areas that channel traffic around and about, but no closures to where you typically go to now.

So the ramp itself will remain open, so there won't be any closures on a ramp.

Again, maybe some lane shifts and what have you.

So you'll be able to utilize the ramp during and throughout construction.

If there are any conditions that require traffic stops and temporary traffic stops, the contractor will have flaggers present to help guide traffic through any type of stoppage.

So with construction vehicles, they're going to have to access all the work sites.

So we're anticipating all the contractors' trucks, work vehicles to access the work area from 395.

They may also from time to time access specific work locations on the grant.

And also off of Dew Street, they may have to peel off in this area to help with the sidewalk construction.

Schedule.

So the city can't go out and just do their normal routine.

We do the design process on the construction phase.

Everything has to be authorized by VOC.

And not only the way we design the way we construct, but also the time that we construct.

So these are normal BDOT hours, which are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.

to 3:30.

But this isn't locked in stone.

If a contractor for whatever reason needs to extend the work hours, work on the weekend, work at night, they can always go to VDOT, request the additional work hours to change it.

But for the sake of this meeting, these are the standard hours.

These are the times that you should expect to see construction activity.

Contractors are typically required to stop work, usually a half a day before the holiday, and they can't come back on site until the following day after the holidays.

So there's a little cushion in there before they can start working during the holidays.

For our next steps, um the first block is winter 2026, the bleed procurement of construction.

We've pretty much done that.

Next in April, that's when the contractor will actually move on to the site, mobilize, start construction.

We're going to have a phase approach for construction.

So you're not going to see contractors all over the entire project site working at once.

The way it's going to happen is in control phases, in which the first phase may only include working on Dew Street.

Um, that first phase will include a lot of removal of existing infrastructure that's out there.

So there's existing curved, existing concrete medias that are going to have to be removed before the contractor can start doing drainage work and grading.

So typically removals are the first phase of work.

In addition to that, setting up uh erosion control and sediment control devices so that we don't have a bunch of muddy water running into the potomac.

Um that's usually part of the first phase of work.

Uh next, the contractor might jump down to the ramp and start working specifically on the ramp for the next phase.

Um from that point on, they may start working in Dew Street to add new meetings and new curving.

Usually the final stage of work involves paving, as well paving, um, pavement markings or striping, and the traffic signal typically will come towards the end of the project.

That's sort of like the cleanup, and we get everything to look aesthetically right.

All right, as far as the information for the project goes, the web page is set up.

Um, it's pretty much updated on a regular basis to keep everyone informed of what the status of the project is.

Um project team, we have our introductions earlier.

Um, I'm the project manager, I'll be the main point of contact during construction.

Um Brian Knight behind me is our project sponsor.

Um for emergency situations, we have Amondo Silville, who's with Fort Lire Construction.

If there's any sort of emergency, whether it's during work hours or after work hours, Amondo's uh information will be provided.

Not only on the website, not only from any information that's distributed from this meeting, but we also will have project signs around the project site that will have some of this same information out there.

So if you're driving by or walking through the uh close by the project area, you'll be able to get the same information.

Um, as far as extreme emergencies, feel free to call 911.

If there's some sort of life pressing issue, a serious accident, call 911, and I'm gonna build my smell one included.

Before I get to your questions and concerns, I want to make sure that the project team that's present doesn't have any additional feedback.

Anything I missed that we want to bring up.

There you go.

And things of that nature.

So, but I'll wait until questions are being asked.

Okay.

All right.

So the floor is open, and I'm sorry, I must give priority to the young lady at that.

You asked the question earlier.

Well, question uh in regards to me coming topic of the ramp.

I was saying that we'll get one right, but with the light coming in, wouldn't that impact the kind of something that will have to be on the that's what Brian's forte is so he he has a background in traffic engineering?

He has run extensive studies to make sure that we don't have traffic backed up onto the ramp into the inner state.

So you want to keep it.

All right, so uh so kind of clarify a few days of how traffic will work and what it would look like.

Uh the ramp as of today is just one lane, one lane going into this approach and then into a yield condition, and then you go on to dew street.

With this project, that one lane uh diverges into two lanes.

So the uh second lane, the new lane will be able to go to the uh traffic signal, wait until uh traffic is until the dew street uh has a red light, and then they can move on.

While uh they have a red light while the ramp has a red light again, they have their own lane, so they'll be out of the way for through movement that want to continue on to Dew Street using the pretty much the existing lane that's bare.

