HomeMy WebLinkAboutMELDRUM OFFICE BUILDING - PDP - PDP130027 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - TRAFFIC STUDYDELICH Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings TIS, August 2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................ 1
II. EXISTING CONDITIONS .......................................................................................... 2
Land Use......................................................................................................................... 2
Streets............................................................................................................................. 2
Existing Traffic................................................................................................................. 5
Existing Operation........................................................................................................... 5
Pederstrian Facilities....................................................................................................... 5
Bicycle Facilities..............................................................................................................5
Transit Facilities ..............................................................................................................7
III. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT................................................................................. 8
Trip Generation ............................................................................................................... 8
Trip Distribution ............................................................................................................. 10
Background Traffic Projections ..................................................................................... 10
Trip Assignment ............................................................................................................ 10
Signal Warrants............................................................................................................. 10
Operation Analysis ........................................................................................................ 10
Geometry ...................................................................................................................... 15
Pedestrian Level of Service........................................................................................... 15
Bicycle Level of Service ................................................................................................ 15
Transit Level of Service................................................................................................. 18
IV. CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................... 19
DELICH Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings TIS, August 2013
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LIST OF TABLES
1. Current Peak Hour Operation.................................................................................... 7
2. Trip Generation ......................................................................................................... 8
3. Short Range (2018) Background Peak Hour Operation .......................................... 16
4. Short Range (2018) Total Peak Hour Operation ..................................................... 16
LIST OF FIGURES
1. Site Location ............................................................................................................. 3
2. Existing Geometry..................................................................................................... 4
3. Recent Peak Hour Traffic .......................................................................................... 6
4. Site Plan.................................................................................................................... 9
5. Trip Distribution ....................................................................................................... 11
6. Short Range (2018) Background Peak Hour Traffic................................................ 12
7. Site Generated Peak Hour Traffic ........................................................................... 13
8. Short Range (2018) Total Peak Hour Traffic ........................................................... 14
9. Short Range (2018) Geometry ................................................................................ 17
APPENDICES
A. Base Assumptions Form
B. Peak Hour Traffic Counts
C. Current Peak Hour Operation/Level of Service Descriptions/Fort Collins Motor
Vehicle LOS Standards (Intersections)
D. Short Range (2018) Background Peak Hour Operation
E. Short Range (2018) Total Peak Hour Operation
F. Pedestrian/Bicycle Level of Service Worksheets
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I. INTRODUCTION
This intermediate transportation impact study (TIS) addresses the capacity,
geometric, and control requirements at and near the proposed development of the
Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site. The proposed Meldrum Office and Mixed
Use Buildings site is located in the northwest quadrant of the Meldrum/Oak intersection in
Fort Collins, Colorado.
During the course of the analysis, numerous contacts were made with the
owner/developer (Blue Ocean), the project planning consultant (Vaught Frye Larson
Architects), and the 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). A scoping discussion was held
with the Fort Collins Traffic Engineering staff. Due to the trip generation, this is an
intermediate 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
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II. EXISTING CONDITIONS
The location of the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings 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 residential and commercial/office. This site is
considered to be in an area termed “downtown district.” There are existing residential
land uses to the west of the site. There are existing commercial land uses to the north,
south and east of the site. The Fort Collins central business district (CBD) is east of this
site.
Streets
The primary streets near the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings are
Meldrum Street, Mountain Street, and Oak Street. Figure 2 shows a schematic of the
existing geometry at the Mountain/Meldrum and Meldrum/Oak intersections.
Meldrum Street is east of (adjacent to) the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use
Buildings site. It is a north-south street classified as a local street on the Fort Collins
Master Street Plan. Between Mountain Avenue and Oak Street, there is diagonal
parking on the west side of Meldrum Street and parallel parking on the east side of
Meldrum Street. At the Meldrum/Mountain intersection, Meldrum Street has all
movements combined into a single lane. At the Meldrum/Oak intersection, Meldrum
Street has all movements combined into a single lane. The Meldrum/Mountain and
Meldrum/Oak intersections have all-way stop sign control. The posted speed limit in
this area of Meldrum Street is 25 mph.
Mountain Avenue is north of the proposed Meldrum Office and Mixed Use
Buildings site. It is an east-west street classified as a two-lane arterial on the Fort
Collins Master Street Plan. Currently, Mountain Avenue has a two-lane cross section
with a center median and parallel parking on both sides. At the Meldrum/Mountain
intersection, Mountain Avenue has a westbound left-turn/through lane, a westbound
right-turn lane, and all movements combined into a single lane eastbound. The posted
speed limit in this area of Mountain Avenue is 30 mph.
