River DriveCorridor Study

15th Street North to 38th Street NorthInformational Meeting #2

August 03, 2016

Welcome and

Introductions

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 3

This meeting is held pursuant to Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act which ensures that no person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination on the basis of a protected status during any MDT project.

Title

VI C

onsid

erat

ions

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 4

Presentation• What is a Corridor Study?• Areas of Concern

• Transportation System• Environmental Considerations

• Needs and Objectives• Recommended

Improvement Options• Next Steps

Discussion Period

Mee

ting

Agen

da

What is a Corridor Study?

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 6

Wha

t is

a Co

rrid

or S

tudy

?

Planning

Project Development/NEPA Design

ConstructionMaintenanceOperations

Transportation Agencies

Resource Agencies

Public

A corridor study is conducted before design, right-of-way acquisition, environmental compliance, and construction.

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 7

BEGINRP 3.4

ENDRP 5.4

4

5

Missouri River

1 4TH

ST

N

1 5T H

ST

N15

TH S

T N

E

RIVER DR

N

SMELTER AVE NE

25TH

ST

N

25TH AVE NE

38TH

ST

N

2 6T H

ST

N

8TH AVE N

N RIVER RD

GIANT

SPRING

S RD

7TH AVE N

CHICAGO AVE

29TH

ST

N

28TH

ST

N

27TH

ST

N

N RIVER RD

BUTTE AVE

17TH

ST

NE

3 4TH

ST

N

2 4TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

NE

3 0TH

ST

N

MONTANA AVE NE

19TH

ST

N

6TH AVE N

23RD

ST

NE12 ST

21ST

ST

NE

1 7TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

N

16TH

ST

N

23RD

ST

N

18T H

ST

N

14TH

ST

NE

21S T

ST

N

2 2ND

ST

N

20TH

ST

N

32N D

ST

N

33RD

ST

N

35T H

ST

N

3 1ST

ST

N

36TH

ST

N

37TH

ST

N

13TH

ST

N

10TH AVE N

13TH

ST

NE

3RD AVE N

9TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH

ST

NE

5TH AVE N

4TH AVE N

COLORADO AVE NE

10TH AVE N

9TH AVE N 9TH AVE N

FAIRWAY DR

N STAR BLVD

VIGILANTE DR

MONTANA AVE NE

10TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH AVE N

18TH AV

E N

N RIVE

R RD

3R

Map Legend

0 500 1,000 1,500250Feet

Study Area

Study Corridor

Railroad

City Boundary

Reference Post

River Drive N

Great Falls

226

228

225

227

200

2003

87

89

8789

315

15

BEGINRP 3.4

ENDRP 5.4

4

5

Missouri River

1 4TH

ST

N

1 5T H

ST

N15

TH S

T N

E

RIVER DR

N

SMELTER AVE NE

25TH

ST

N

25TH AVE NE

38TH

ST

N

2 6T H

ST

N

8TH AVE N

N RIVER RD

GIANT

SPRING

S RD

7TH AVE N

CHICAGO AVE

29TH

ST

N

28TH

ST

N

27TH

ST

N

N RIVER RD

BUTTE AVE

17TH

ST

NE

3 4TH

ST

N

2 4TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

NE

3 0TH

ST

N

MONTANA AVE NE

19TH

ST

N

6TH AVE N

23RD

ST

NE12 ST

21ST

ST

NE

1 7TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

N

16TH

ST

N

23RD

ST

N

18T H

ST

N

14TH

ST

NE

21S T

ST

N

2 2ND

ST

N

20TH

ST

N

32N D

ST

N

33RD

ST

N

35T H

ST

N

3 1ST

ST

N

36TH

ST

N

37TH

ST

N

13TH

ST

N

10TH AVE N

13TH

ST

NE

3RD AVE N

9TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH

ST

NE

5TH AVE N

4TH AVE N

COLORADO AVE NE

10TH AVE N

9TH AVE N 9TH AVE N

FAIRWAY DR

N STAR BLVD

VIGILANTE DR

MONTANA AVE NE

10TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH AVE N

18TH AV

E N

N RIVE

R RD

3R

Map Legend

0 500 1,000 1,500250Feet

Study Area

Study Corridor

Railroad

City Boundary

Reference Post

River Drive N

Great Falls

226

228

225

227

200

2003

87

89

8789

315

15

River Drive North (2 miles)• 15th Street North (RP 3.4)• 38th Street North (RP 5.4)

Stud

y Ar

ea

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 8

Past Planning• Past LRTPs• Feasibility Study

completed in 2009• 2014 LRTP

• Conduct a Corridor Study

Existing Concerns• Congestion• Intersections• Safety

Future Concerns• Growth• Development

Back

grou

nd

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 9

Goal

s an

d Pu

rpos

e of

Stu

dy • Identify needs and objectives• Identify potential impacts

and constraints

• Identify short- and long-range improvements

• Develop planning level cost estimates

• Develop information and data to be forwarded into the environmental process if a project moves forward from the study (dependent on available funds)