So to answer your question about will there be backup on um uh on the ramp or in the interstate.

Uh we are with the anticipated volume that we're uh thinking that would be in the uh left turn lane going into the signal, we don't anticipate uh very much uh uh back up into the into the interstate.

Yes.

Along with that, if I am coming off the ramp and traffic is the light will stop the Duke Street traffic.

Am I only allowed to turn into that far left lane to the hospital, or may I also turn right into the near lane to continue on Duke Street so that I'm not leaving with like an existing right now.

So just for the people who are logged in online, we we got word that it's hard for them to hear the questions in here, so I'll just do a quick repeat.

So the question is that what's the the turning turning movements that are allowed at the signal?

So I will say the expectation if you want to go uh if you want to continue on to Duke Street uh eastbound and not getting to the left turn lane.

The expectation is that you utilize this lane here.

Now, if you so happen to be in this lane, there's nothing preventing you from a design standpoint of making that maneuver.

However, I will say again the expectation is that uh and the signal will operate to the fact that um that that movement would need to use this lane, and then the left turn movement or the uh movement that's in uh the second lane will need to go into the left turn lane uh going into the uh well then will that signal activate only if somebody's in the left lane or will it be on a timer so that that will cut down on some of the leaving and interference with eastbound traffic?

It depends on the timing of the day.

So what we're what we're working with uh V dot because again there it's a um it's within the system on Duke Street, so there's um the signal, and I apologize.

Let me let me repeat the question uh for those that I gotta remember that.

Uh so the question was that um how will the signal operate?

Will it will it be a detection there that the text vehicles or will it be on the time of day?

And again, it depends on the time of time of day or um uh that we're operating.

So during the peak hour, we're gonna operate it as a coordinated signal.

So it will be on a time basis given the coordination that we want to accomplish on Dew Street on all peak hours, then that's when we would uh turn it back to a detection.

So we'll only turn uh green once there were uh there's uh a vehicle present.

Right.

Remind me, or is signal gonna have preemption for the or the um will just so the question is will the signal have preemption of uh equipment?

Preemption equipment is uh equipment that allows the signals to turn uh green whenever an ambulance comes by or an emergency vehicle comes by, except for uh police uh vehicles.

So these vehicles don't have that technology as yet.

So um, so to answer that question, yes, it will have preemption.

Uh if an ambulance comes by on that on that ramp, uh then the signal that the ambulance has the equipment on their vehicle or emergency vehicles, uh I'll include the fire trucks as well, has uh equipment on their vehicle that sends a signal to the signal and uh allows the signal to turn green to allow them to get through as fast as they can.

We have a couple of people that have making this.

All right, we'll uh go to line and then we'll come back uh in the audience.

Uh here we have a question is the I 395 access lane continuing on the eastbound deep controlled by a light or not.

My concern is the far west Alexandria travelers trying to get to Walker Lane and turn left if this lane is not controlled, stop that turns.

Sorry, turn right, not so the question is uh is this um lane here controlled by a light?

It is not, it is still gonna remain as it is today.

However, the benefit of the light that's controlling the other lane that or the additional lane that we're putting in is it allows that break in um in traffic flow at a certain given time.

So when you when you have that break, whenever whenever the Duke Street approach is red, then it allows that that chance for any vehicle to make that maneuver without uh um so many conflicts.

Um now unmute and ask a question.

What's the break?

I the audio is not coming through right clearly.

Could you possibly submit your question?

Uh question and answer.

Uh well, is there any more questions on one line roll?

Uh he's submitted that.

Okay.

Uh he just submitted it.

It says it seems to me that temporary traffic signals should be used now.

When the 395 exit lane is red, Duke Street traffic slow traffic flows normally.

When Duke Street traffic is red, the 395 exit traffic can get into any lane safely.

Understood.

So uh the feedback that we got was uh there should be a signal there now, a temporary signal to um improve the situation there.

Again, um that great point.

I think uh the challenge with that is again we're dealing with uh VDOT property and V not right.

So whatever we uh do here on Vita, whatever we do with this project or whatever we do in this location, we would have to get VDOS approving.

VDOT uh rarely approves temporary signals um based upon again, you know, uh safety concerns and things of that nature.

Um so but very good point.

But again, this project should be able to uh provide that benefit of having that uh gap in traffic to allow um to allow traffic to get onto Duke Street with minimal confidence.

Um why don't we go to the audience?

Yes, sir.

