HomeMy WebLinkAboutGEORGE T SANDERS COMPANY PUD - PRELIMINARY & FINAL - 76-88H - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - TRAFFIC STUDYC
G. T. SANDERS STORE PUD
SITE ACCESS STUDY
FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
JULY 1995
Prepared for:
G. T. Sanders Co.
10201 W. 49th Avenue
Wheatridge, CO 80033
Prepared by:
MATTHEW J. DELICH, P.E.
341.3 Banyan Avenue
Loveland, CO 80538
Phone: 970--669-2061
FAX: 970-669-5034
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I. INTRODUCTION
This traffic impact study addresses
and control requirements at and near
development known hereinafter as the G.
proposed to be located south of Harmony
College Avenue in Fort Collins, Colorado.
the capacity, geometric,
a proposed. commercial
T. Sanders Store. It is
Road and west of South
During the course of the analysis, numerous contacts were made
with the project planning consultant (Ripley Associates), the Fort
Collins Planning Department, and the Fort Collins Transportation
Division. This study conforms with typical traffic impact study
guidelines. 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.
- Analyze signal progression.
The "Traffic Impact Analysis, Weberg Furniture Showroom," February
1989, was also reviewed as part of this analysis.
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS
The location of the G. T. Sanders Store site is shown in
Figure 1. Since the impact in the short range, as well as, the
long range is of concern, it is important that a thorough
understanding of the existing conditions be presented.
Land Use
In the recent past, the City of Fort Collins has tended to
grow predominantly to the south. Development along South College
Avenue is expected to continue. This is evidenced by a number of
retail developments (e.g. laugh M. Woods) and residential
developments (e.g. Huntington Hills). The center of Fort Collins
lies to the north of the G. T. Sanders Store site.
The adjacent land uses near the G. T. Sanders Store site are
as follows: 1) to the west is the Burlington Northern Railroad
track; 2) to the north is the Fossil Creek Nursery; 3) to the east
are commercial uses along College Avenue or vacant land; and 4) to
the south is the Mill Brothers Landscape & Nursery.
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SITE LOCATION Figure 1
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Roads
The primary streets near the G. T. Sanders Store are College
Avenue and Fairway Lane. College Avenue (U.S. 267) is
approximately Boo feet east of the G. T. Sanders Store site. It
is a north -south street designated as a major arterial on the Fort
Collins Master Street Plan. Its existing cross section in this
area has two 12 foot lanes in each direction. There are designated
left -turn lanes at appropriate locations or two way continuous
left -turn lanes. There is a shoulder area between the right
through lane and the curb and gutter that serves as a right -turn
auxiliary lane. The posted speed limit is 50 mph on College Avenue
in this area. Sight distance is generally not a problem.
Currently, intersections along South College Avenue are signalized
at Harmony Road to the north and Skyway Drive to the south.
According to the "South College Avenue Access Control Plan,"
signals are expected at Fairway Lane and Fossil Creel: Parkway in
the future. Signal warrants at the South College/Fairway
intersection will be addressed later in this report.
Fairway Lane provides access from College Avenue to the G. T.
Sanders Store site, as well as, other properties in the area. It
is an east -west street that serves commercial and residential. uses
on the east side of College Avenue and commercial uses on the west
side of College Avenue. Fairway Lane is approximately 36 feet wide
to the west of College Avenue. It widens to accommodate turn .lanes
approaching College Avenue. East of College Avenue, Fairway Lane
has a two lane cross section.
Fossil Boulevard is a two .lane street located approximately
700 feet west of South College Avenue. It is a north -south street
that is only 400-500 feet long. Fossil Boulevard will serve as a
recirculation street for this area of South College Avenue. It is
intended to function similarly to the way Mason Street does to the
north of Harmony Road. It will serve properties to the north
(currently occupied by REA and Fossil Creek Nursery) and to the
south. It is expected that Fossil Boulevard will connect to the
College/Fossil Creek Parkway intersection, also. The future
alignment and other details concerning Fossil Boulevard are beyond
the scope of this study.
Existing Traffic
Weekday morning and afternoon peak hour traffic data was
obtained in 1995 at the College/Fairway intersection. The peal:
hour turning movements are shown in Figure 2. All raw traffic data
is presented in Appendix A.
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1995 PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 2
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Existing Operation
Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 2 and the existing
stop sign control, the College/Fairway intersection operates as
indicated in Table 1. Calculation. forms for these analyses are
provided in Appendix B. Appendix C describes level of service for
signalized and unsignalized intersections as provided in the 1994_
Highway Capacit Planual. Minor street left turns operate at level
of service E and F during the respective peak hours. Acceptable
level of service is defined as level of service D or better.
During the traffic counting, it was noted that many vehicles made
this left turn in a two step maneuver, uti-lizing the wide median
on College Avenue as a refuge area. There were a few vehicles that
waited more than a minute for an acceptable ga.p in the South
College Avenue traffic. However, the delays calculated by the
analysis technique, as provided in Appendix B, did not occur.
