Per the Project XL FPA, there are a number of enforceable performance targets outlined for the Atlantic Steel Redevelopment (Atlantic Station) that address site design, transportation issues and remediation. They are listed below followed by progress to date.
The final site design will have >33% of blocks containing mixed uses.
The site plan previously approved by EPA has proven to be a helpful start in achieving this goal. In fact, progress to date on the site plan, with respect to increasing the number of blocks that contain a mix of uses, has actually increased to over 50% of all blocks at Atlantic Station containing a mix of uses.
The final site design will accommodate > 12,000 residents and employees combined.
The site plan previously approved by EPA is still applicable regarding density. Over 3,000 residents and 3,500 employees are currently living and working respectively in Atlantic Station.
The final site design will average >180 persons per net acre on site in a ¼-mile radius surrounding the on-site transit stops.
The site plan previously approved by EPA is still applicable regarding density.
The average separation of ingress/egress streets in the final site design will be < 1,000 feet, unless the City of Atlanta specifies otherwise.
The site plan previously approved by EPA regarding external street connectivity is still applicable.
The SIP Revision requires that the TCM be monitored annually beginning in the year following the opening of the 17th Street bridge to traffic. As part of the monitoring effort, the City of Atlanta will be responsible for collecting and maintaining the following data, at a minimum:
- Average daily VMT per resident;
- Average daily VMT per employee working at the site;
- The percent of all combined trips made to, from and on the site by residents and employees in modes other than single occupancy vehicles (modal splits); and
- Origin and destination data for trips made to, from and on the site by residents and employees.
The Atlantic Station Monitoring and Evaluation Update Annual Assessment (Year Four) was completed in February 2009. It presents the findings from the annual evaluation of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) Transportation Control Measure (TCM) imposed on Atlantic Station, LLC, as part of the Project XL Final Project Agreement between Atlantic Station and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). UrbanTrans Consultants and Traffic Data Collections, Inc., in conjunction with Lanier Parking Systems, Inc., developed the evaluation and data collection methodology and conducted the annual evaluation on behalf of Atlantic Station. The evaluation and data collection methodology have been approved by all signatory agencies. The surveys were conducted in the month of October 2008 and were fourth in a series conducted to evaluate the site’s conformance with the State Implementation Plan (SIP) Transportation Control Measure (TCM) imposed as part of the Project XL Final Project Agreement between Atlantic Station and the United Stated Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The TCM required Atlantic Station to conduct annual surveys to determine the site’s conformance with the performance targets established within the TCM. Upon the site reaching two-thirds build out, surveys will be required only biennially and then for a period of ten years following the Atlanta area’s designation by the EPA to attainment under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.
In addition, Atlantic Station is required to analyze the trip-related data at intervals of two, three and a half, and five years after the 17th Street Bridge opens to determine progress towards reaching specific TCM performance targets established by Atlantic Station and EPA. This annual evaluation reflects the sixth year after the 17th Street Bridge opening, and therefore an assessment of progress towards reaching the specific TCM performance targets is also included in this report.
The survey results show that the site is currently exceeding the year-six performance targets for mode splits and daily VMT per resident. The six-year performance target for average daily VMT per employee exceeds the target, and has improved since the last survey, as required by the project agreement. Finally, the survey indicates that the Average Daily Total Vehicle Trips are well below the threshold.
2008 Performance Measure Findings and Comparison to Regional Equivalent Measures
Atlantic Station Performance Measures
The TCM imposes a variety of conditions that require measurement and evaluation, five of which were assessed as part of this evaluation. The five performance measures and the findings from the Atlantic Station 2008 evaluation follow:
- Average daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per resident of the site – 13.9 miles
- Average daily vehicle miles traveled (VMT) per employee of the site – 11.8 miles
- Percentage of trips made to, from, and on the site by residents and employees by non-SOV modes of travel - 51%
- Trip destinations:
Trips Made to Site: 43 percent of all trips made to the site were made using non- SOV modes.
