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HomeMy WebLinkAboutENGINES & ENERGY CONVERSION LAB - BDR - BDR120006 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - TRAFFIC STUDYDELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 1 II. EXISTING CONDITIONS .......................................................................................... 2 Land Use......................................................................................................................... 2 Streets............................................................................................................................. 2 Existing Traffic................................................................................................................. 4 Existing Operation........................................................................................................... 4 Pederstrian Facilities....................................................................................................... 8 Bicycle Facilities..............................................................................................................8 Transit Facilities ..............................................................................................................8 III. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT................................................................................. 9 Trip Generation ............................................................................................................... 9 Trip Distribution ...............................................................................................................9 Background Traffic Projections ..................................................................................... 12 Trip Assignment ............................................................................................................ 12 Signal Warrants............................................................................................................. 12 Operation Analysis ........................................................................................................ 12 Geometry ...................................................................................................................... 17 Pedestrian Level of Service........................................................................................... 17 Bicycle Level of Service ................................................................................................ 17 Transit Level of Service................................................................................................. 17 IV. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................... 20 DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES LIST OF TABLES 1. Current Peak Hour Operation.................................................................................... 7 2. Trip Generation ......................................................................................................... 9 3. Short Range (2016) Background Peak Hour Operation .......................................... 16 4. Short Range (2016) Total Peak Hour Operation ..................................................... 18 LIST OF FIGURES 1. Site Location ............................................................................................................. 3 2. Recent Peak Hour Traffic .......................................................................................... 5 3. Balance Recent Peak Hour Traffic ............................................................................ 6 4. Site Plan.................................................................................................................. 10 5. Trip Distribution ....................................................................................................... 11 6. Short Range (2016) Background Peak Hour Traffic................................................ 13 7. Site Generated Peak Hour Traffic ........................................................................... 14 8. Short Range (2016) Total Peak Hour Traffic ........................................................... 15 9. Short Range (2016) Geometry ................................................................................ 19 APPENDICES A. Base Assumptions Form/Peak Hour Traffic Counts B. Current Peak Hour Operation/Level of Service Descriptions/Fort Collins Motor Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections) C. Short Range (2016) Background Peak Hour Operation D. Short Range (2016) Total Peak Hour Operation E. Pedestrian/Bicycle Level of Service Worksheets DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 1 I. INTRODUCTION This intermediate transportation impact study (TIS) addresses the capacity, geometric, and control requirements at and near the proposed Colorado State University Engines & Energy Conversion Laboratory (CSU EECLE), 450 North College Avenue. The proposed CSU EECLE is located along the east side of North College Avenue, south of the Cache La Poudre River in Fort Collins, Colorado. During the course of the analysis, numerous contacts were made with the owner’s representative (McWhinney Enterprises), the project planning consultant (The Neenan Company), and the City of Fort Collins Traffic Engineering Staff. The Transportation Impact Study Base Assumptions form and related documents are provided in Appendix A. This study generally conforms to the format set forth in the Fort Collins TIS Guidelines in the “Larimer County Urban Area Street Standards” (LCUASS). Due to the trip generation, this is an intermediate level transportation impact study. The study involved the following steps: - Collect physical, traffic, and development data; - Perform trip generation, trip distribution, and trip assignment; - Determine peak hour traffic volumes; - Conduct capacity and operational level of service analyses on key intersections; - Analyze signal warrants; - Conduct level of service evaluation of pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes of transportation. DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 2 II. EXISTING CONDITIONS The location of the CSU EECLE is shown in Figure 1. It is important that a thorough understanding of the existing conditions be presented. Land Use Land uses in the area are primarily commercial, industrial, or open. There are commercial uses to the north, south, and west of the site. There are industrial uses to the east of the site. The center of Fort Collins lies to the south of the proposed CSU EECLE. Streets The primary streets near the CSU EECLE site are North College Avenue, Cherry Street, and Willow Street. North College Avenue is west of (adjacent to) the proposed CSU EECLE site. It is a north-south street classified as a four-lane arterial on the Fort Collins Master Street Plan. Currently, North College Avenue has a four-lane cross section. At the N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection, North College Avenue has a northbound and a southbound left-turn lane, two through lanes in each direction, and a northbound and a southbound right-turn lane. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection, North College Avenue has a northbound and a southbound left-turn lane and two through lanes in each direction. There is a short northbound right-turn lane approaching the CSU Engine Lab Access. The N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection is signalized. The N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection is stop sign controlled on the CSU Engines Lab Access and the Auto Shop Access. The posted speed limit in this area of College Avenue is 35 mph, north of the railroad tracks, and 25 mph, south of the railroad tracks. Cherry Street is south of the proposed CSU EECLE site. It is an east-west street classified as a two-lane collector on the Fort Collins Master Street Plan. Cherry Street is the west leg at the N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection. Currently, Cherry Street has a two-lane cross section. At the N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection, Cherry Street has dual eastbound left-turn lanes, an eastbound through lane, and an eastbound right-turn lane. The posted speed limit in this area of Cherry Street is 25 mph. Willow Street is south of the proposed CSU EECLE site. It is a southeast- northwest street classified as a two-lane collector on the Fort Collins Master Street Plan. Willow Street is the east leg at the N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection. Currently, Willow Street has a two-lane cross section. At the N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection, Willow Street has a westbound left-turn lane and a westbound through/right-turn lane. The posted speed limit in this area of Willow Street is 25 mph. Vine Drive Cherry Street College Avenue Willow Street SCALE: 1"=500' SITE LOCATION Figure 1 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 3 DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 4 The CSU Engines Lab Access is a two-lane driveway on the east side of North College Avenue. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection, the CSU Engines Lab Access has all movements combined into a single lane. The Auto Shop Access driveway is on the west side of North College Avenue. There are two accesses at the auto shop. One is a full movement access at the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection and a right-in/right- out access approximately 55 feet north of the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access- Auto Shop Access intersection. No vehicles used the right-in/right-out access during the morning peak hour and two vehicles exited the right-in/right-out access during the afternoon peak hour. Since the traffic was minimal at the right-in/right-out access, the observed traffic was added to the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection and it was treated as a single access point for this property, for analysis purposes. Existing Traffic Recent peak hour traffic volumes are shown in Figure 2. The counts at the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections were obtained in April 2011. Raw traffic count data is provided in Appendix A. Since the traffic counts were obtained on different days, the intersection volumes were balanced. Figure 3 shows the balanced recent peak hour traffic volumes. Existing Operation The N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections were evaluated and the peak hour operation is displayed in Table 1. Calculation forms are provided in Appendix B. The N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections are currently operating acceptably with existing control and geometry in the morning and afternoon peak hours. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection, the calculated delay in the afternoon peak hour for the westbound approach was commensurate with level of service F. The intersections were evaluated using techniques provided in the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual. A description of level of service for signalized and unsignalized intersections from the 2000 Highway Capacity Manual and a table showing the Fort Collins Motor Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections) are also provided in Appendix B. The CSU EECLE site is in an area termed “commercial corridor.” In commercial corridors, acceptable overall operation at signalized intersections during the peak hours is defined as level of service D or better. At signalized intersections, acceptable operation of any leg and any movement is level of service E. At unsignalized intersections, in commercial corridors, there is no minimum level of service criteria. In such areas, it is expected that there would be substantial delays to the minor street movements during the peak hours. This is considered to be normal in urban areas. North College Avenue RECENT PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 2 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 5 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street 6/5 710/1183 24/3 1/3 1064/832 5/2 0/0 0/0 1/6 3/6 0/0 1/13 75/84 501/832 40/82 241/220 781/734 67/70 151/325 157/108 142/101 45/72 88/142 18/94 North College Avenue BALANCED RECENT PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 3 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 6 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street 6/5 689/1202 24/3 1/3 1076/919 5/2 0/0 0/0 1/6 3/6 0/0 1/13 75/84 517/819 40/82 239/202 