Oak Street is south of (adjacent to) the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings
site. It is an east-west street classified as a local street on the Fort Collins Master Street
Plan. There is parallel parking on both sides of the Oak Street in this area. At the
Meldrum/Oak intersection, Oak Street has all movements combined into a single lane.
The posted speed limit in this area of Oak Street is 25 mph.
SCALE: 1"=500'
SITE LOCATION Figure 1
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Meldrum Street
Howes Street
Mason Street
College Avenue
Sherwood Street
Whitcomb Street
Loomis Avenue
Laporte Avenue
Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
Olive Street
Magnolia Street
Mulberry Street
Myrtle Street
Canyon Avenue
EXISTING GEOMETRY Figure 2
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Meldrum Street
Mountain Avenue
- Denotes Lane
Oak Street
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Existing Traffic
Recent peak hour traffic volumes at the Meldrum/Mountain and Meldrum/Oak
intersections are shown in Figure 3. The counts at the Meldrum/Mountain and
Meldrum/Oak intersections were obtained in August 2013. Raw traffic count data is
provided in Appendix B.
Existing Operation
The Meldrum/Mountain and Meldrum/Oak intersections were evaluated using
techniques provided in the 2010 Highway Capacity Manual. Using the peak hour traffic
shown in Figure 3, the peak hour operation is shown in Table 1. All the key
intersections currently operate acceptably. Calculation forms are provided in Appendix
C. A description of level of service for unsignalized intersections from the 2010
Highway Capacity Manual and a table showing the Fort Collins Motor Vehicle LOS
Standards (Intersections) are also provided in Appendix C. The Meldrum Office and
Mixed Use Buildings site is in an area termed “downtown district.” The “downtown
district” is considered to be a “mixed use district” for the purposes of motor vehicle level
of service standards. In areas termed “mixed use districts,” acceptable operation at
unsignalized arterial/local intersections is considered to be at level of service F for any
approach leg. In such areas, it is expected that there would be substantial delays to the
minor street movements at unsignalized intersections during the peak hours. This is
considered to be normal and acceptable in urban areas. At unsignalized local/local
intersections, the minimum level of service is C for any approach leg.
Pedestrian Facilities
Pedestrian facilities in this area were built under earlier street standards.
Generally, sidewalks exist along all streets in this area. Sidewalks exist along this site.
There are pedestrian crosswalks and ramps at all key intersections. At the
Meldrum/Mountain intersection, there were 19 pedestrians in the morning peak hour
and 36 pedestrians in the afternoon peak hour. At the Meldrum/Oak intersection, there
were 26 pedestrians in the morning peak hour and 20 pedestrians in the afternoon peak
hour.
Bicycle Facilities
There are bicycle lanes along Mountain Avenue. Meldrum Street and Oak Street
are local streets and therefore, do not have bicycle lanes. At the Meldrum/Mountain
intersection, there were 51 bicyclists in the morning peak hour and 109 bicyclists in the
afternoon peak hour. At the Meldrum/Oak intersection, there were 17 bicyclists in the
morning peak hour and 33 bicyclists in the afternoon peak hour.
RECENT PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 3
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Meldrum Street
Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
15/12
74/52
17/6
7/11
14/26
2/8
4/4
24/20
5/19
7/5
7/14
4/11
6/32
23/76
25/50
9/6
34/34
1/7
12/15
149/142
18/15
4/8
63/202
48/22
AM/PM
Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings TIS, August 2013
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Transit Facilities
This area of Fort Collins is served by Transfort Route 1, 15, and 18.
TABLE 1
Current Peak Hour Operation
Intersection Movement Level of Service
AM PM
EB LT/T/RT A A
WB LT/T A B
WB RT A A
WB APPROACH A B
NB LT/T/RT A A
Meldrum/Mountain
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
EB LT/T/RT A A
WB LT/T/RT A A
NB LT/T/RT A A
Meldrum/Oak
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
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III. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings development is a proposed
office/commercial/parking garage development. The Meldrum Office building is
proposed as a 42,000 square foot office building. The parking garage is proposed as
450 parking spaces with approximately 20,500 square feet of commercial/office space.
Figure 4 shows a site plan of the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings
development. The short range analysis (Year 2018) includes development of the
Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site and an appropriate increase in
background traffic due to normal growth and other potential developments in the area.