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Trips Made from Site: 60 percent of all trips made from the site were made using non-SOV modes
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| Trips Made onsite: 76 percent of all trips within the site were made using non-SOV modes. |
- Average daily travel to, from, and on the site, other than by transit, for all purposes combined, including retail trips – 40,858.
Comparison to Regional Data
ARC provided the most up-to-date regional trip-related comparison measures available, which were for the 2007 network year, 20-county modeling domain.
Vehicle Miles Traveled for Residents and Employees
Individuals residing in ARC’s 20-county modeling domain travel an average of 33.7 miles per day. Employed residents travel, on average, 18.85 miles per day. Atlantic Station’s travel diary findings for average vehicle miles traveled are significantly less than the regional average, with residents traveling, on average, 13.9 miles per day and employees working at the site traveling, on average, 11.8 miles per day.
Combined non-SOV Trips
39% of the trips made by individuals residing in ARC’s 20-county modeling domain are non-SOV trips. In comparison, 51% of the trips made by Atlantic Station residents and 50% of the trips made by employees working at the site are made using non-SOV modes of travel.
If either of the observed VMT measures for the site is greater than or equal to the corresponding regional average, or if the observed mode split for the site is less than or equal to the regional average, then the Developer will identify funding or will fund the creation of a TMA for a period of twenty years from the applicable date, if employers and property managers are not participating in a TMA at that time.
Proactively, in 2005, Atlantic Station developed the Atlantic Station Access and Mobility Program (ASAP+) which serves as the site’s TMA and encourages residence trip reduction and travel mode alternatives to single occupancy vehicle use. In that year Atlantic Station contributed over $40,000 toward this program which was assisted by a grant from the Atlanta Regional Commission to begin implementing ASAP+. Because of the success of the program, the program’s budget has grown to over $264,000 in 2008.
ASAP+ is a voluntary travel options program serving the entire Atlantic Station development site. The program integrates parking strategies, transportation information, dedicated storefront space, individualized commuter consultations, incentives and promotional strategies to maximize the number of residents who live, work and play onsite.
As a US EPA “Project XL” site, ASAP+ plays an integral part in achieving the model of smart growth and sustainable development. We work hand-in-hand with building managers and business owners to integrate transportation strategies and communicate the numerous benefits of alternative transportation to residents and visitors.
ASAP+ project also offers the Commuter Cafe. With its dedicated storefront space, the ASAP+ Commuter Cafe offers a relaxed and inviting environment to discover transportation options. The cafe is also proud to offer any employees at Atlantic Station free internet access to participate in the regional incentives offered to alternative commuters.
ASAP+ Results
- Log Your Commute. One of the Atlanta region’s most popular commute programs is Log Your Commute. ASAP+ hosts a personalized website where our commuters can log how they get to work each day and win prizes. ASAP+ had 363 registrants logging over 12,000 “clean” commutes in 2008.
- Walk Challenge. A popular program at Atlantic Station is the annual Walk Challenge where in 2008, 248 participants wore a pedometer and logged the number of steps they took each day. Atlantic Station gave away numerous prizes, and the top logger received a weekend getaway at Inn at Serenbe.
- Ridematching. The ridematching database expands with every employee who fills out a ridematching application, helping us to better assist them in forming carpools and vanpools. In 2008 ASAP+ added 127 ridematch applications to the regional database, increasing each commuter’s chances of finding a potential rideshare partner.
- Outreach. With over 59 events in 2008 and numerous one-on-one site visits, ASAP+ has had the chance to provide each employee at Atlantic Station with commute information. Through the Commuter Café ASAP+ has been able to reach even more employees and residents every weekday with a focus on individualized commute assistance.
- Website. The ASAP+ website is a convenient marketing tool, with an average of 5,430 visits monthly.
- Commuter Café. The Commuter Café’s inaugural year saw enormous success, growing from 15 to 69 monthly visitors. Overall, 809 people visited the café to log a clean commute or get information on alternative transportation.