773/672 66/64 156/320 157/108 142/101 46/71 88/142 18/94 DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 7 TABLE 1 Current Peak Hour Operation Intersection Movement Level of Service AM PM EB LT B B EB T C C EB RT C C EB APPROACH C C WB LT C C WB T/RT C D WB APPROACH C C NB LT B B NB T B C NB RT B B NB APPROACH B C SB LT A B SB T C C SB RT B C SB APPROACH B C N. College/Cherry-Willow (signal) OVERALL C C EB LT/T/RT B B WB LT/T/RT C F NB LT B B N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access (stop sign) SB LT A B DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 8 Pedestrian Facilities There are sidewalks along North College Avenue, Cherry Street, and Willow Street within the pedestrian influence area. This site connects directly to the Poudre Trail to the north. Bicycle Facilities There are bicycle lanes along Cherry Street, west of Mason Street and the Poudre Trail is to the north of the CSU Engines Lab site. Transit Facilities Currently, this area of Fort Collins is served by Transfort Routes 8 and 81. The Downtown Transit Center is approximately 1380 feet from the CSU Engine Lab driveway. Many other transit routes are available at the Downtown Transit Center. DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 9 III. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT The new building at the CSU EECL will be 66,350 square feet. The current CSU EECL Lab is 38,000 square feet. Figure 4 shows a site plan of the CSU EECLE. The expansion will cause some “out buildings” to be razed. The total floor area at the site will be 92,350 square feet. Therefore, the net expansion is 54,350 square feet. The short range analysis (Year 2016) includes development of the CSU EECLE and an appropriate increase in background traffic due to normal growth and other potential developments in the area. Since this is an intermediate level transportation impact study, a long range analysis is not required. The site plan shows that the CSU EECLE access will continue to be at its current location. Trip Generation Trip generation is important in considering the impact of a development such as this upon the existing and proposed street system. Trip generation for a Research & Development (Code 760) in Trip Generation, 8th Edition, ITE fit the description of the CSU Engines Lab. However, since the existing CSU EECL was counted, it was determined that the actual trip generation is less than that which would be calculated for the Research and Development use in the cited reference. It was determined that the CSU Engines Lab generated approximately 83 percent of the calculated traffic for the Research and Development use. Therefore, the trip generation was reduced by 17 percent to give a more accurate representation of what the CSU EECLE would generate. A trip is defined as a one-way vehicle movement from origin to destination. Table 2 shows the expected trip generation on a daily and peak hour basis. The trip generation of the CSU EECLE development resulted in 366 daily trip ends, 54 morning peak hour trip ends, and 48 afternoon peak hour trip ends. TABLE 2 Trip Generation Code Use Size AWDTE AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour Rate Trips Rate In Rate Out Rate In Rate Out 760 CSU EECLE 54.4 KSF 6.71 366 0.83 45 0.17 9 0.13 7 0.75 41 Trip Distribution Trip distribution for the CSU EECLE was based on existing/future travel patterns, land uses in the area, consideration of trip attractions/productions in the area, and engineering judgment. Figure 5 shows the trip distribution for the short range (2016) analysis future. The trip distribution was agreed to by City of Fort Collins staff in the scoping meeting. SITE PLAN Figure 4 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 10 NOT TO SCALE North College Avenue TRIP DISTRIBUTION Figure 5 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 11 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street SITE 16% 25% 5% 54% DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 12 Background Traffic Projections Figure 6 shows the short range (2016) background traffic projections. Background traffic projections for the short range future horizon were obtained by reviewing the CDOT 20-year factor, the North College Plan, and the Jax Mercantile Expansion Transportation Impact Study. Based upon these sources, it was determined that through traffic volumes on North College Avenue would increase by approximately 1.7% per year in the short range future. Jax Mercantile Expansion has been built and is, therefore, included in the existing traffic. The background traffic at utilizing the CSU Engines Lab Access was reduce to reflect the portion of the building that will remain. Trip Assignment Trip assignment is how the generated and distributed trips are expected to be loaded on the street system. The assigned trips are the resultant of the trip generation and trip distribution processes. Figure 7 shows the site generated peak hour traffic assignment with the existing geometry. Figure 8 shows the short range (2016) total (site plus background) peak hour traffic. Signal Warrants As a matter of policy, traffic signals are not installed at any location unless warrants are met according to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection is currently signalized. The N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection will not have a signal in the future. Operation Analysis Capacity analyses were performed at the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections. The operations analyses were conducted for the short range future, reflecting a year 2016 condition. Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 6, the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections will operate in the short range (2016) background traffic future as indicated in Table 3 with the existing geometry. Calculation forms for this analysis are provided in Appendix C. The N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections will operate acceptably. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection, the calculated delay in the afternoon peak hour for the westbound approach was commensurate with level of service F. This is considered to be normal during the peak hours at stop sign controlled intersections along arterial streets. North College Avenue SHORT RANGE (2016) BACKGROUND PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 6 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 13 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street 6/5 752/1308 16/2 1/3 1171/1002 3/1 0/0 0/0 1/6 2/4 0/0 1/9 82/91 556/890 44/89 260/219 841/728 72/70 168/348 171/117 154/110 50/77 96/154 20/102 North College Avenue SITE GENERATED PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 7 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 14 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street 34/5 11/2 NOM 2/10 NOM 7/31 25/4 2/7 5/22 0/2 7/1 2/0 North College Avenue SHORT RANGE (2016) TOTAL PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 8 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 15 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street 6/5 752/1308 50/7 1/3 1171/1002 14/3 0/0 0/0 1/6 4/14 0/0 8/40 82/91 581/894 44/89 262/226 846/750 72/72 175/349 171/117 154/110 52/77 96/154 20/102 DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 16 TABLE 3 Short Range (2016) Background Peak Hour Operation Intersection Movement Level of Service AM PM EB LT B B EB T C C EB RT C C EB APPROACH C C WB LT C C WB T/RT C D WB APPROACH C C NB LT B B NB T B C NB RT B B NB APPROACH B C SB LT A B SB T C C SB RT B C SB APPROACH C C N. College/Cherry-Willow (signal) OVERALL C C EB LT/T/RT B B WB LT/T/RT C F NB LT B B N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access (stop sign) SB LT A B DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 17 Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 8, the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections will operate in the short range (2016) total traffic future as indicated in Table 4 with the existing geometry. Calculation forms for this analysis are provided in Appendix D. The N. College/Cherry- Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersections will operate acceptably. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab Access-Auto Shop Access intersection, the calculated delay in the afternoon peak hour for the westbound approach was commensurate with level of service F. This is considered to be normal during the peak hours at stop sign controlled intersections along arterial streets. Geometry Figure 9 shows a schematic of the short range (2016) geometry. This is the existing geometry. Pedestrian Level of Service Appendix E shows a map of the area that is within 1320 feet of the CSU EECLE development. The CSU EECLE site is located within an area termed as “commercial corridor,” which sets the level of service threshold at LOS B for all measured categories. There will be two pedestrian destinations within 1320 feet of the CSU EECLE development. These are: 1) the commercial area (Old Town) to the south and 2) the Poudre Trail to the north of the site. Currently there are sidewalks along North College Avenue within the pedestrian influence area. The Poudre Trail is directly connected to the CSU EECL site. Appendix E contains a Pedestrian LOS Worksheet. Bicycle Level of Service Appendix E shows a map of the area that is within 1320 feet of the CSU EECLE development. There will be two bicycle destinations within 1320 feet of the CSU EECLE development. These are: 1) the commercial area (Old Town) to the south of the site and 2) the Poudre Trail to the north of the site. The Bicycle LOS Worksheet is provided in Appendix E. The minimum level of service for this site is C. This site is connected to the Poudre Trail. Therefore, it is concluded that level of service C can be achieved. Transit Level of Service This area of Fort Collins is served by Transfort Routes 8 and 81. These routes have a transit stop just north of the N. College/CSU Engine Lab-Auto Shop Access intersection, which is adjacent to this site. In addition, the Downtown Transit Center is approximately 1380 feet from the CSU EECL site. Many other transit routes are available at the Downtown Transit Center. DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 18 TABLE 4 Short Range (2016) Total Peak Hour Operation Intersection Movement Level of Service AM PM EB LT B B EB T C C EB RT C C EB APPROACH C C WB LT C C WB T/RT C D WB APPROACH C C NB LT B B NB T B C NB RT B B NB APPROACH B C SB LT A B SB T C C SB RT B C SB APPROACH C C N. College/Cherry-Willow (signal) OVERALL C C EB LT/T/RT B B WB LT/T/RT D F NB LT B B N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access (stop sign) SB LT B B North College Avenue SHORT RANGE (2016) GEOMETRY Figure 9 DELICH ASSOCIATES CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 Page 19 Willow Street AM/PM Auto Shop CSU Engines Lab Cherry Street DELICH CSU EECLE TIS, July 2012 ASSOCIATES Page 20 IV. CONCLUSIONS This study assessed the impacts of the CSU EECLE on the street system in the vicinity of the proposed development in the short range (2016) future. As a result of this analysis, the following is concluded: - The development of the CSU EECLE is feasible from a traffic engineering standpoint. At full development, the CSU EECLE will generate approximately 336 daily trip ends, 51 morning peak hour trip ends, and 45 afternoon peak hour trip ends. - The N. College/Cherry-Willow intersection is currently signalized. The N. College/CSU Engine Lab-Auto Shop Access intersection will not have a signal in the future. - In the short range (2016) future, given development of the CSU EECLE and an increase in background traffic, the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access intersections will operate acceptably with existing stop sign control and geometry. At the N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access intersection, the calculated delay in the afternoon peak hour for the westbound approach will experience delays that are commensurate with level of service F. This is considered to be normal during the peak hours at stop sign controlled intersections along arterial streets. - The short range (2016) geometry is shown in Figure 9. This is the existing geometry at the N. College/Cherry-Willow and N. College/CSU Engines Lab-Auto Shop Access intersections. - Acceptable level of service is achieved for pedestrian, bicycle, and transit modes based upon the measures in the multi-modal transportation guidelines and future improvements to the street system in the area.