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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSURF RESEARCH CAMPUS - ODP - 4-04B - CORRESPONDENCE - TRAFFIC STUDYReview ofAVA Solar Traffic Impact Study in Fort Collins 6. The site plan shows a substantial number of truck delivery bays (approximately 30). It is not clear whether truck traffic was factored into the level -of -service analysis. Also, the length of the storage lanes for right and left turning traffic should take into account the higher percentage of truck traffic that will likely use these intersections. Refer to Section 4.8(2)(f) of the State Highway Access Code. 7. With the proposed improvements (EB RT at Prospect/SB 1-25 and N/S Right turn lanes at Prospect/WFR) the report concludes that the three signalized intersections along Prospect Road will operate at acceptable levels -of -service for the Short Range Total Traffic scenario. While this is true, it should be noted that several movements are projected to operate at or over capacity during the peak periods. These movements include: a. ProspectM/FR: Westbound Thru v/c = 1.06 during AM peak b. ProspectMlFR: Eastbound Thru v/c =1.09 during PM peak c. Prospect/SB 1-25: Westbound Thru v/c = 1.03 during PM peak d. Prospect/NB 1-25: Eastbound Thru v/c =1.00 during AM peak e. Prospect/NB 1-25: Eastbound Thru v/c = 1.08 during PM peak f. Prospect/NB 1-25: Northbound Left v/c = 1.05 during PM peak Given the close spacing of these intersections and limited turn storage capacity it is likely that these over -capacity movements will result in traffic queues extending beyond existing turn lanes and possibly causing grid lock between intersections. We recommend that a queuing analysis be conducted for the turn lanes at each intersection and also for the east/west through traffic along Prospect Road. Thank you for the opportunity to conduct this review. If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact me at 3030-688-0676 or at kbuchholz(cilnaviovinc.com. i YAVJ;,--'sY .. . . Page 2 of 2 November 30, 2007 NAVA?-Y MEMORANDUM To: Gloria Hice-Idler — CDOT Region 4 Traffic Todd Frisbie — Felsburg, Holt and Ullevig From: Karl Buchholz — Navjoy Consulting Services, Inc. Subject: Review of AVA Solar Traffic Impact Study in Fort Collins (CDOT R4 NIPS Contract No. CMS ID 06-151 — Task Order #5) Date: November 30, 2007 We have completed our review of the above referenced traffic impact study. The proposed development is located near the southwest quadrant of 1-25/Prospect Road in Fort Collins. Our comments are listed below. Comments 1. The trip generation methodology determined trips based on the proposed employee shift schedule for the Light Industrial component of the site. As a result, the only Light Industrial trips that are estimated to occur in either peak period (AM or PM) are 9 exiting trips during the AM peak period. While we don't necessarily disagree with the logic that was used to arrive at this estimate, we question whether the analysis should be based on an assumed shift schedule that could potentially change in the future. For example, if the shift -change moved from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM the number of entering and exiting trips would increase from 9 to 116 trips (ITE Rate of 0.44 tripstemployee x 132 employees x 2 shifts). This could also occur if the facility went from a 2-shift schedule to a 3-shift schedule. Since the worker shift schedule is beyond the control of CDOT or the local municipality, we believe it would be more appropriate to assume the shift change overlaps with the peak period(s), or to base the trip generation on the building square footage rather than the number of employees. 2. How was the existing traffic determined for the West Frontage Road (WFR)/ Resource Recovery Road intersection? 3. The study concludes that right -turn lanes are needed at the north and south approaches to the WFR/Prospect Road intersections and also at the eastbound approach to the Prospect/SB 1-25 Ramp intersection. While we agree with these conclusions, the study does not indicate if these improvements will be constructed as part of the development. 4. Several of the peak hour factors cited in the existing traffic counts do not coincide with the values used in the analysis sheets shown in the Appendices. In general, higher peak hour factors were used in the analysis than what was measured in the field. This results in a less conservative analysis. 5. Several of the intersection analyses utilize right -turn -on -red (RTOR) reductions and in some cases the values appear to be quite high (e.g. 80 RTOR out of 95 total rights for SBR at ProspecVWFR during the Short Background PM scenario even though this is a shared left/thru/right lane). How were the RTOR volumes determined? 1385 South Colorado Boulevard, Suite 622 — Denver, CO 80222 — 303-688-0676 No Text 5. We allow the software to default on this. Since there are so few through movements on the WFR, it is not likely that the right turns would be delayed. 6. The truck activity will be negligible during the peak hours according to our client. Therefore, we used the default level in the software. It is our experience that during the peak hours the number of passenger car size vehicles increases while the truck population decreases. Therefore, the truck percentage during the peak hours is less than that which might occur during other hours of the day. 7. A queuing analysis/discussion was not specifically requested in the scoping meeting. If requested by the City/CDOT and approved by the client this can be provided. If there are questions or further clarification is required, do not hesitate to contact us. DELICH ASSOCIATES Traffic & Transportation Engineering �� L 2272 Glen Haven Drive Loveland. Colorado 80538 Phone: (970) 669-2061 Fax: (970) 669-5034 �71 MEMORANDUM TO: Armand Trimm, The Neenan Company Cara Morgan/Roger Sherman, BHA Design Gloria Hice-Idler, CDOT Region 4 Access Manager Ward Stanford, Fort Collins Traffic Operations Sheri Langenberger, Fort Collins Engineering Ted Shepard, Fort Collins Planning FROM: Joe/Matt Delich _'?P DATE: December 17, 2007 SUBJECT: CSURF ODP/AVA Solar response to `CIS" (File: 0791ME02) This memorandum is a response to the November 30, 2007 comments by Navjoy Consulting Services, Inc. pertaining to the "CSURF ODP/AVA Solar Traffic Impact Study," dated November 2007. Response to the comments was requested by Ward Stanford, Fort Collins Traffic Operations and Gloria Hice-Idler, CDOT Region 4 Access Manager. A copy of the comment memorandum is provided in Appendix A. 1. Our direction was that the shift change for AVA Solar would be as studied in this TIS. Note that the remainder (long range) of the development used rates from Trip Generation, 7th Edition, ITE. The TIS was prepared as it was scoped. To do otherwise, is not appropriate. 2. The existing traffic at the Prospect/WFR intersection was counted (Appendix A in the TIS). There is very little development to the south of Prospect Road. There is a connection to the rest area. The traffic from the rest area and Resource Recovery Road were estimated based upon a causal short observation. This was determined to be appropriate since the proposed development would cause a greater increase in traffic. 3. The conclusion regarding the right -turn lanes on the north and south approaches of the WFR are not in the TIS dated 11/07. Whether or not a given improvement mentioned in the TIS will be constructed is not the responsibility of the traffic consultant. 4. Section 4.4.1.B in the "Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards" states that we can use the calculated PHF or 0.85 (short range) which ever is higher. That is the way we did the analyses. The default PHF in the software is 0.92, so our results are both proper and conservative.