5.1. PCSR Additional Information - Traffic Study Memo 9-25-22

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7 | P a g e Jackson Hills Apartments – Phases 2-4, Elk River, MN Traffic Operations The operating conditions of transportation facilities, such as roadways, traffic signals, roundabouts and stop-controlled intersections, are evaluated based on the relationship of the theoretical capacity of a facility to the actual traffic volume on that facility. Various factors affect capacity including travel speed, roadway geometry, grade, number of travel lanes, and intersection control. The current standards for evaluating capacity and operating conditions are contained in Highway Capacity Manual1. The procedures describe operating conditions in terms of driver delay represented as a Level of Service (LOS). Operations are given letter designations with "A" representing the best operating conditions and "F" representing the worst. Generally, level of service “D” represents the threshold for acceptable overall intersection operating conditions during a peak hour. The Chart below summarizes the level of service and delay criteria for signalized and unsignalized intersections. For side street stop-controlled intersections special emphasis is given to providing an estimate for the level of service of the minor approaches. Traffic operations at an unsignalized intersection with side street stop-control can be described two ways. First, consideration is given to the overall intersection level of service. This takes into account the total number of vehicles entering the intersection and the capability of the intersection to support these volumes. Second, it is important to consider the delay on the minor approaches, since the mainline does not have to stop. It is common for intersections with higher mainline traffic volumes to experience increased levels of delay and poor level of service on the side streets. 1 Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), Transportation Research Board, 6th Edition