- Bike Share. There are two successful bike share programs currently operating at Atlantic Station. Carter Management sponsors a program with 71 enrolled employees from the 171 and 201 buildings, while IKEA’s brand new program currently has 80 members. All members enjoy free, convenient access to bicycles for use in and around Atlantic Station to run errands, exercise, or go to lunch.
- Bike Valet. Last year, ASAP+ worked with the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign to provide a bike valet service at two major Atlantic Station events. At Taste of Atlanta, eight cyclists took advantage of the free service, and in November, 17 cyclists braved the cold weather and rode their bikes to the Lighting of Atlantic Station.
- Environmental Impact. Thanks to the efforts of Atlantic Station clean commuters, 351,799 VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled) were reduced, 355,669 grams of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) were reduced, and $175,900 in commuting costs were saved in 2008*.
*figures obtained from The Clean Air Campaign’s CommuteTrak web site
The Site will Have Linkage to Mass Transit
In April of 2004, Atlantic Station began a free shuttle service between the MARTA Arts Center Station and the community with two vehicles. Atlantic Station has increased the number of vehicles to a present day number of nine, averaging over 900,000 riders annually.
Atlantic Station has also added an “express” shuttle from the 171 Building to the MARTA Arts Center Station in order to accommodate the consistently increasing ridership.
Related Activities
In addition, Atlantic Station completed the construction of a traffic island and signal modification for the intersection of 16th and State Streets in accordance with the provisions outlined in the zoning conditions for the property.
Atlantic Station Transportation CO2 Analysis and Reduction Project
Background
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. autos will be a fundamental strategy in any effort to reduce global warming. Future vehicle emission control programs will emphasize hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide (NO2) reductions, and carbon monoxide control will remain critical in many cities. However, the growing need to reduce the carbon footprint of businesses and entire urban areas will focus increased attention on reducing vehicle-generated CO2.
While Americans own only 30% of the 700 million vehicles in use worldwide, cars in the U.S. account for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gas emissions because they are driven farther, have lower fuel economy standards, and burn fuel with higher levels of carbon than is found in other countries. Each year, a typical American driver uses enough gasoline to emit approximately 7,700 kg – or 17,000 pounds – of CO2 into the atmosphere.
Future efforts to control an automobile’s harmful emissions will need to address not only how the vehicle is designed, but also how it is used. For many Americans, cars are the most practical, often the only way to travel between home and work, shopping, or other destinations. Sprawling residential and commercial development patterns, as well as comparatively low gas prices, have contributed to an increase in miles driven by Americans. On average, the number of miles driven has more than doubled since 1970. This increase in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has offset much of the incremental emissions control progress that has been made in the same time period.
Project Overview
Atlantic Station, located in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, is in a unique position to serve as a model for CO2 reduction efforts within the smart growth context. Atlantic Station’s commitment to energy efficiency and renewable energy is significant and will result in measurable and quantifiable CO2 reductions. However, Atlantic Station’s high-density pedestrian and transit oriented design, efforts to achieve a high transit ratio, traffic management plan and transportation monitoring and evaluation may make it a unique national demonstration platform for transportation related CO2 approaches within a smart growth community.
The goal of this project is to develop a model that actively engages members of the Atlantic Station community in both improving their transportation practices and contributing to the collection of data for measuring and evaluating the real impact of smart growth developments on CO2 reduction efforts. The results will be used to evaluate possible ways to increase participation in commute alternatives among Atlantic Station’s workforce and residents.
The model will be developed using participatory design methods that engage the community directly in the development process. The current plan is for a team of Georgia Tech faculty members and students to thoroughly research Atlantic Station, its culture, its residents, and its environmental impact. This team will work with project stakeholders and partners to establish a set of environmental impact goals for various participation methods, including emissions reduction goals that are translated into specific changes in behavior, and data collection goals in order to rigorously evaluate and assess the impact of the project.
The next step will be to engage a community design team by reaching out to residents, employees, businesses, and visitors to Atlantic Station and using an iterative design process that is integrally tied to actual lifestyle and behavior patterns of these constituents.