Queues of vehicles occurred on College Avenue due to the signals
to the north and south. There were some periods when more than one
vehicle could exit due to the gaps created by the queuing effect
on College Avenue. The level of service shown in Table 1 is
typical for minor street left turns to arterial. streets. The
expected signal and eventual completion of the street network wi.l.l
improve traffic operations in this area.
III. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The G. T. Sanders Store is a plumbing supply store proposed
to be located at the west end of Fairway bane, west of South
College Avenue in Fort Collins. Figure 3 shows a schematic of the
site plan of the G. T. Sanders Store and some adjacent properties.
There is an existing Weberg Furniture Store in the southwest
quadrant of the College/Fairway intersection. The site plan shows
the G. T. Sanders Store at 15,000+ square feet. A future building
to the south is also shown on the site plan. Land on the north
side of Fairway Lane between College Avenue and Fossil Boulevard
is vacant. It is expected that this area would eventually have
some types of commercial use.
Trip Generation
Trip generation is important in considering the impact of a
development such as this upon the existing and proposed street
system. A compilation of trip generation information was prepared
by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is presented in
Trip Generation, 5th Edition. This document was used to project
trips that would be generated by the proposed uses at this site.
Table 2 shows the expected trip generation on a weekday and a
weekday peak hour basis. The G. T. Sanders Store serves primarily
contractors, although the general public could buy plumbing
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TABLE 1
1995 Peak flour Intersection Operation
Intersection
College/Fairway (stop sign)
EB LT
EB T
EB RT
WB LT/T
WB RT
NB LT
SB LT
Land Use
TABLE 2
Trip Generation
Daily
Trips
G. T. Sanders - 15.587 KSF 480
Future Building to the
south - 14.7 KSF 450
TOTAL 930
Uses on north side of
Fairway Lane from previous
traffic study
Restaurant
Office
Total
Level of Service
AM PM
E
D
A
E
A
A
B
A.M. Peak
Trips Trips
in out
22 11
F
F
A
F
A
B
B
P.M. Peak.
Trips Trips
in out
24 27
21 10 23 25
43 21 47 52
1605
90
70
85
75
244
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Fossll Creek Nursery
--FANRWAY LANE--- - -
Mill Brothers Nursery
SITE PLAN Figure 3
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supplies at this store. A conservative analysis assumed that this
use would be similar to a building materials supply store (ITE code
812). This same land use was also assumed for the future building
to the south. The land uses shown in the previously cited traffic
study were assumed on the vacant parcel on the north side of
Fairway Lane. These uses were restaurant and office.
Trip Distribution
Directional distributions were determined for the land uses
considered in this study. This distribution considered trip
attractions and productions in the Fort Collins area, and existing
travel patterns in the area. The trip distribution used in
subsequent analyses was 70% to/from the north and 30% to/from the
south.
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 distribution process. Figures 4, 5, and
6 show the assignment of the generated trips from the properties
considered in this study. Figure 7 shows the morning and afternoon
weekday peak hour traffic from only the G. T. Sanders Store plus
background traffic in the short range future (1997). Background
traffic on College Avenue for 1997 was determined by factoring the
1995 traffic by 1.7 percent per year. This factor was determined
based upon historic traffic growth and information contained in the
"North Front Range Regional Transportation Plan," October 1994.
Figure 8 shows the morning and afternoon weekday peak hour traffic
from the G. T. Sanders Store and the future building to the south
in the short range future (1997). Figure 9 shows the morning and
afternoon weekday peak hour traffic in the long range future
(2015). Background traffic for the year 2015 was determined using
other traffic studies for projects in this area, the "North Front
Range Regional Transportation Plan," and the "South College Avenue
Access Control Study." The College/Fairway intersection will not
be the only access to this area. The forecasts shown in Figure 9
give a reasonable representation of nearby development. When
actual development proposals are put forth for other properties,
additional traffic studies should be performed.
IV. TRAFFIC IMPACTS AND ANALYSIS
Signal Warrants
As a matter of policy, traffic signals are not installed at
any location unless warrants are met according to the Manual on
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G.T. SANDERS
SITE GENERATED PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 4
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FUTURE BUILDING TO SOUTH
SITE GENERATED PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC A -- — Figure 5
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Future Development
FAIRWAY LANE
Weberp Furniture
POTENTIAL USES NORTH OF WEBERG'S
SITE GENERATED PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC
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5 Vehicles.
1997 PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC
WITH G.T. SANDERS STORE ONLY Figure 7
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FAIRWAY LANE
Weberg Furniture
1997 PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC
WITH G.T. SANDERS STORE AND
FUTURE BUILDING TO THE SOUTH
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Figure 8
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LONG RANGE PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC
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Figure 9
Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The "South College Avenue Access
Control Plan" indicates that the College/Fairway intersection is
a potential signalized intersection. From the short range
forecasts (Figures 7 and 8), it cannot be said with certainty that
a signal will be warranted at this intersection. However, it is
likely that one or more signal warrants will be met. The City
should monitor this intersection to determine whether any warrants
are met. The short range analysis utilized the existing stop sign
control and signal control with the current geometry. The long
range analysis assumed signal control.