Yes, uh again, this is a traffic signal, and the word I have in mind is synchronization.

Uh I we're here in the west end, Duke Street with a major on the major conduit for anybody in this area, travel westbound.

There is no Jordan Street, if you're familiar with the area, unless we go up the George Street, shoot up the seminary and make it the left.

Right.

The problem that I see, the problem is that actually you've been subject to is that we're not have we haven't done any construction done on the actual roadway itself, but we have had construction done for the hospital, and they didn't move it around and blocking the road.

I have been the traffic backed up to maybe uh sorry to eliminate the street prior to the overhead ramp there, and that's where only one traffic light there on Walter Street.

Now we have I know I understand the objective is to have access to hospital facilities for both 395 north and southbound.

Totally good with that.

I understand that.

However, we now have to establish a light on the 395 southbound.

Now we have another light here, and now we have another light at the entrance to the terminal there.

Now we have another light on the other side.

And I've been driving around in Alexandria for 25 years or so.

Synchronization doesn't seem to be the mantra with the terms of traffic.

That's my comment.

Take it from there.

No, I appreciate you, and I'll try to uh for the audience uh online.

I'll try to uh summarize that.

Uh the feedback was that with all the traffic lights that are added, uh not only with this project, but then with the development project along with Duke Street, the coordination or or the traffic flow would seemingly get worse uh than it is today.

It will it will get worse uh as it is today.

Um, and the fact that uh you know having synchronization through the signals would be a benefit um and something to kind of uh take take into consideration.

So I will say this as a traffic engineer, you know, I spent spent my whole career trying to understand how to synchronize uh signals.

It is very much a art instead of a science.

Um there's science obviously to it, but I could spend my whole entire day trying to figure out how to synchronize the uh signals along Duke Street, work out perfectly in the model, go out in the field, and it's just push, you know.

So um, so again, you know, it's just something that we have to massage uh every once in a while, and we intend to do that.

Um the what we are trying to do here is again work with VDOT because uh pretty much half the signals on Duke Street for the west are um VDOC signals, so we have to coordinate with their system as well as the uh city system as well to get the traffic flow.

Now there are we have uh conducted traffic analysis that would uh suggest a type of signal timing that would uh provide the most optimal traffic flow, and we intend to put that in in the field uh once this project is complete.

However, it doesn't just stop there.

We have to continuously look at it and to continuously uh collect new data and things of that nature.

Um, what I will say is that uh short of this project, there are other projects that um will improve the the traffic flow within this area.

We are using technology to do that.

Uh we along Duke Street as well as along Van Dorn, there's going to be a project called adaptive station.

Not so much traffic flow, uh quality of line of residence and sharing.

I got you.

I got you.

I mean, I mean, it's quite frankly, the uh I mean V dot V dot, like ideally from what I see in terms of uh road management and road planning.

I suppose from a latency point of view, things would be improved.

Perhaps one of the solutions would have been for a northbound lane on right directly on the 395 to the back end of the hospital facility dedicated that and that would alleviate half of the traffic going into the eastbound lane.

But that's just an observation.

All right.

Uh yes.

Um question you you mentioned something about building a sidewalk near where all this stuff is happening.

Will the construction of that sidewalk uh eat into the current car linked?

No.

All the all the proposed sidewalks are gonna they're gonna be located behind the existing curved block.

So there's no intrusion on the travel.

All right.

Um come back and then go to the online question.

Uh first, is the timing and operation of the signal by V dot, or does the city have the ability to make adjustments?

So the question was uh is the timing by VOT, or does the city have the authorities to make adjustments?

For this particular signal, this signal will be owned and maintained by VDOT, therefore the timing will be uh by VDOT.

However, we are in close contact, obviously, with VDOT through this project.

Um through this through this effort in which the city uh uh manage the traffic study and provided the traffic uh timing plan uh to VDOT, and uh again the the will work forwards a more consistent and efficient travel along Duke Street with D DOT uh with the plane.

Okay, right.

I'm sure everybody knows no westbound signature, it's only an eastbound street.

Correct, yes, there is no westbound signal uh with this project, it's only the eastbound.

So westbound will continue to remain the same, and eastbound will have that additional signal.

Uh you are expecting much of the I-395 traffic going east on Dune to be diverted to the traffic right.

This intersection revision is doing little to modify the weaving uh to the right walker terms.

So uh the comment was this is uh this project is doing little to uh relieve the weaving.

