HomeMy WebLinkAboutHOME INSTEAD PLAZA - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - (2)DELICH ASSOCIATES Traffic& Transportation Engineering Aimitinsorri
2272 Glen Haven Drive Loveland, Colorado 80538
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Phone: (970) 669-2061 Fax: (970) 669-5034 A7 r-
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-Post
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 DIE 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.
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Sincerely, f,-r''.`',
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Matthew J. Delic ,teePTOE
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File: 1359 VAR LTO
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
3 There are no LOS standards for 1-25 Interchanges.
Table 4-3
vr,
Fort Collins (GMA and City Limits)
Go\U ,t,
Motor Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections)
Land Use(from structure plan)
1
r k 1 or' ,
Other corridors within:
n'k
to‘
Low density t o c
oIntersectiontypeCommercialMixedusemixeduseAllother
corridors districts residential areas
Signalized intersections D E* D D
overall)
Any Leg E E D E
Any Movement E E D E
AID Stop sign control N/A F** F** E,
1 (arterial/collector or local—
any approach leg)
Stop sign control N/A C C C
s (arterial/arterial,
artcAialfcolloster, or
collector/local—any
approach leg)
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