The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSP201000009 Legacy Document 2011-06-10 (5)Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) At VDOT's request, the applicant prepared a TIA to meet the requirements of Chapter 527. The following is a summary of the TIA procedure and results: The purpose of the study was to determine the impacts of the Morey Creek Professional Center and to recommend improvements to lessen the transportation impacts of the development. The study area extended along Fontaine Avenue Extended /Fontaine Avenue from the intersection of the US Route 29 Bypass southbound ramps to Jefferson Park Avenue /Maury Avenue (in the City of Charlottesville). In addition to the access for Morey Creek Professional Center, the study included the following intersections: • Fontaine Avenue Extended at the US Route 29 Bypass southbound ramps • Fontaine Avenue at US Route 29 Bypass northbound ramps • Fontaine Avenue at Ray C. Hunt Drive • Fontaine Avenue at Jefferson Park Avenue /Maury Avenue The ramp junctions and weaving sections along the US Route 29 Bypass at the Interstate 64 (1 -64) and Fontaine Avenue Extended /Fontaine Avenue interchanges were also included in the study area. It is important to recognize, when evaluating the results of the TIA, that the US Route 29 Bypass serves regional (as well as local) traffic. The other intersections listed above are serve primarily local traffic. Following completion of the main TIA, the traffic consultants also analyzed the intersection of Buckingham Circle and Fontaine Avenue Extended. The key findings from the analysis are presented in five parts: 1. The 2010 existing traffic volumes without the Morey Creek Professional Center. 2. The 2018 future traffic volumes, without the Morey Creek Professional Center. 3. The 2018 future traffic volumes without Morey Creek, but with the Fontaine Research Park and the improvements proffered by the Research Park. 4. The 2018 future traffic volumes with Morey Creek Professional Center and without Fontaine Research Park (or the proffered improvements) 5. The 2018 future traffic volumes with Morey Creek Professional Center and with Fontaine Research Park and the proffered improvements. The results of the 2010 existing traffic analysis ( #1 above) showed that the following problems now exist: • The unsignalized ramp junction of US Route 29 Bypass southbound and Fontaine Avenue Extended operates at LOS F during the AM and PM peak hours. • The queues at the unsignalized ramp junction of Fontaine Avenue Extended at the US Route 29 Bypass southbound may impact traffic on the mainline of the US Route 29 Bypass southbound. • The unsignalized ramp junction of US Route 29 Bypass northbound and Fontaine Avenue Extended operates at LOS F during the PM peak hour. • The 95" percentile queue lengths exceed the existing storage lengths for two movements at the intersection of Fontaine Avenue at Jefferson Park Avenue /Maury Avenue. • The weaving section on the US Route 29 Bypass northbound operates at LOS F during the AM peak hour ATTACHMENT D • The two weaving sections on the US Route 29 Bypass southbound operate at LOS E during the PM peak hour. The study noted that: The addition of the proposed Morey Creek Professional Center creates a somewhat different set of hurdles at the interchange of US Route 29 Bypass and Fontaine Avenue Extended /Fontaine Avenue. Given the directional traffic characteristics associated with office development and the proposed building's location west of the interchange, new deficiencies are noted that are not directly addressed by the improvements proposed in conjunction with the Fontaine Research Park expansion to the east. The proposed Morey Creek Professional Center generates directional traffic flows opposite of what exist today. Assuming that both the Morey Creek Professional Center and the Fontaine Research Park expansion proceed (# 5 above), the following problems will need to be addressed: • At the signalized ramp junction of US Route 29 Bypass southbound and Fontaine Avenue Extended, the eastbound through movement and the southbound left turn operate at LOS F during the PM peak hour. • The unsignalized ramp junction of the US Route 29 Bypass northbound and Fontaine Avenue Extended operates at LOS F during the AM and PM peak hours. • The queues at the unsignalized ramp junction of Fontaine Avenue at US Route 29 Bypass northbound may impact traffic on the mainline of US Route 29 Bypass northbound. • The 95" percentile queue length exceeds the existing storage length for the westbound left turn from Fontaine Avenue onto Ray C. Hunt Drive during the AM peak hour. • The 95`h percentile queue lengths exceed the existing storage lengths for three movements at the intersection of Fontaine Avenue at Jefferson Park Avenue /Maury Avenue. • The weaving section on US Route 29 Bypass northbound operates at LOS F during the AM peak hour. • The two weaving sections on US Route 29 Bypass southbound operate at LOS F during the PM peak hour. To correct these problems, the TIA recommends: 1. A westbound right turn lane on Fontaine Avenue Extended at the site's western driveway. The turn lane shown on the site layout with 150 feet of storage and a 100 - foot taper is sufficient. 2. A traffic signal is recommended a the Fontaine Avenue Extended /US Route 29 Bypass southbound ramp junction. This improvement is shown as part of the proffers associated with the UVA Fontaine Research Park expansion. This improvement is necessitated by both the expansion of the Fontaine Research Park and the Morey Creek Professional Center. 3. In conjunction with the signal noted above, a westbound right turn lane is recommended on eastbound Fontaine Avenue Extended at the US Route 29 Bypass southbound onramp. This improvement is necessitated by the Morey Creek Professional Center. ATTACHMENT D 4. A traffic signal is recommended at the Fontaine Avenue /US Route 29 Bypass northbound ramp junction. This improvement is necessitated by the Morey Creek Professional Center. Staff notes that the improvements recommended above have been proffered, so the traffic impacts on local streets have been addressed sufficiently. In particular, the residents of Buckingham Circle should find it easier to enter /leave their development once the traffic signals and turn lanes are in place. These proffered improvements, however, do not address the problems with the weaving movements on the US Route 29 Bypass northbound and southbound. As VDOT states in its evaluation: The weave analysis included in the study for traffic on the Route 29 Bypass between the I- 64 and Fontaine interchanges and traffic on 1 -64 eastbound between the Route 29 Bypass loops are performing below acceptable levels of service and will continue to degrade with additional background and site traffic. The study does not provide any recommendations to improve these maneuvers. These interchanges need additional analysis and improvements that are beyond the scope of this study. Staff notes that improvements to this segment of the regional road system are beyond what is usually required of a single development project. ATTACHMENT D