And uh again, the benefit, yes, majority of the time once uh if that traffic signal for Duke Street is green, majority of the time the weaving will be there as it is today.

But again, this uh the benefit of this project is that it would once it's red, which again a lot of the traffic uh um that's going on to the to the left earlier to get it to the to the hospital.

Umce it's red, then it provides that gap so that you'll be able to uh make whatever maneuvers you can.

So it will provide a benefit, it will improve to uh what it is today, because as it is today, there is no gap unless uh you're just waiting on the the signal to the west.

So um, so it is an adjustment, it is an improvement that it is uh that's currently there.

Next the issue of possible traffic backup is a serious one.

There are several lights east of this point that is pictured here, at least two more lights east of the picture, and you have to consider the traffic that is already backed up as far as Bovegard Street.

Traffic is often backed up at 395 southbound exit where there is a light.

Sometimes traffic is backed up all the way back to Bower Guard.

Can you get feedback to re think the ramp?

That is 395 coming from the north.

A flyover perhaps to keep traffic moving.

There are too many lights.

So basically, the um the comment was about uh the traffic flow of uh the backup that occurs today and the and again this uh um the sediment of the additional lights will make uh make it course.

And the question was that can VDOT entertain um the idea of making uh making the flyover ramp or uh modifying all the other ramps within the area.

Um again, you know, we we could talk to DOT about that, but again, ultimately is their decision, their approval.

Uh, I will say any additional uh modifications that would uh be required would uh be another project.

It would be it would have to uh do a traffic study that would require not only BOD and not only city uh involvement, but then the uh FHWA, the federal highway administrative uh uh involvement as well, get their approval and then go for design.

So, yes, we you know if there if there is a need to um modify the ramps, then DDoF will identify that, but again, you know, uh just management expectations that that decision won't be made uh in the near in the near future.

They would have to go through several uh years of uh study analysis and design to understand what uh what would need to be done here.

Uh any questions in the audience?

Yes.

Did you say the edit ramp was going to be on two lanes?

Yes, all the way.

No, not all the way.

Um at a certain point, maybe because the the ram kind of goes straight, and then you see this curve here, pretty much at the curve, that's where the new lane begins.

Oh, okay.

So that will help keep going.

Any additional questions in the audience?

Yes.

So far is that between uh where it says the new pedestrian cross walk to where they actually enter the hospital.

Here they're walking all that way, so pedestrian cross walk and pedestrian also all the way to here.

So, yes, there will be a sidewalk here along Duke Street as it is today, and then there will be um there will be uh crosswalks on that side to help people get to the site there with all those strap lines, but however, uh the the main point of this project is to allow vehicles to enter the the hospital site or the hospital site uh through that signal through the left turn lanes and then uh left into the site.

There's no way to speed up uh this development because uh we're going to be having a lot of activity going on where the hospital is, and you're saying that some of those projects will be matured by 20 uh 8, and this won't be ready in until 26.

There's no way to speed anything up.

I mean so the question was is there any way to accelerate the schedule for this project?

Um unfortunately, well, not unfortunately, uh we are already on the accelerated schedule uh for this project.

Uh the hospital plans to uh be fully developed in the year 2028.

Um, and we are uh shortly again the goal is to to complete this project by the year 2028.

So by the time the hospital comes, this project will be done.

For the end, the end of the end of 2028.

Yes.

So the whole project is access to the hospital.

Correct.

You need a larger budget.

You need a larger budget.

Okay, we have uh an advocate online.

Uh we need signals now.

Please don't wait until 2028.

Um next, just to clarify, the project scope is to expand the ramp from one lane to two lanes and to add a traffic signal to stop eastbound Duke Street traffic.

So ramp traffic can merge into the left turn lane for the new hospital complex.

Are there any plan improvements that I missed?

So the major factor is that there's gonna be a new traffic signal introduced to to make all that work.

Yeah, but the question was basically what the scope of the project is and if there's anything that was missed.

Um, and yeah, the the main objective is uh to allow vehicles to to allow access into the hospital site.

So um any other aspect of the project, we've already touched on new new uh new sidewalk, uh crosswalk uh pedestrian signal at the signal um and then uh retain walls, but again, that's all to uh support the new signal that's at the access point.

Um we have a request for the traffic study can be shared.

Is that possible?

Yeah, we we could we could share the traffic study.

Uh the question was uh share the traffic study, we could uh put that online if it already isn't, but yes, we can put that online on the project web page.

