HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEARTHFIRE PUD, 1ST FILING - FINAL - 31-95D - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - TRAFFIC STUDYIf warrants are met with the prevailing posted speed, then
this turn lane should be implemented. This recommendation is
also stated on page 4 of the site access study.
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MEMORADNUM
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TO: Bill Yunker, Richards Lake Development Co.
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Tom Dugan, Jim Sell Design
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Fort Collins Planning Department
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FROM: Matt Delich
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DATE: January 3, 1997
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Hearthfire PUD - Response to staff comments
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(File: 9643MEM5)
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Staff requested an evaluation of the turn lane
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requirements at the Douglas/Hearthfire intersection. Since
this intersection will remain within the administrative
control of Larimer County, it is appropriate that Larimer
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County Access Policy criteria be used to evaluate the need for
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turn lanes on Douglas Road at the Hearthfire access. The
Larimer County Access Policy uses the graphs provided in the
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State Highway Access Code. The approach volumes to be
considered at the subject intersection are the average of the
morning and afternoon peak hour traffic forecasts.
In the short range future, an eastbound right -turn
deceleration lane is required at the Douglas/Hearthfire
intersection. This is stated on page 4 of the "Hearthfire PUD
Site Access Study," July 1996. It is restated in the
conclusions on page 5, along with the dimensions of this
auxiliary lane. The operations analysis (Table 3) indicates
that the Hearthfire Access Road has both a northbound right-
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turn lane and a northbound left -turn lane. These movements
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will operate at level of service A. If these lanes were
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combined, they would still operate at level of service A.
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Therefore, it is a judgment call whether separate turn lanes
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are required. If there is right-of-way available, then the
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separate lanes can be implemented, but if there are
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constraints, then they should not be implemented. Based upon
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the traffic forecasts, delays to the northbound traffic
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exiting the site will be less than 5 seconds per approach
vehicle. No other turn lanes are required at this
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intersection in the short range future.
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Using the long range traffic forecasts shown in Figure
10 of the cited report, no additional road improvements are
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necessary at the Douglas/Hearthfire intersection. The need
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for a westbound left -turn lane is on the threshold of being
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warranted at the posted 45 mph speed. Since this is a twenty
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year forecast and the posted speed on Douglas Road could be
reduced, a left -turn lane was not recommended. At 40 mph, a
westbound left -turn lane would clearly not be warranted. As
development occurs in this area, traffic should be monitored.