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Roadway Patterns <br /> Elk River's core neighborhoods,which includes Downtown Legma <br /> and areas immediately to the west and northeast,follow a •� ,� ,•••L nks 11 <br /> traditional grid pattern.The rectangular blocks are typi- 96. j Nodes-9 <br /> cally oriented east-west and north-south and are similarly \ I `�•:;, connectivity Index=11/9=1.22 <br /> sized,although Highway 10 and the BNSF railroad corri- <br /> dors impact their layout.This configuration allows for easy <br /> navigation and orientation.It also fosters more opportu- <br /> nities for motorists to make direct connections to other <br /> roads within the network.A drawback of the grid system <br /> is the elevated amount of traffic control devices(e.g.,stop I <br /> signs,traffic signals,etc.)typically required to manage *••a•• '�, ;� - � <br /> head-to-head motorist flow. •.� /� <br /> Much of the community's remaining street network follows •' <br /> a suburban-style pattern.Elk River features a compara- <br /> tively high percentage of curvilinear streets and cul-de- /; / �....•i <br /> sacs,especially in residential subdivisions.This situation %••• <br /> drastically impacts a community's connectivity.Discon- z �•" <br /> nected neighborhoods lead to increases in total vehicle <br /> i <br /> miles traveled to reach destination points.This is especially I �� <br /> evident in areas surrounding Trott Brook Park or near Elk ' <br /> River Golf Club.Congestion concerns rise near these devel- <br /> opments as they typically funnel motorists onto a single <br /> collector street with multiple conflicting intersections or Connectivity Index <br /> access points. <br /> A connectivity index measures the ratio of the number of <br /> blocks to the number of intersections in the street network. <br /> Connectivity Index Typical minimum standards for connectivity indexes fall <br /> into the range of 1.2 to 1.4. <br /> To improve traffic management and community connec- <br /> tivity moving forward,the City should consider estab- <br /> lishing a connectivity index minimum requirement for <br /> all new residential subdivisions.A connectivity index <br /> measures the ratio of the number of blocks to the number <br /> of intersections in the street network.A higher connec- <br /> tivity index reflects a greater number of blocks entering <br /> each intersection,and thus a higher level of connectivity <br /> for the network.Typical minimum standards for connec- <br /> tivity indexes fall into the range of 1.2 to 1.4. <br /> Elk River Comprehensive Plan•Transportation&Mobility Plan 79 <br /> DRAFT FOR REVIEW ONLY <br />