HomeMy WebLinkAboutKING SOOPERS #146 MIDTOWN GARDENS MARKETPLACE - PDP200012 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - TRAFFIC STUDY (2)kimley-horn.com 4582 South Ulster Street, Suite 1500, Denver, CO 80237 303 228 2300
September 29, 2020
Mr. Steve Gilchrist
City of Fort Collins
Traffic Operation
281 North College Avenue
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Re: King Soopers #146 – Midtown Gardens Marketplace
Traffic Impact Study Comment Response Letter
Dear Mr. Gilchrist:
We received comments dated August 21, 2020 from the City of Fort Collins to the King Soopers #146
Traffic Impact Study. The purpose of this letter is to provide responses to the comments to assist
with the review of the finalized traffic study.
Traffic Impact Study Comments
Comment #1: The TIS has been received and reviewed. Thank for the comprehensive work on the
TIS. Please provide approach and movement LOS information. This will help identify whether any
variance requests are needed to the LOS requirements in LCUASS chapter 4.
Response: Understood, movement and approach LOS will be added to the tables.
Comment #2: The proposed access from the King Soopers onto College is recommended to be
limited to a ¾ movement. The EB left turn out as a “high T” is not supported by City staff and likely
not supported by CDOT. We believe allowing unsignalized left turns across four lanes of traffic on
high speed arterials is problematic, especially given the backups from the downstream signal which
greatly limit the visibility. This raises significant safety concerns. CDOT may have comments about
this as well.
Response: This intersection configuration as a High T was discussed with City staff when scoping
the project. The City was favorable to the idea at that time and identified that they would be receptive
to it if acceptable operations would occur for the eastbound left turn egress. As demonstrated within
the traffic study, this eastbound left turn movement is projected to operate at LOS D (25.8 sec/veh) in
2022 and LOS E (35.9 sec/veh) in 2040, which is believed to be acceptable operations for this
driveway approach movement. An additional analysis has been provided analyzing two access
scenarios with both the High T configuration and with a three-quarter access along College Avenue.
Comment #3: The overall short term pm peak hour intersection LOS at College and Drake shows an
overall LOS E. This does not meet Adequate Public Facilities requirements in the Land Use Code.
What this means is that improvements need to be made to meet LOS E in the short-term total that are
feasible / proportional to impact, or an Alternative Mitigation Strategy can be negotiated. Please
provide a memo on the expected improvement for right turn overlap (already shown in the TIS), and
the addition of a new right turn lane on the EB approach that allows all lanes to move over (and better
align) to accommodates EB double lefts (and maybe WB double lefts). If that project would result in
measurable improvements, then it may be that a fee in lieu towards that project can be the AMS. If
needed, we can schedule a meeting and discuss this further.
Response: The College and Drake intersection is projected to operate at LOS E (LOS D or better is
required) with or without the redevelopment project. So, this degradation in level of service isn’t
caused specifically based on the project, and we appreciate the City recognition. A separate memo
Traffic Study Comment Response Letter
King Soopers #146 / 096083122
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kimley-horn.com 4582 South Ulster Street, Suite 1500, Denver, CO 80237 303 228 2300
will be provided with information provided to the level of service with eastbound dual left turn lanes by
removal of the eastbound right turn lane.
Comment #4: At College and Columbia, lengthening the EB left turn lane is a good idea, and we
recommend doing that through striping instead of median reconstruction that results in loss of trees.
Signal timing adjustments can also be made by the City if needed to support exiting vehicles.
Response: We agree with restriping to include two eastbound approach lanes at this intersection.
Of note, the existing drive aisle approach width is 17 feet; therefore, only three feet of widening
improvements in the median would be required to restripe the drive aisle with two 10-foot eastbound
lanes. We don’t believe this would impact the trees, but the irrigation system would need to be
relocated. Further, this intersection was evaluated with additional green time along the eastbound
and westbound approaches to improve vehicle queues.
Comment #5: Along Drake Road, we would like to see some adjustment to the center ribbon median
that will lengthen the EB left turn lane at the King Soopers entrance and shorten the WB left turn
lanes onto McClelland.
Response: Understood, we agree with this approach.
Comment #6: Along College Avenue for the NB approach to Drake, we do not believe the project
should reconfigure the ribbon median between Thunderbird and Drake. That can stay as is.
Response: Understood, we agree as well. We will remove this discussion from the traffic study.
Sincerely,
KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
Curtis D. Rowe, P.E., PTOE
Vice President