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Roadway Patterns <br />Elk River's core neighborhoods, which includes downtown <br />and areas immediately to the west and northeast, follow a <br />traditional grid pattern. The rectangular blocks are typi- <br />cally oriented east -west and north -south and are similarly <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 <br />signs, traffic signals, etc.) typically required to manage <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- <br />sacs, especially in residential subdivisions. This situation <br />drastically impacts a community's connectivity. Discon- <br />nected neighborhoods lead to increases in total vehicle <br />miles traveled to reach destination points. This is especially <br />evident in areas surrounding Trott Brook Farms Park or <br />near Elk River Golf Club. Congestion concerns rise near <br />these developments as they typically funnel motorists onto <br />a single collector street with multiple conflicting intersec- <br />tions or access points. <br />Connectivity Index <br />To improve traffic management and community connec- <br />tivity moving forward, the city should consider establishing <br />a connectivity index minimum requirement for all new <br />residential subdivisions. A connectivity index measures <br />the ratio of the number of blocks to the number of inter- <br />sections in the street network. A higher connectivity index <br />reflects a greater number of blocks entering each intersec- <br />tion, and thus a higher level of connectivity for the network. <br />Typical minimum standards for connectivity indexes fall <br />into the range of 1.2 to 1.4. <br />Connectivity Index <br />A connectivity index measures the ratio of the number of <br />blocks to the number of intersections in the street network. <br />Typical minimum standards for connectivity indexes fall <br />into the range of 1.2 to 1.4. <br />Index = n/9 =1.22 <br />Elk River Comprehensive Plan • Transportation & Mobility Plan <br />07CL\arr0]AS:WV I�VWVKO1ilk1W1 <br />all <br />