4.10. SR 01-20-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Spack Consulting 5 of 6 1715` Ave & Twin Lakes Rd Traffic Analysis Other Corridor Observations While analyzing the intersection of 171" Avenue and Twin Lakes Road in detail, general observations were also made regarding the roadway network around the study intersection. The following comments are based upon the existing and expected volumes and traffic operations at other intersections. As an industrial area, the amount of truck traffic is high, likely close to ten percent of all traffic. For comparison, heavy trucks are usually about three percent of all traffic. With this truck traffic, including over -sized trucks, wide travel lanes of 14- to 16 -feet would assist in their movements. Similarly, large corner radii of 50 -feet or greater would help prevent encroachment into other lanes. As the geometric design for the area is developed, a larger than standard design vehicle would be appropriate to ensure truck movements, particularly over -sized trucks, are able to move efficiently. Although this memorandum studied the 171" Avenue and Twin Lakes Road intersection, the future Twin Lakes Road intersections to the south are expected to have more traffic. This includes more turning vehicles and higher overall volumes. A three -lane road for Twin Lakes Road is still expected to accommodate this traffic, but turn lanes will be necessary, including right turn lanes. These intersections also have a greater potential for future signalization based upon the expected traffic. Private driveway accesses on Twin Lakes Road immediately southwest of the railroad tracks are currently expected to remain under the alternatives developed. Ideally, intersections would not be located that close to a railroad crossing to minimize the potential vehicle -train conflicts. Limiting the accesses to right in /right out or relocating the driveways to other public roads should be examined in the future. If the accesses are limited, examining the new routes for trucks will be important, including limiting their need for multiple track crossings or the need for u -turn movements. As noted earlier, Twin Lakes Road is a four -lane divided roadway to the north of the railroad tracks. The existing daily traffic and projected Scenario 2 daily traffic is within the capacity of a three -lane road with right turn lanes. Therefore, Twin Lakes Road could be re- striped, reducing the through lanes to one in each direction. Right turn lanes would also be needed at key intersections, which may require some construction. The additional pavement could then be used as a shoulder for disabled vehicles and pedestrian /bicycle movements. Similarly, the traffic volumes on 171" Avenue to the west of the future Twin Lakes Road intersection are within the capacity of a three -lane road. Re- striping this corridor is also a possibility as part of the planned intersection construction.