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, . Mr. Timothy 1. Nelson -3- February 25, 1997 The second major problem with the traffic study report that was mentioned at the beginning of this section is that several aspects of the report are inconsistent with applicable technical standards. These inadequacies include the following major issues: a) Traffic study report uses wrona analysis year. Page 4 of the EAW indicates that a three year period is expected for build out of the Centre Pointe project. That suggests that the development would be completed in 2000. The nonnaI standard for determining the traffic analysis year, and a requirement of the Minnesota Pollution Agency for the Indirect Source Pennit required for this project, is to analyze conditions for the year after expected full completion of the development. For Centre Pointe, the appropriate year thus would be 2001. The traffic forecasts and analyses in the traffic study report are for 1997, not 2001. b) Traffic analyses do not account for any other development or traffic arowth. The traffic forecasts simply include the 1997 base volumes plus expected Centre Pointe traffic. No attention is given to general traffic growth in the area or to trips generated by other new and proposed development in the area, including: Twin Lakes Business Park, Gateway Business Park, and Tower Place Business Park. c) Traffic analyses do not address all potentially impacted locations. The traffic study just addresses intersections along Cleveland Avenue from County Road C to County Road D. In addition to these intersections, detailed consideration also needs to be given to the complete interchanges ofI-3SW with County Road C and County Road D because much of the Centre Pointe traffic will use these interchanges. Also, County staffhave expressed need to learn about potential impacts on County Road D east of Cleveland Avenue. d) Traffic analyses at the intersection of Oeveland Avenue and the I-35W north ramps are incomplete. The analyses indicate that the east leg of this intersection is a driveway for a trucking company. That is the present situation, but the City plans to replace that driveway with Twin Lakes Parkway, a major new east-west route that extends through the Twin Lakes Business Park to Snelling Avenue. According to current plans, the Twin Lakes Parkway project also would include another major change to the intersection of Cleveland Avenue and the I-35W north ramps - namely removal of the existing loop ramp from the south on I-35W to the west on County Road C. The analyses do not account for either of these two changes shown in current City plans. Another problem with the analyses at this location is that they do not account for the effects of the metering signals on the ramp to northbound I-35W. During the p.m. peak period, traffic queues from this ramp meter regularly extend to Cleveland Avenue and sometimes extend south to County Road C. e) Traffic study incorrectly identifies the function of County Road C, Oeveland Avenue, and County Road D. The report labels all of these routes as collectors. In fact, all three routes are minor arterials, with portions of each designated as A minor arterials. f) Proposed access on Cleveland Avenue is much greater that intended for A minor arterials. The site plan shown in Figure 4 in the EA W shows eight access points along Cleveland Avenue. This frequency of access is much greater than the standard for A minor arterials. If the Centre Pointe development were completed in accordance with the proposed plan, the end result would be a reduction in traffic service and increased accident potential for traffic on Cleveland Avenue.