Areas of Concern

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 11

Principal arterial roadway

• National Highway System• Designated truck route

Part of US Hwy 87 Bypass

• Connects 10th Ave S to 15th St N

Existing constraints• Missouri River• River’s Edge Trail• Park and recreational land• Development

Two travel lanes• Generally 4’ shoulders• Fair pavement condition

35 to 45 mph speed limit

Phys

ical

Cha

ract

erist

ics

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 12

Geom

etric

s Steep slope

Steep grade

Looking West Near Trailhead

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 13

Businesses between 15th St N and 19th St N

• 7 approaches

Caboose Trailhead

Big Stack Mobile Home Court approach

• On a hill• Difficult to see

Business access west of 25thSt N

• Businesses closely front roadway

• No defined parking or access

Scenic pull-outs

Acce

ss a

nd R

/W

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 14

Rail• At-grade crossing• New development

Freight• Designated truck route• 7.2% heavy vehicle traffic

Frei

ght a

nd R

ail

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 15

River’s Edge Trail• North side of roadway

• Between 15th St N and Giant Springs Rd

• Shared use path

19th St N crossing• Trail spur terminates at

19th St N intersection• No crossing treatments

Caboose Trailhead• Parking area and access

for River’s Edge Trail

East of Giant Springs Road

• Shared use path• Connects River’s Edge

Trail to 38th St N

Non

-mot

oriz

ed

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 16

Traf

fic O

pera

tions

14,400

12,580

10,770

Existing Conditions

D | C | C

D | C | F

A | A | A

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 17

Traf

fic O

pera

tions

19,690

17,200

14,720

Projected Conditions

E | C | E

F | F | F

B | A | B

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 18

5 years of data*• No fatal• Two incapacitating

injury• Six non-

incapacitating injury

113 total reported crashes• 79% multi-vehicle• 48% rear-end• No environmental

trends noted

Safe

ty

Crash Type Statistics

48%

13%10% 8% 10% 9% 2% 1%

Perc

ent o

f all

Cras

hes

Multi-vehicle Crashes Single vehicle Crashes

*Jan 01, 2010 to Dec 31, 2014

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 19

Safe

ty

Noted clusters:• 15th Street North• Big Stack Mobile

Home Court

• 25th Street North• Scenic Pull-out• Giant Springs Rd

4

5

Missouri River

14TH

ST

N

15TH

ST

N15

TH S

T N

E

RIVER DR

N

SMELTER AVE NE

25TH

ST

N

25TH AVE NE

38TH

ST

N

2 6TH

ST

N

8TH AVE N

N RIVER RD

GIANT

SPRING

S RD

7TH AVE N

CHICAGO AVE

29TH

ST

N

28T H

ST

N

27TH

ST

N

N RIVER RD

BUTTE AVE

17TH

ST

NE

34TH

ST

N

24TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

NE

30TH

ST

N

MONTANA AVE NE

19TH

ST

N

6TH AVE N

23RD

ST

NE

16TH

12TH

ST N

E

21ST

ST

NE

17TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

N

16T H

ST

N

2 3RD

ST

N

18TH

ST

N

14TH

ST

NE

21ST

ST

N

22ND

ST

N

20T H

ST

N

32ND

ST

N

33R D

ST

N

35T H

ST

N

31ST

ST

N

36TH

ST

N

37TH

ST

N

13T H

ST

N

10TH AVE N

13TH

ST

NE

3RD AVE N

9TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH

ST

NE

5TH AVE N

4TH AVE N

COLORADO AVE NE

10TH AVE N

9TH AVE N 9TH AVE N

FAIRWAY DR

N STAR BLVD

VIGILANTE DR

MONTANA AVE NE

10TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH AVE N

18TH AV

E N

N RIVE

R RD

3RD

41 631

19 111

1

1

71

7 4 11 5

1

2

*January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2014

Map Legend

0 500 1,000 1,500250Feet

Study Area

Study Corridor

Railroad

City Boundary

Reference Post Crashes*1

5

10

4

5

Missouri River

14TH

ST

N

15TH

ST

N15

TH S

T N

E

RIVER DR

N

SMELTER AVE NE

25TH

ST

N

25TH AVE NE

38TH

ST

N

2 6TH

ST

N

8TH AVE N

N RIVER RD

GIANT

SPRING

S RD

7TH AVE N

CHICAGO AVE

29TH

ST

N

28T H

ST

N

27TH

ST

N

N RIVER RD

BUTTE AVE

17TH

ST

NE

34TH

ST

N

24TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

NE

30TH

ST

N

MONTANA AVE NE

19TH

ST

N

6TH AVE N

23RD

ST

NE

16TH

12TH

ST N

E

21ST

ST

NE

17TH

ST

N

19TH

ST

N

16T H

ST

N

2 3RD

ST

N

18TH

ST

N

14TH

ST

NE

21ST

ST

N

22ND

ST

N

20T H

ST

N

32ND

ST

N

33R D

ST

N

35T H

ST

N

31ST

ST

N

36TH

ST

N

37TH

ST

N

13T H

ST

N

10TH AVE N

13TH

ST

NE

3RD AVE N

9TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH

ST

NE

5TH AVE N

4TH AVE N

COLORADO AVE NE

10TH AVE N

9TH AVE N 9TH AVE N

FAIRWAY DR

N STAR BLVD

VIGILANTE DR

MONTANA AVE NE

10TH AVE N

WIRE M

ILL RD

12TH AVE N

18TH AV

E N

N RIVE

R RD

3RD

41 631

19 111

1

1

71

7 4 11 5

1

2

*January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2014

Map Legend

0 500 1,000 1,500250Feet

Study Area

Study Corridor

Railroad

City Boundary

Reference Post Crashes*1

5

10

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 20

Envi

ronm

enta

l Res

ourc

es Physical Environment• Soil Resources and Prime Farmland• Geologic Resources• Water Resources• Air Quality• Hazardous Substances