At the conclusion of the evaluation period, Center for Transportation and the Environment will analyze the data to determine:
- CO2 impact as a result of changes in transportation behaviors caused by residential or employment relocations to Atlantic Station, and
- CO2 impact as a result of transportation behavior changes that occur over the duration of the evaluation period, and
- Recommendations for improvements to campaigns and initiatives designed to promote alternative transportation modes.
The initial planning stage of the project was set to begin in 2008. Once the initial project is completed, the model will be evaluated for continued use at Atlantic Station.
Current or potential partners the project include AIG Global Real Estate, Georgia Tech, The Center for Transportation and the Environment, Lanier Parking, Smart Growth America, Urban Trans, ASAP+, Atlanta Regional Commission, Southeast Energy Efficiency Association, and the Clean Air Campaign
Atlantic Station Health Study
In 2007, with the support of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Atlantic Station, researchers from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health began a groundbreaking study to determine if neighborhoods like Atlantic Station help reduce the health risks of sedentary lifestyles and improve the quality of life among residents. The project was ongoing through 2008 and will conclude in 2009. In collaboration with the Georgia Institute for Technology, GeoStats, a local Atlanta company, and the Atlantic Station development community, researchers will study whether and how travel and physical activity behaviors change when people move to Atlantic Station. Researchers will conduct the study to answer these questions related to sustainable neighborhood design:
Will people be more physically active after moving to a mixed use residential neighborhood like Atlantic Station?
Will people drive less after moving to a mixed use neighborhood like Atlantic Station?
Which residents are most likely to change their physical activity and travel behaviors?
Study participants will provide data before they move into Atlantic Station and then approximately one year later. This study is significant because the contributions of sedentary lifestyles to the emerging epidemic of obesity, overweight and chronic disease has focused attention on the built environment and strategies for engineering physical activity into people’s daily routines. This study will help identify relationships between neighborhood environmental features such as those found at Atlantic Station, physical activity and travel behaviors.
All of the Developer intentions, including enforceable, voluntary and aspirations (FPA, Sec. VII.B) are being pursued with the same energy and commitment with which they were agreed.
Additional Environmental Progress:
Atlantic Station has created a $25 million state of the art sewer system - the only system in the city where sanitary sewer is separated from regular sewer and storm water.
Storm water runoff from the Atlantic Steel facility, as well as the drainage area west of Northside Drive and north of 14th Street, flowed into a combined (sanitary and storm water) sewer. The Developer has installed separate storm water and sanitary systems. Such separation is not currently required by law, but the Developer agreed to this measure in the interest of reducing future impacts on water quality. The system is adequately sized to handle sanitary and storm water discharges from the proposed project and existing flows in the catchment basin now serviced by the existing combined sewer trunk line. The plan complies with guidelines in the City of Atlanta Storm water Management Design Manual.
During construction of the project, all storm water runoff will be diverted to onsite erosion and sediment control facilities. After construction, storm water runoff will be diverted to one or more impoundments to be constructed on the property (including a "lake") and then reused as grey water or discharged to the separate storm water sewer located on the property. Structural best management practices (BMPs) and storm water controls will operate in accordance with applicable Georgia State Law. Innovative storm water control structures, such as modified catch basins will also be employed where practical. BMPs including the treatment process described below will be implemented to reduce or eliminate the flow of pollutants from storm water runoff to receiving waters.
Surface runoff that leaves the site will pass through on-site BMPs and erosion control measures. The use of on-site BMPs assures that all storm water will receive some level of treatment prior to reaching the Chattahoochee River.
The commitment by the Developer to incorporate BMPs and measures to decrease pollutant loadings and reduce flow from surface water runoff will assist the efforts of EPA, the Georgia EPD, and Atlanta to improve watershed management and achieve water quality standards.
Site design, grading, and drainage will be conducted in accordance with an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan which is required by the Georgia Erosion and Sedimentation Control Act. Control devices including collection systems and curbing will be installed to assure that surface runoff from the development flows through treatment facilities. The treatment facilities include screens, boxes, grates and baffles intended to help remove solid materials and prevent siltation.
