CCP 02-09-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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;-,LIJ-G -.:.:,;, ...-. ..::...... ::.:::.. ,:::,......~-,-,~ -:::'''='-'-- . :: -- ::~.:... ::~-.::..... -, ...:.... "--' Messrs. Zehring and Ringwald -3- August 5. 19~/,=, METHODOLOGY To determine the amount of development occupancy which the current traffic system can . accommodate without special traffic management measures, a five step procedure has been followed: 1. Data collection. Determine the current delay experienced by motorists at the Round Lake Road and Highway 96 intersection during the weekday p.m. peak hour. Collect current p.m. peak hour turn movements simultaneously at this intersection. 2. Software calibration. Cahbrate the Highway Capacity Software (RCS) computer model sa that the delay estimates computed using the current turn movements are similar to the observed delay results of step 1. 3. Establisb a delay threshold. Select a maximum tolerable delay for motorists at the stop controlled intersection of Round Lake Road and Highway 96. 4. Determine traffic system limitations. Using the RCS as calibrated in step 2, estimate the traffic delay resulting from additional traffic. The amount of additional traffic that can be accommodated on the current traffic system is limited by the delay threshold of step 3. 5. Determine occupancy limitations. The amount of occupied floor space that the . current traffic system can accommodate is determined by the traffic limitations of step 4 and the proposed development land use trip generation characteristics. ANALYSIS The critical movement at the Round Lake Road and Highway 96 intersection is the northbound left turn. This movement must yield right of way to cross traffic and westbound left turns. Our staff observed the delay experienced by the northbound left turn motorists while collecting the turn movement data of Figure I on Wednesday, July 23. The average delay for northbound left turning motorists was observed to be 20.6 se1;onds during the peak hour of 4:30-5:30 p.m. The turn movements of Figure 1 were then entered into the RCS. The parameters which determine intersection delay were adjusted until the RCS estimate of the northbound left turn delay closely approximated that observed. There are many signalized intersections in the Twin Cities metropolitan area that run on signal cycle lengths of 120 to 180 seconds during the p.m. peak hour. It is not uncommon for a motorist on the minor street to encounter a delay of about 90 seconds at such signalized intersections. This level of delay will likely be experienced on Round Lake Road after completion of the traffic signal installation at Highway 96. Therefore, we . -----