Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHUGH M WOODS PUD - FINAL - 26-88E - CORRESPONDENCE - TRANSPORTATION ISSUETrar Otation Services Transportation Division of Fort Collins January 17. 1994 To: Planning and Zoning Board From: Tom Vosburg, Transportation Planner Re: Hugh M. Wood Access Issues The preliminary approval of the Hugh M. Woods PUD contained several conditions. some of which related to the potential traffic conflicts created by the existing frontage road north of Skvwav Drive. Ciry Transportation Services staff worked with the applicant and affected properry owners to evaluate alternatives and develop a solution that achieves the LDGS criteria of providing safe. efficient and convenient vehicular access while minimizing negative impacts to affected property owners. This memo summarizes the alternatives examined. the issues raised by affected property owners and staff recommendations regarding the access issues. Background. Currently, a frontage road provides access to three properties north of Skyway Drive (the Hickory House restaurant. the Deli Works restaurant and Kangaroo Self Storage). This frontage road intersects Skvwav Drive extremely close to South College Avenue. Vehicles entering the frontage road cannot make the maneuver without crossing into the on coming travel lane. Vehicles exiting the frontage road cannot achieve proper alignment at the Skyway/College intersection. The existing situation is tolerable only because of the low traffic volumes at the intersection. The additional traffic that can be expected from the Hugh M. Wood PUD will require double east -bound left turn lanes which will increase the likely hood of accidents if no changes to the frontage road intersections are made. The frontage road connects Skyway drive to Saturn Drive. The Skvwav Drive/College Avenue intersection is now signalized. The Saturn Drive/ College intersection is not signalized and is designated in the South College Access Control plan to eventually become a non -signalized limited movement intersection. No north -bound left turns out of Saturn Drive will be allowed. although left turns in from College Avenue will be allowed. No timeline or budget has been set to implement these access controls. Traffic can circulate from Saturn Drive through the Skyview neighborhood to Skyway Drive. Issues Three primary issues need to be addressed in developing an access solution for the Hugh M. Woods PUD. These are: l . The revised roadway design must physically allow for safe vehicle operation; minimum turning radii for passenger vehicles must be incorporated into the design. 1. Frontage road business customers should retain convenient and efficient access to _:Q F. Otive • P.O. Bo\ 580 - For, Collin=, CO 80;=2-O560 • (303, ��1 6h08 •Fat 1303) „1 o�;y • . • Skvwav Drive to in order to be able to make left turns to head north on College Avenue. Substantial traffic should not be re -directed through the Skvvie�r neighborhood in order to address the above issues. Alternatives Evaluated: Staff worked with the applicant and frontage road business to evaluate several alternative access solutions. These are outlined below. Alternative 1: Install a median in Skyway Drive, limiting frontage operation to right -in right -out only. This solution would resolve conflicts between vehicles exiting the frontage with east -bound vehicles stacking in the left turn lanes. but it would make it difficult for exiting frontage road business customers to use Skyway drive to turn left on to College. These drivers would either make a U-turn at the Hugh M. Woods driveway or travel back into the Skvview neighborhood to turn around. Alternative 2: Re -align the frontage road to intersect Skyway Drive opposite the Hugh M. Hoods driveway. This alternative would require that Skyway drive be shifted 16 feet to the south and that a portion of the existing Skyway Drive right-of-way be vacated to allowed the frontage road to be re -aligned the frontage road through the Hickory House parking lot. This solution would provide safe. efficient and convenient full movement access for frontage road businesses to Skyway Drive and the Skyway/College intersection with out re -directing significant traffic through the Skyview neighborhood. However, some frontage road business owners are concern that the new access would be less visible and be less convenient for customers entering the area and that this solution will cause their businesses to suffer. Alternative 3: Re -align the frontage road as in Alternative 2 above, but retain a right -in only access near the existing frontage intersection with College Avenue. This alternative would provide all of the benefits of alternative 2, but would respond to frontage road business owners concerns about maintaining a direct and visible entrance to the frontage road from College Avenue. However, City Transportation Services staff have concerns that it may not be possible to design the right in only access to operate safely. Driver may attempt to exit to Skyway Drive via the right in only access, despite design and signage. However, the extent to which would actually be a problem is difficult to predict. The right -in only access could be easily closed off in the future if traffic problems were experienced. and the reamining access via the re -aligned frontage road would still be adequate. Recommendation Staff recommends Alternative 2 as the access solution for the Hugh M. Wood PUD. Alternative 2 will provide safe. efficient and convenient access to the site and to frontage road businesses. Staff does not beleave that the right -in only access include in Alterantive 3 is necessary if the frontage road is realigned. However, staff would support Alternative 3 on a trail basis if sufficient monies were placed in escrow to fund closure and re -landscaping of the right in only access if the city Traffic Engineer determines that significant problems are experienced within the first six months of operation.