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City of Arden Hills – 2040 Comprehensive Plan Approved: XXXXX B-5 2. ROADWAY CAPACITY Capacities of roadway systems vary based on roadway functional classifications, roadway design (number of lanes, divided or undivided), and system connectivity. A two-lane divided arterial roadway has a daily capacity of 15,000 to 17,000 vehicles per day, a four-lane divided arterial street has a daily capacity of 28,000 to 32,000 vehicles per day, and a four-lane freeway has a daily capacity of approximately 60,000 to 80,000 vehicles per day. The variability in capacities are directly related to many roadway characteristics including access spacing, traffic control, adjacent land uses, as well as traffic flow characteristics, such as percentage of trucks and number of turning vehicles. Therefore, it is important that the peak hour conditions are reviewed to determine the actual volume-to-capacity on roadway segments with average daily traffic volumes approaching these capacity values. Major Collector and Minor Collector streets have physical capacities similar to those of a two-lane arterial street; however the acceptable level of traffic on a residential street is typically significantly less than the street’s physical capacity. The acceptable level of traffic volumes on Major Collectors and Minor Collector streets vary based on available right-of-way width, housing densities and setbacks, locations of parks and schools, and overall resident perceptions. Typically, traffic levels on Major Collector streets in residential/educational areas are acceptable when they are at or below 50 percent of the roadway’s physical capacity, resulting in an acceptable capacity of 6,000 to 9,000 vehicles per day. In most communities, acceptable traffic levels on Minor Collector streets are considerably less. Typically, a daily traffic volume of 1,000 to 1,500 vehicles per day is acceptable on Minor Collector streets in residential areas. In the City of Arden Hills, the roadways that function as Major Collectors currently carry 50 percent or less than the roadway capacity, except Valentine Lake Road, west of Mounds View High School, which has a volume to capacity ratio of 51 Percent. Even though the capacity ratio is over 50 percent, the volumes on the major collectors in Arden Hills are considered to generally be accepted and the roadways are interpreted as operating at or below their capacity. 2.1 ESTIMATED DAILY CAPACITIES Table B.1 – Planning-Level Roadway Capacity in Arden Hills, identifies various roadway types and the estimated daily capacities that the given roadway in the City of Arden Hills can accommodate. A capacity deficiency exists when traffic volumes approach or exceed the capacity of the roadway. Dr a f t 11 / 2 0 / 2 0 1 7