The site plan shows that the parking garage will have access to Meldrum Street and
Oak Street.
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
contain in Trip Generation, 9th Edition, ITE was used to estimate the trips that would be
generated by the proposed/expected uses at the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings
site. 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 Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings development resulted in 1562 daily trip ends,
121 morning peak hour trip ends, and 172 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
Parking Garage
714 Meldrum Office 42.0 KSF 7.98 336 1.41 60 0.11 4 0.14 6 1.27 53
826 Retail 5.0 KSF 44.32 233 0.76 4 0.60 3 1.19 6 1.52 8
710 Office 5.0 KSF 11.03 55 1.37 7 0.19 1 0.25 2 1.24 6
Other 650 24 3 25 44
* Parking Garage 450 spaces 2.83 1274 0.21 95 0.03 11 0.09 39 0.25 111
On Street
826 Retail 5.0 KSF 44.32 233 0.76 4 0.60 3 1.19 6 1.52 8
710 Office 5.0 KSF 11.03 55 1.37 7 0.19 1 0.25 2 1.24 6
288 11 4 8 14
Total 1562 106 15 47 125
* Based on Civic Center Garage Data
SCALE: 1"=60'
SITE PLAN Figure 4
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Trip Distribution
Trip distribution for the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings 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 (2018) analysis future. The trip distribution was agreed
to by City of Fort Collins staff in the scoping discussions.
Background Traffic Projections
Figure 6 shows the short range (2018) background peak hour traffic at the
Meldrum/Mountain and Meldrum/Oak intersections. Background traffic projections for
the short range future horizon were obtained by reviewing the North Front Range
Regional Transportation Plan and various traffic studies prepared for this area of Fort
Collins. Traffic volumes on the area streets were increased at a rate of one percent per
year.
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. The site generated trip assignment for the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use
Buildings development is shown in Figure 7. The site generated traffic was combined with
the background traffic to determine the total forecasted traffic for the study area. Figure 8
shows the short range (2018) total (site plus background) peak hour traffic at the key
intersections.
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
Meldrum/Mountain and Meldrum/Oak intersections will not meet peak hour volume signal
warrants in the short range (2018) future. In addition to this, the intersection spacing
would not meet the signal spacing criteria.
Operation Analysis
Operation analyses were performed at the Meldrum/Mountain, Meldrum/Oak,
Meldrum/Parking Access, and Oak/Parking Access intersections. The operations
analyses were conducted for the short range future, reflecting the year 2018 condition.
TRIP DISTRIBUTION Figure 5
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Meldrum Street
Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
SITE
15%
30%
15%
20%
10%
10%
SHORT RANGE (2018) BACKGROUND
PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 6
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Meldrum Street
Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
16/13
78/55
18/6
7/12
15/27
2/8
4/4
25/21
5/20
7/5
7/15
4/12
6/34
24/80
26/53
9/6
36/36
1/7
13/16
157/149
19/16
4/8
66/212
50/23
AM/PM
SITE GENERATED
PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 7
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Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
13/5
19/9
NOM
3/22
2/11
NOM
1/8
1/15
9/5
7/2
1/12
1/13
3/25
11/5
10/5
21/10
AM/PM
2/17
2/20
18/6
1/2
14/6
2/1
25/11
38/16
4/44
3/30
Meldrum Street
Parking
Access
Parking
Access
SHORT RANGE (2018) TOTAL
PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC Figure 8
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Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
29/18
97/64
18/6
7/12
18/49
4/19
4/4
26/29
6/35
16/10
14/17
4/12
7/46
25/93
29/78
9/6
47/41
1/7
13/16
157/149
29/21
4/8
66/212
71/33
AM/PM
2/17
2/20
18/6
32/41
14/6
34/48
25/11
67/131
38/16
79/66
4/44
3/30
Meldrum Street
Parking
Access
Parking
Access
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Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 6, the Meldrum/Mountain and
Meldrum/Oak intersections operate in the short range (2018) background traffic future as
indicated in Table 3. Calculation forms for these analyses are provided in Appendix D.
The key intersections will operate acceptably during the morning and afternoon peak
hours.
Using the traffic volumes shown in Figure 8, the Meldrum/Mountain and
Meldrum/Oak intersections operate in the short range (2018) total traffic future as
indicated in Table 4. Calculation forms for these analyses are provided in Appendix E.
The key intersections will operate acceptably during the morning and afternoon peak
hours.
Geometry
Figure 9 shows a schematic of the short range (2018) geometry. This is the
existing geometry at the key intersections. No additional auxiliary lanes are required at
any of the key intersections.
