5.13. SR 11-15-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Ronald Dokken -4- September 13, 2004 Traffic Volumes As described earlier, existing p.m. peak hour traffic volumes at the subject intersections were collected on a typical weekday. Existing through volumes on TH 169 were increased by five percent per year and the volumes on Main Street were increased by three percent per year to establish base volumes for the analysis year 2007. These growth percentages were established based on historic traffic growth patterns on these roadways. Volumes due to the other planned future development were obtained from our traffic study completed for this development earlier this year. We added these other future development volumes to the 2007 base volumes to arrive at 2007 no-build volumes. Volumes due to the proposed expansion established earlier were added to the 2007 no-build volumes to determine 2007 build volumes. Figure 2 shows existing, 2007 no-build, and 2007 build volumes at the subject intersections during the p.m. peak hour on a typical weekday. TRAFFIC ANALYSES To determine the impacts of the proposed development at the subject intersections, capacity analyses were completed for existing, 2007 no-build, and 2007 build scenarios during the p.m. peak hour. In our traffic analyses, we used existing geometrics and traffic controls at the subject intersections. Capacity analysis results are presented in terms of Level of Service (LOS), which ranges from A to F. LOS A represents the best intersection operation, with very little delay for each vehicle using the intersection. LOS F represents the worst intersection operation with excessive delay. Most agencies in Minnesota consider that LOS D represents the minimal acceptable LOS for normal peak traffic conditions. Results of our capacity analyses are presented in Figure 3. The TH 1 69/Main Street intersection will operate at LOS F for the 2007 no-build and build conditions. It is to be noted that the LOS for almost all the movements remain unchanged at this intersection for 2007 with the proposed expansion. As shown in Figure 3, all movements at the Main StreetlZane Avenue intersection will operate at LOS D or better, except for the northbound left turn movement, which will operate at LOS F. Similar to the TH 169/Main Street intersection, the Main Street/Zane A venue intersection also will not experience any changes to LOS with the proposed expansion. The LOS will virtually remain unchanged at both the subject intersections because of the relatively low increase in traffic volume that will be caused by the proposed expansion. Therefore, the proposed expansion will not cause any significant impacts at the subject intersections. Although measures such as channelizing islands can be used to improve existing and future LOS E and F operations at the TH 1 69/Main Street intersection, we understand that MnlDOT is not planning on any changes at this intersection. Instead, discussions are underway regarding upgrading TH 169 to a freeway in the future to accommodate the already high traffic volumes. Considering findings from our analyses and MnlDOT's plans for the future, we do not recommend any changes to Main Street or TH 169 to accommodate the projected 2007 build traffic as the proposed development would not cause any significant changes in the 2007 no-build operations.