Biological Environment• Vegetation• General Wildlife• Threatened and Endangered Species• Species of Concern

Social and Cultural Environment• Population Demographics and Economics• Land Ownership• Recreational Resources• Cultural Resources• Noise• Visual Resources

Needs andObjectives

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 22

Nee

ds a

nd O

bjec

tives Need 1: Improve the Safety

of the CorridorObjectives (To the Extent Practicable)

• Reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.

• Improve roadway elements to current design criteria.

• Reduce vehicle conflicts.

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 23

Nee

ds a

nd O

bjec

tives Need 2: Accommodate

Existing and Future DemandsObjectives (To the Extent Practicable)

• Reduce corridor congestion.• Improve operations to achieve LOS

standards.• Accommodate large vehicles and

freight movements.• Accommodate non-motorized use.

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 24

Nee

ds a

nd O

bjec

tives Need 3: Minimize Adverse

Impacts to the Environmental Characteristics of the Study AreaObjectives (To the Extent Practicable)

• Minimize adverse impacts to the Missouri River and surrounding wetlands.

• Avoid or minimize adverse impacts to historic, cultural, archaeological, and recreational resources.

• Preserve the scenic character of the corridor.

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 25

Nee

ds a

nd O

bjec

tives Other Considerations

• Local and regional planning efforts• Funding availability• Construction feasibility and physical

constraints• Impacts to existing residents and

businesses in the area

RecommendedImprovement

Options

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 27

1. 15th Street North Intersection

• Extend WB right-turn lane

2. 19th Street North Intersection

• Enhanced non-motorized crossing treatment(s)S

pot I

mpr

ovem

ents

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 28

3. Big Stack Mobile Home Court Approach

• Reconstruct or relocate

4. Business District Access

• Reconstruct roadwaySpot

Impr

ovem

ents

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 29

5. 25th Street North Intersection

• Traffic signal or roundabout

Spot

Impr

ovem

ents Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,

DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo,and the GIS User Community

0 100 200 30050Feet

Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo,and the GIS User Community

0 100 200 30050Feet

Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo,and the GIS User Community

0 100 200 30050Feet

Service Layer Credits: Source: Esri,DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics,CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AEX,Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo,and the GIS User Community

0 100 200 30050Feet

For conceptual purposes only

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 30

6. Eagle Falls Golf Club Access

• New access along River Drive

7. Railroad Crossing• Diagnostics review of

crossing

Spot

Impr

ovem

ents

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 31

8. River Drive North Reconstruction

• One travel lane in each direction

• Center left-turn lane (where appropriate)

• Non-motorized accommodations

Spot

Impr

ovem

ents

Segment 1 (15th Street North to 25th Street North)

Segment 2 (25th Street North to 38th Street North)

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 32

1. Segment 1 (15th Street North to 25th Street North)

• 15th Street North – Extend WB right-turn lane

• 19th Street North – enhanced non-motorized crossing treatment

• Big Stack Mobile Home Court Approach – reconstruct or realign

• Business District Access –reconstruct

• 25th Street North – traffic signal or roundabout

• River Drive North Reconstruction

Com

bine

d O

ptio

ns

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 33

2. Segment 2 (25th Street North to 38th Street North)

• Eagle Falls Golf Club Access –new access

• River Drive North Reconstruction

Com

bine

d O

ptio

ns

Conclusion andNext Steps

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 35

Nex

t Ste

ps• Receive and consider comments on draft

corridor study report from:• Public

• Stakeholders

• Resource agencies

• Review with study planning team• Prepare final corridor study report• Post to study website, distribute, and

conclude process

Comment period runs from July 29, 2016 through August 31, 2016

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 36

Impl

emen

tatio

n• Depends on availability of funds.

• Required steps:• Identify and secure a funding source(s)• Follow MDT guidelines for project nomination

and developmentor

• Coordinate with MDT via the System Impact Action Process (SIAP)

36

River DriveCorridor

StudySlide: 37

• Comment sheets

• Study website:www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/riverdrive

• Study Contacts:Corrina CollinsMDT Project Manager(406) 444-9131ccollins@mt.gov

• Info on newsletter

Subm

it Co

mm

ents

Dave HandMDT Great FallsDistrict Administrator(406) 454-5880dhand@mt.gov