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Traffic Study <br />Lexington Avenue Reconstruction <br /> <br /> <br />Alliant No. 118-0186.0 14 <br />April 18, 2019 <br />2.3.1 Crash Type <br />Further investigation into the types of reported crashes (see Figure 4) revealed that the <br />Lexington Avenue study corridor had a significant number of right-angle and left-turn crashes, <br />accounting for 52 percent (36 of 69) of the crashes between 2011 and 2015. At the intersection of <br />Lexington Avenue / Red Fox Road, right-angle and left-turn crashes also accounted for 51 percent <br />(20 of 39) of the crashes between 2011 and 2015. A more detailed review of the historical crash <br />data revealed that the existing signalized left-turn operation may be negatively affecting the safety <br />of study intersections: <br />x 34 of the 36 right-angle/left-turn crashes throughout the study corridor occurred during <br />midday or p.m. hours, which may suggest that high volumes during these time periods are <br />resulting in poor gap selections by motorists. <br />x 19 of the 20 right-angle/left-turn crashes at Lexington Avenue / Red Fox Road occurred <br />during midday or p.m. hours, which may also suggest that signal operations during this <br />time period are creating hazardous conditions. <br />o 15 of these 19 right-angle/left-turn crashes involved a southbound vehicle, which may <br />suggest that heavier volumes and permissive “green ball” left-turn operation are <br />resulting in driver confusion/poor gap selections. <br />x 10 of the 17 injury crashes throughout the study corridor were rear end crashes, with all <br />10 crashes occurring between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. <br />Conclusions based on crash type suggest there is a noteworthy crash pattern at the Red Fox Road <br />intersection, including an observed increase in crashes throughout the study corridor during the <br />afternoon/evening time period. <br />2.3.2 Crash Rate <br />History has proven that crashes are a function of exposure. Roadways with higher traffic volumes <br />experience more crashes than similar roadways with lower volumes. Rather than simply <br />documenting the number of crashes that occur at an intersection, the crash rate must be considered. <br />Crash rates normalize different locations with varying traffic volumes, providing a useful tool in <br />comparing the locations with respect to safety. Actual crash rates at specific locations can also be <br />compared to average or typical values for an intersection type. Intersection crash rates are defined <br />by the number of crashes occurring per million entering vehicles (MEV). Table 1 summarizes the <br />observed intersection crash rates compared to the statewide averages for similar intersections.