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[DRAFT] Intersection Control Evaluation SRF Consulting Group, Inc. County Road E at Snelling Ave N (CR 76) 4 November 30, 2021 Traffic Volumes The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted travel patterns and traffic volumes. The newly collected traffic volumes used for this ICE were collected after the pandemic begam, so a comparison to historical volumes was made to understand how the volumes compare to pro-COVID conditions. Traffic counts were reviewed from the previous ICE Report from 2018 that utilized pre-pandemic volumes. Ramsey County also collected traffic volumes in July of 2021, which were significantly lower than the 2018 volumes and prior to schools in session. Traffic counts collected as part of this ICE were counted at the end of September 2021 to capture school traffic and more employees returning to work. Table 4 shows the total entering peak hour volumes for the three traffic counts, which shows the counts from July 2021 were lower than the 2018 counts during both peaks, and the September 2021 counts are approximately 20 percent lower in the a.m. peak hour and slightly higher in the p.m. peak hour. Table 4. Volume Comparison Traffic Count Date AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour 2018 ICE Report 1,000 1,300 2021 - July 525 975 2021 – September (after school start) 800 1,325 To evaluate future conditions, Forecast Year 2043 a.m. and p.m. peak hour traffic volumes were developed for the County Road E and Snelling Avenue N intersection. The forecasts were based on existing peak hour turning movement counts and grown based on several factors, including: · MVHS does not anticipate significant changes into the future · Bethel College is expecting minor growth in undergraduate enrollment · Based on the area, it is common to use an annual traffic growth rate of 0.5 percent · Reviewing the Metro Council Regional Travel Demand Model which takes into account the local comprehensive land use plans, an annual growth rate of 0.42 percent is anticipated Based on the above information, an annual growth rate of 0.5 percent was applied to existing traffic counts to develop the forecast traffic volumes. The resultant Opening Year 2023 and Forecast Year 2043 peak hour intersection turning movement volumes are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4, respectively.