The inevitable loss of some existing trees and vegetation has been compensated for by planting additional vegetation, clustering tree areas, and promoting the use of native plants. In addition, Developer will clearly specify how community open space will be managed and designate a sustainable legal entity responsible for managing both natural and recreational open space.
Due to characteristics of the brownfield and the steel mill operations which existed for many years on the site, the redevelopment will be designed to minimize groundwater infiltration. To assure that no contamination leaves the brownfield site in the future via groundwater, the remediation of the property will incorporate a groundwater interceptor system to collect groundwater and divert it to on-site pretreatment facilities before discharging the flow to a sanitary sewer. Treatment of the intercepted groundwater will be provided to assure compliance with Atlanta's Sewer Use Ordinance.
In mid-2009, we anticipate the delivery of at least four bio-diesel hybrid busses for our shuttle fleet. These busses will have a capacity of 30 to 35 passengers and will replace the current gasoline powered shuttles.
Other green initiatives in 2008 included the addition of Smart Wash Auto Detail, an eco-friendly auto-spa, in the Atlantic Station parking deck. Smart Wash uses only a quart of water per wash, preventing run off of dirty water and chemicals from reaching storm drains. Only biodegradable products are used.
Atlantic Station works with the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign to teach safety classes for city cyclists and encourages the use of cycling as an alternative mode of transportation. Atlantic Station installed several new bike racks throughout the property to assist our riders.
Atlantic Station plans to install artificial sod in its Central Park in 2009. This alternative to sod will eliminate the need to irrigate, saving hundreds of gallons of water per year. Other water conservation efforts include the installation of drought resistant plants, and the collection of rain water for pressure washing and plant watering throughout the district.
Participation in Earth Hour, the public awareness raising campaign on climate change, will occur in Atlantic Station on March 28th. Across the world, cities are turning off their lights to bring awareness to this campaign.
Atlantic Stations sponsors the EarthShare of Georgia Earth Day Leadership Breakfast. Businesses and non-profit leaders from the metro-Atlanta area gather to celebrate the innovations in sustainable business practices.
Developer will work with Parcel Owners and users of various portions of the property to implement pollution prevention measures into building construction and design.
From the inception of this project, the Developer has been working with builders at the redevelopment to participate in the Green Building Council "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" (LEED) program. This innovative pollution prevention program takes a comprehensive view of resource conservation and management. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program consists of a wide variety of programs. To participate, an applicant must satisfy prerequisites set by the program and earn a certain number of credits to attain different LEED Building classifications.
After meeting the rating system prerequisites, credits and bonus credits are earned by employing "green measures" in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to: use of low VOC building materials, use of local materials, use of recycled materials, construction waste management, energy efficiency (the EPA Green Lights and Energy Star Building Programs are included), indoor air quality, occupant recycling programs, siting, transportation (for example secure bicycle storage areas, shower and changing facilities for cyclists), water conservation and erosion control.
Developer will work with builders at the property to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" at the LEED Building Bronze level.
The Developer has been working with builders at the Atlantic Steel redevelopment to achieve the requirements for LEED Building designation. The ability to achieve a designation in the program is contingent on participation and cooperation by developers, architects and construction companies for various components of the project. The Atlantic Station Eco-Charrette held in May of 2003 brought together the Atlantic Station team and local and regional green design and construction experts to establish the knowledge and resource base to implement green building techniques and achieve LEED certification for over 8,500,000 square feet of buildings at Atlantic Station. Developer has committed to serving as a leader in this capacity to reach LEED Building designation while continuing to work toward the greater goal of LEED Silver or better designation.
In addition, Atlantic Station is the first development in the U.S. to receive site-wide points, applicable to future buildings on site, under the U.S. Green Building Council's "Multi-building Pilot Project".
In 2006 Atlantic Station pre-registered over 8,550,000 square feet of commercial space with the US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. This represents 83% of the potential commercial square footage of the project.