Pedestrian Level of Service
Appendix F shows a map of the area that is within 1320 feet of the Meldrum
Office and Mixed Use Buildings site. The Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site
is located within an area termed as “pedestrian district,” which sets the level of service
threshold at LOS A for all measured categories, except for street crossing at LOS B.
There are four pedestrian destinations within 1320 feet of the proposed Meldrum Office
and Mixed Use Buildings development. These are: 1) the Fort Collins CBD which
contains commercial and office land uses to the east of the site; 2) the
commercial/residential uses to the south of the site; 3) the residential neighborhoods to
the west of the site; and 4) the commercial uses and residential neighborhood to the
north of the site. The Pedestrian LOS Worksheet is provided in Appendix F. Pedestrian
facilities in this area were built under earlier street standards. The Meldrum Office and
Mixed Use Buildings site will improve the Visual Interest & Amenities along the front of
their site.
Bicycle Level of Service
Appendix F shows a map of the area that is within 1320 feet of the Meldrum
Office and Mixed Use Buildings site. This area, the Fort Collins CBD, is considered to
be a community/neighborhood commercial center. Based upon Fort Collins bicycle
LOS criteria, the level of service threshold for bicycles is LOS B. There are bicycle
facilities along Mountain Avenue and Howes Street. Bike Lanes are not required on
local streets. The Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site is connected to the bike
lanes on Mountain Avenue, which satisfies the LOS B criteria. The bicycle LOS
worksheet is provided in Appendix F.
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TABLE 3
Short Range (2018) Background Peak Hour Operation
Intersection Movement Level of Service
AM PM
EB LT/T/RT A B
WB LT/T A B
WB RT A A
WB APPROACH A B
NB LT/T/RT A B
Meldrum/Mountain
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
EB LT/T/RT A A
WB LT/T/RT A A
NB LT/T/RT A A
Meldrum/Oak
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
TABLE 4
Short Range (2018) Total Peak Hour Operation
Intersection Movement Level of Service
AM PM
EB LT/T/RT A B
WB LT/T A B
WB RT A A
WB APPROACH A B
NB LT/T/RT A B
Meldrum/Mountain
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
EB LT/T/RT A A
WB LT/T/RT A A
NB LT/T/RT A A
Meldrum/Oak
(all-way stop)
SB LT/T/RT A A
Meldrum/Parking Access EB LT/RT A B
(stop sign) NB LT/T A A
Oak/Parking Access EB LT/T A A
(stop sign) SB LT/RT A A
SHORT RANGE (2018) GEOMETRY Figure 9
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Mountain Avenue
Oak Street
Meldrum Street
Parking
Access
Parking
Access
- Denotes Lane
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Transit Level of Service
This area is served (within 1320 feet) by transit routes 1, 15, and 18. The
Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings development is located in an area defined as
“mixed-use centers and commercial corridors” for the purpose of public transit level of
service evaluation. In the future, transit service will be improved as depicted on the Fort
Collins Transit System Plan. The future level of service will be in the B category.
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IV. CONCLUSIONS
This study assessed the impacts of the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings
development on the street system in the vicinity of the proposed development in the short
range (2018) future. The Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site is a proposed
office/commercial/parking garage development located in the northwest quadrant of the
Meldrum/Oak intersection in fort Collins, Colorado. As a result of this analysis, the
following is concluded:
• The development of the Meldrum Office and Mixed Use Buildings site is feasible
from a traffic engineering standpoint. At full development, the Meldrum Office and
Mixed Use Buildings will generate approximately 1562 daily trip ends, 121 morning
peak hour trip ends, and 172 afternoon peak hour trip ends.
• Current operation at the Meldrum/Mountain and Meldrum/Oak intersections is
acceptable.
• In the short range (2018) future, a signal will not be warranted at any of the key stop
sign controlled intersections.
• In the short range (2018) future, given development of the Meldrum Office and
Mixed Use Buildings and an increase in background traffic, the Meldrum/Mountain,
Meldrum/Oak, Meldrum/Parking Access, and Oak/Parking Access intersections will
operate acceptably with the existing geometry and control. No additional auxiliary
lanes are required at any of the key intersections.
• Acceptable level of service will be achieved for pedestrian modes based upon the
measures in the multi-modal transportation guidelines. Acceptable level of service
will be achieved for bicycle modes based upon the measures in the multi-modal
transportation guidelines. Transit level of service is acceptable.