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Home My WebLink AboutHOME INSTEAD - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - 2015-12-01r DELICH ASSOCIATES Traffic & Transportation Engineering! 2272 Glen Haven Drive Loveland, Colorado 80538 Phone: (970) 669-2061 Fax: (970) 669-5034 r May 12, 2014 Mr. Joe Olson, P.E. Fort Collins Traffic Engineer P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Ms. Sheri Langenberger, P.E. Fort Collins Engineering Department P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Dear Joe/Sheri: This letter pertains to the short range operation at the Boardwalk/Landings-Post Office Access intersection as it relates to the Home Instead development. The "Home Instead Transportation Impact Study," dated May 2014, indicated that the minor approach legs currently operate at level of service (LOS) D during the afternoon peak hour and will operate at LOS E during the afternoon peak hour, under the background traffic condition and the total traffic condition. According to Section 4.5.3A.3.b Intersection Delay in the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards (LCUASS), in the "All other areas" land use category at unsignalized intersections, the LOS threshold is: Any Leg _ LOS C. In order to mitigate the LOS D/E condition, two options exist: 1) construct a roundabout at the Landings -Post Office Access intersection; or 2) reclassify Landings Drive from a two-lane arterial street to a collector street. The first of these mitigation measures is considered to be an alternate design as mentioned in the variance process outlined in LCUASS. After discussions with Fort Collins Traffic Operations staff, it was agreed that a variance should be submitted with regard to the LOS D/E condition. The alternate design of building a roundabout at the Boardwalk/Landings-Post Office Access intersection, along with the necessary right-of-way to have it function as intended, is an expensive project that may be a disproportionate improvement for this development. It would require property acquisition on all four comers, two of which are owned by the United States Postal Service. It would likely qualify as having unusual and exceptional practical difficulty, as well as an exceptional and undue hardship on this development. If this mitigation measure is pursued, it should be done by the City of Fort Collins. The roundabout at this intersection would operate acceptably, reduce the delay on the minor legs (Landings Drive and the Post Office Access), and provide a calming of the speed on Boardwalk Drive. Given the forecasted traffic on Landings Drive (<2,500 vehicles per day), changing the classification to a collector street or connector local may be appropriate. The forecasted traffic volume does not meet that of the current arterial street classification. It is not clear how the arterial street classification for Landings Drive was determined, but it is my opinion that it is not appropriate and it is recommended that it be changed. A collector or connector local street classification would allow the minor street legs at this intersection to operate at LOS E, which is termed acceptable. Reclassifying Landings Drive from a two-lane arterial street to a collector or connector local street will require a change to the City of Fort Collins Master Street Flan. This change request must be proposed/supported by the City of Fort Collins and requires approval from City Council. It is not known when the next revision of the City of Fort Collins Master Street Plan will occur. Unless the City of Fort Collins desires to implement the roundabout mitigation measure at this intersection, changing the classification of Landings Drive seems to be the most cost effective method of achieving acceptable operation at this intersection. It is acknowledged that this measure does nothing to reduce the delay to the minor legs at this intersection. While the vehicle delay for the approach legs is at LOS D/E in the afternoon peak flour, it does not cause the City of Fort Collins additional maintenance costs. The delay is to the travelling public; however there are alternative routes available should the motorists decide to use them. It is important to note that this LOS D/E condition only occurs during one peak hour on an average weekday. In light of the above information, it is respectfully requested that the LOS D/E condition for minor street approach legs during one peak hour be accepted at the Boardwalk/ Landings -Post Office Access intersection. The variance will not be detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety; will not reduce the design life of the existing intersection; and will not cause the City of Fort Collins additional maintenance costs. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, NN'"'. u. Matthew J File: 1359 V, DELICH ASSOCIATES Traffic & Transportation Engineering 2272 Glen Haven Drive Loveland, Colorado 80538 ANOME— - --- -- Phone: Wn) Rf9-20R1 Fax• (97n) RR9-50U , �� July 14, 2014 Mr. Joe Olson, P.E. Fort Collins Traffic Engineer P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Ms. Sheri Langenberger, P.E. Fort Collins Engineering Department P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Dear Joe/Sheri: This letter pertains to the short range operation at the Boardwalk/Landings-Past Office Access intersection as it relates to the Home Instead development. The "Home Instead Transportation Impact Study" (TIS) dated May 2014, indicated that the minor approach legs currently operate at level of service (LOS) D during the afternoon peak hour and will operate at LOS E during the afternoon peak hour, under the background traffic condition and the total traffic condition. According to Section 4.5.3A.3.b Intersection Delay in the Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards (LCUASS), in the "All other areas" land use category at unsignalized intersections, the LOS threshold is: Any Leg — LOS C. In order to mitigate the LOS D/E condition, few practical options exist. Extensive physical improvements at this intersection are not likely. There are two approaches that can be considered: 1) reclassify Landings Drive from a two-lane arterial street to a collector street; and 2) the application of the practical changes in LCUASS, Table 4-3. Neither of these would be considered to be an alternative design, but rather reasons to consider this variance request. Given the forecasted traffic on Landings Drive (<2,500 vehicles per day), changing the classification to a collector street or connector local may be appropriate. The forecasted daily traffic volume does not meet that of the current arterial street classification. It is not clear how the arterial street classification for Landings Drive was determined, but it is my opinion that it is not appropriate and it is recommended that it be changed. A collector or connector local street classification would allow the minor street legs at this intersection to operate at LOS E, which is termed acceptable. Reclassifying Landings Drive from a two-lane arterial street to a collector or connector local street will require a change to the City of Fort Collins Master Street Plan. This change request must be proposed/supported by the City of Fort Collins and requires approval from City Council. It is not known when the next revision of the City of Fort Collins Master Street Plan will occur. Changing the classification of Landings Drive seems to be the most cost effective method of achieving acceptable operation at this intersection. As stated earlier, this intersection is in an area termed "All other areas." As discussed in a recent meeting regarding LCUASS, Table 4-3, it appears that arterial/arterial intersections with stop sign control should have been placed in row 4 of Table 4-3. A copy of Table 4-3, with notes from that meeting, is attached. Along with placing arterial/arterial intersection in row 4 of Table 4-3, the subject intersection should be monitored and evaluated for signal warrants. The signal warrant evaluation in the cited TIS determined that this intersection would not meet signal warrants. By changing Table 4-3, the LOS threshold is: Any Approach Leg — LOS E. Therefore, the calculated LOS would be termed as acceptable. The following should be considered in evaluating this variance request. It is acknowledged that either measure does nothing to reduce the delay to he minor legs at this intersection. However, the impact of the site generated traffic will minimal at this intersection. The vehicle delay for the approach legs is at LOS D/E in the afternoon peak hour does not cause the City of Fort Collins additional maintenance costs. The delay is to the travelling public; however there are alternative routes available should the motorists decide to use them. It is important to note that this LOS D/E condition only occurs during one peak hour on an average weekday. In light of the above information, it is respectfully requested that the LOS D/E condition for minor street approach legs during one peak hour be accepted at the Boardwalk/ Landings -Post Office Access intersection. The variance will not be detrimental to the public health, welfare and safety; will not reduce the design life of the existing intersection; and will not cause the City of Fort Collins additional maintenance costs. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Matthew J. DelicVQJ,�. File: 1359 VAR `Fha Chapter 4 — TRANSPORTATION IMPACT STUDY Section 4.5 Project Impacts Table 4-2 Loveland (GMA and City Limits) Motor Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections) Intersection Major Minor Driveway Component Intersection' Intersection2 Overall (City LOS C LOS C No Limit Limits Overall (GMAs) LOS D LOS D No Limit Any Leg LOS D LOS E No Limit Any Movement LOS E LOS F No Limit Includes all signalized and unsignalized arterial/arterial and arterial/ major collector intersections. 2 Includes all unsignalized intersections (except major intersections) and high volume driveways a There are no LOS standards for 1-25 Interchanges. Table 4-3 Fort Collins (GMA and City Limits) Motor Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections) D.�-v a" 4 Land Use (from structure plan) Other corridors within: Mixed use Low density mixed use All other Intersection a type Commercial corridors districts residential." areas Signalized intersections D E* D D (overall) Any Leg E E D E Any Movement E E D E Stop sign control N/A F** F** E (arterial/collector or local — any approach le Stop sign control (arterial/arterial, NIA C C C star, or collector/local—any approach le * mitigating measures required ** considered normal in an urban environment 4. Driveway Access. The design, number, and location of access points to collector and arterial roadways must be submitted for approval by the Local Entity Page 4-24 Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards — Repealed and Reenacted April 1, 2007 Adopted by Larimer County, City of Loveland, City of Fort Collins