HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP200900009 Review Comments Traffic Study 2009-07-28*-&A
County of Albemarle
Department of Community Development
Memorandum
To: Juandiego Wade, Senior Planner, Gerald Gatobu, Senior Planner, and Amy Pflaum, Senior
Engineer
From: Glenn Brooks, County Engineer
Date: 1 May 2009
Rev 1: 27 July 2009
Subject: Arden Place, traffic study (SDP200900009)
Rev. 1: An addendum was added to this report for the first revision. This addendum was intended to
address an additional site entrance on Rio Road, and a possible connection to Albemarle Square at the rear
of the property. The study was also expanded to include one more intersection on Rio Road to the east.
The traffic study for Arden Place on Putt Putt Lane and Mall Drive off of Rio Road has been reviewed.
The following comments are offered for your use;
1. The study provides conclusive evidence that the connection to Albemarle Square must be made. It
decreases delays for exiting traffic by four times. The only complicating factor is the expected 190ft
queue, and whether there is room to accommodate it.
Rev. 1: The original comment above was written calling for access to the Albemarle Square signal on
Rio Road. The addendum to the traffic study is written for a different connection, which is to the
signal on Route 29. In either case, a connection appears to be needed. The proposed connection to the
rear of Albemarle Square at Carmike Cinemas is not as convenient, and the assumption of 20% of site
traffic using this intersection is probably over - estimated.
2. The recommended paint striping on Putt Putt Lane does not mitigate the impacts. It does not, for
example, improve levels of service or delay. It appears only a signal at this location would do that. A
contribution should be made to this signal improvement, and if VDOT permits, the signal should be
installed. It can be set to a cautionary blinking light when off peak times.
Rev. 1: This recommendation still stands. The applicant has not provided any mitigating improvements
to the access(es) on Rio Road, and improvements are necessary.
3. The impacts to already failing intersection movements at Rt. 29 and Rt. 631 (Rio Rd.) have not been
mitigated. The most direct impact appears to be to the southbound lefts onto Rio, and the westbound
rights onto Rt.29. (There is a mistake in the graphic summaries for this failing movement.)
Contributing traffic to these already failing movements is not recommended. Further connections to
Albemarle Square, a connection to Woodbrook, and/or another free -flow right turn with dedicated
receiving lane on Rt. 29 should be provided. This site plan should not go forward at its present density
without some mitigating improvement to this situation.
Rev. 1: The recommendation is essentially unchanged. This site plan should not go forward without
some mitigating improvements to the situation on Rio Road and Rt. 29. The study, through modeling
technicalities, appears to shift the delays and queues to other locations, but the overall problem still
persists (see comment regarding the model below). There are failing movements at Albemarle Square
Albemarle County Community Development
Engineering Review comments
Page 2 of 2
and Route 29 which this development will make worse. In addition, the new site access scenario
proposes to channelize traffic in ways which are not conducive to safety (see traffic safety concerns
comment below.)
4. Rev. 1: This revision has significantly changed the background traffic scenario, shifting queues from
Putt Putt Lane to the signal at Albemarle Square. This does not appear acceptable. Theoretically, gaps
in traffic may be introduced into the model by signal timing upstream and downstream, thereby
improving site results. However, it is very unclear whether this would correlate to reality in this case,
as the left turns at Albemarle and Fashion Square are severely affected.
Rev. 1: This revision raises some common sense warnings for basic traffic safety. While all parties are
working hard to find a compromise that allows the site development and still provides acceptable
access and connectivity, some compromises can lead to significant future problems. The proposed
channelizing of the entrances on Rio Road is problematic in this regard. Channelizing is always a
risky proposition, relying mostly on drivers to honor signage and pavement markings. In this case, the
incentive for eliminating delays and inconveniences will be great, and there will likely be a significant
number of vehicles turning left in spite of the islands and signs in the entrances. This will be a safety
concern. Sending a significant amount of traffic through the movie theater parking lot might also
affect pedestrians. The u -turn revision required at the Albemarle Square and Rio Road intersection
could also be problematic. This is an unusual and often unexpected movement at busy intersections.
6. Rev. 1: In the future, the applicant should provide a complete copy of the software and all input files to
the county. The county based much of the review and public hearing reports on the previous traffic
study results. A key point was the left turning movement from Putt Putt Lane. For this study to change
this movement so drastically in the developer's favor gives us considerable pause, and makes us
question the validity of the modeling. We have no way to see or verify any of the model, as the county
does not have this software or project data, and we find the written reports very difficult to sift and
decipher on their own.
file: E2 is GEE Ardenl'lace.doc