Signal Progression
Signal progression was not evaluated since the only signal
that is expected is at the College/Fairway intersection. Appendix
D contains a copy of the signal progression from the "South College
Avenue Access Control Study." This analysis indicates that a.
signal at this intersection will not negatively impact the
progression along College Avenue.
Operation Analysis
Capacity analyses were performed on the College/Fairway
intersection, which provides access to the G. T. Sanders Store for
both the short range (1997) and long range (2015) traffic
conditions.
Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 7, the College/
Fairway intersection operates in the short range future, with the
G. T. Sanders Store only, as indicated in Table 3. Calculation
forms for these analyses are provided in Appendix E. With existing
stop sign control, the left -turn exits from Fairway to College
during the peak hours operate at level of service E and F, as it
does today. With signal control and the existing geometry, the
College/Fairway intersection is at level of service B during both
peak hours.
Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 8, the College/
Fairway intersection operates in the short range future, with the
G. T. Sanders Store and the building to the south, as indicated in
Table 4. Calculation forms for these analyses are provided in
Appendix F. With stop sign control, the operation deteriorates
somewhat, but remains in the same level of service categories shown
in Table 3. With signal control and the existing geometry, the
College/Fairway intersection is at level of service B during both
peak hours.
Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 9, the College/
Fairway intersection operates in the long range future as indicated
in Table 5. Calculation forms are provided in Appendix G. In
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TABLE 3
Short Range Peak Hour Intersection Operation
With G. T. Sanders Store Only
Level of Service
Intersection AM PM
College/Fairway (stop sign)
EB LT E F
EB T D F
EB RT A A
WB LT/T E F
WB RT A A
NB LT A B
SB LT B B
College/Fairway (signal)
TABLE 4
NQ
Short Range Peak Hour Intersection Operation
With G. T. Sanders Store And Future Building To The South
Level of Service
Intersection AM PM
College/Fairway (stop sign)
EB LT
F F
EB T
D F
EB RT
A A
WB LT/T
E F
WB RT
A A
NB LT
A B
SB LT
B B
College/Fairway (signal)
B B
TABLE 5
Long Range Peak Hour Intersection Operation
Level of Service
Intersection AM PM
College/Fairway (signal) B C
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order to achieve acceptable operation during the afternoon peak
hour, College Avenue should have a functional seven lane cross
section. The right -most lane should be a combined through/right-
turn lane.
The signalized operations analysis indicates that the minor
street green time is less than the 34 seconds shown on the
progression diagram in Appendix D. This indicates that this signal
will not cause a negative impact on signal progression on this
segment of College Avenue.
Other Issues
Currently, there are numerous parked vehicles along Fossil
Boulevard and Fairway Lane near Fossil Boulevard. This has little
negative impact, since the primary "active" land use is the Weberg
Furniture Store, and their access is east of the parked vehicles.
Observation indicates that these parked vehicles belong to
employees (probably Weberg and/or Mill Brothers). When the G. T.
Sanders Store is built, both of the streets should be signed and
enforced for no parking.
V. CONCLUSIONS
This study assessed the traffic impacts of the development of
the G. T. Sanders Store and other uses on the short range (1997)
and long range (2015) street system in the vicinity of the proposed
development. As a result of this analysis, the following is
concluded:
- The completion of the G. T. Sanders Store and neighboring
land uses is feasible from a traffic engineering standpoint. The
G. T. Sanders Store is expected to generate approximately 480 trip
ends daily. The future building to the south is expected to
generate 450 trip ends daily. Additional uses not related to the
G. T. Sanders Store, but analyzed as part of this study, are
expected to generate an additional 1850 daily trip ends.
- Based upon current traffic volumes and existing geometry/
control, the College/Fairway intersection operates acceptably,
except for left turns from Fairway Lane to College Avenue. These
movements operate at levels of service E and F during the peak
hours. This type of operation is typical at stop sign controlled
intersections along arterial streets.
- By 1997, given development of the proposed G. T. Sanders
Store and the future building to the south, the College/Fairway
intersection will continue to operate at similar levesl of service
as today. A traffic signal may be warranted at this intersection
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as delays and traffic volumes increase. The City should monitor
traffic to determine when signal warrants are met. This signal can
fit into signal progression schemes along South College Avenue and
is identified in the "South College Avenue Access Control Plan."
- By 2015, with the projected traffic volumes, South College
Avenue will operate acceptably with a furictional seven lane cross
section. The signalized College/Fairway intersection will operate
acceptably.
- On -street parking should be prohibited on Fairway Lane and
Fossil Boulevard.
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