Well, first I want to say thank you to you and the team for those many of us in this room who followed this for many years, and I feel like we were heard at this particular juncture of pain point.

My question on the map behind you, I know we're focused on the area of construction.

Could you tell us if the new raised concrete curve separating the hospital new turning lane from eastbound traffic?

Will it go all the way to the light to prevent weaving back and forth?

Yes, yes.

The the question for everybody online uh was uh yes.

Uh was the um will this meeting here, this concrete meeting that's separating the uh through lane with the left turn lane, will it extend all the way to the to the uh intersection at water?

And the answer is yes, it will.

The only reason it's hard to see, but all the line work that's hold is what we're proposing to build.

What you can't see, there's really a faint line here that shows where an existing meeting is today.

We're basically tying into the existing meeting at this point.

The existing median runs all the way to the intersection, and there will be two yeah, that's so it's gonna channel, it's gonna channel the left turn uh deals uh within the concrete deal.

Um if you're truly concerned about people being able to access the hospital, you must consider how people access the hospital from the section of Duke Street from Delegarden Street from hospital.

Section of Soy from the West.

So the question was uh are we concerned about um access from the hospital or to the hospital from uh the section of Duke Street that's closer to Port?

Is that what I'm hearing or from there?

And if that is the question, then uh the vehicles that's coming for the drivers that's coming from the westbound Duke Street, so uh west of the bridge closer to the uh county line, they'll still be able to access that left turn uh lane into the hospitals.

So there's nothing that's preventing the westbound uh uh drivers uh that's coming from Duke Street to access that uh left turn lane.

So they'll still be able to access the uh the hospital coming from the west.

Uh okay.

Next, uh will we get the extra lane back on South Walker Lane?

As it seems that has made the backup traffic on Deep Street even worse.

So the question was will uh uh there will be both the extra lane that was uh removed, the put back on Walker Lane.

Um and for those that uh don't know, uh there was to accommodate the uh lane configuration for the uh for the landmark development site.

A lane was taken to uh provide a ADA accessible sidewalk along Walker Lane for Walker's lane.

So uh with that said, as part of this project that that uh lanes will not be uh put in place again.

Um again that that was uh removed to provide an ADA compliance sidewalk along uh Walker Street.

Okay, one final comment.

Um timing could be short on the light cycling to keep traffic moving, approximately 30 seconds.

Say there it's uh yeah, timing could be short, approximately 30 seconds on light cycling to keep traffic moving.

I think this is uh back to your shopping cut.

Yeah, um, so the the comment was uh as it is today.

Traffic uh the signal timing can be short along Duke Street, uh sometimes uh about 30 seconds, and that causes or creates the backup.

Again, we'll uh continue to analyze the the signal timing uh along Duke Street as uh this project moves along, and then as this project develops, and also when this project completes and and also moving forward, uh we continuously look into the uh signal timing to see if there's any adjustments that can be made to optimize the the traffic flow, uh and we'll continue to do so uh after this project is complete.

Uh it seems like the signalized hospital traffic turn could also be used to guide Duke Street East only interstate with interstate traffic away from the weaving and move them to the far left lane on Duke Street East through Walker Lane intersection or through the walker lane intersection.

So the uh comment was that the light can be used for those that's trying to move eastbound uh uh new street and go into the far lane and far through lane.

Um again, the the expectation is that that movement would be utilized by the existing ramp.

However, if whomever chooses, there is no design or there is no change in the design that would prevent you from making that maneuver um in that lane.

So if uh people feel comfortable in doing that, then that's fine.

Uh they could do that.

The reason why we didn't uh do that within this project in the very beginning is again uh to uh the young lady in the back's uh question about the backup of the interstate having the entire ramp be um be controlled by a signal.

We determined that would cause creative backup that could get close to the interstate, not necessarily uh sheep back into the interstate, but it'll get close.

That made me dot very very nervous, and therefore they weren't uh supportive up that.

So um, so again, this is uh what was approved by this design was what was approved by the uh time.

All right, uh, I don't see any more questions online.

Any more questions in the audience?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Uh please feel free to to reach out if you have future questions, concerns, or what have you.

Um, again, our contact information is provided on the website.

We'll be out of project signs.

Uh so feel free to reach out.

And thank you all for covering that.

And the presentation and this recording of the meetings will be also posted to the website as well, so you can share it with your civic associations and common menu boards, neighbors.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yeah, once again.