comparative traffic study morrisville-carpenter road versus crabtree crossing extension

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Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus Crabtree Crossing Extension Presentation to: Morrisville Town Council Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff May 8, 2006

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Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus Crabtree Crossing Extension. Presentation to: Morrisville Town Council Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff May 8, 2006. Study Area. Analysis & Conclusions. Analysis developed to compare two projects - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Comparative Traffic StudyMorrisville-Carpenter Road versus

Crabtree Crossing Extension

Presentation to: Morrisville Town Council

Prepared by: Parsons Brinckerhoff

May 8, 2006

Page 2: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Study Area

Page 3: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Analysis & Conclusions

Analysis developed to compare two projects 4 roadway scenarios investigated – No Build, Widen M-C

Road only, Crabtree Crossing Only, Build Both Projects 2008 AM and PM peaks were investigated due to differing

traffic patterns and to focus on operations in relative near term Combination of intersection analysis, arterial analysis, and

network efficiency analysis were conducted.

For each of these analyses, two primary conclusions: Widen M-C Road better in PM, Crabtree Crossing better in

AM NC 54 at M-C Road is critical intersection and severely

congested

Page 4: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Crabtree Crossing RoadAdvantages Performs better in AM

MC Road NC 54 signal Network efficiency

Improves Roadway Connectivity Diverts Traffic from NC 54

Disadvantages Requires left turn to be added on

Morrisville-Carpenter Road Performance improvement results

from diversion (less reliable since I-40 diversion to NC 54 could occur)

More expensive (approx. $8.5 million not including E Street)

Other Issues Four leg intersection requires

signal at Town Hall Drive E Street or Carolina Avenue not

required

Page 5: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Widen Morrisville-Carpenter RdAdvantages Performs better in PM

MC Road NC 54 signal Network efficiency

Performs better during non-peak Serves more traffic (18,000 vpd vs.

6,500 vpd) Reduces neighborhood cut-thru traffic Shorter eastbound queue Serves more local east-west traffic Signal not required at Town Hall Less expensive Median improves safety at Church St

Disadvantages Requires connection to Franklin-

Upchurch Rd due to median Median restricts access at Church

Street

Other Issues Less expensive (approx. $7.3 million

including E Street) Median requires E Street or Carolina

Avenue Fire Station can operate during &

after construction (if TTA not built) Potential NCDOT project in very

long term

CONCLUSION: WIDEN MORRISVILLE-CARPENTER ROAD FIRST

Page 6: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

NC 54 Intersection Operations

Improvement Average Delay per Vehicle Comments

AM PM

No Build LOS F

108.8 s

LOS F

166.2 s

Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Road Only

LOS F

86.0 s

(20% less)

LOS F

105.3 s

(37% less)

Build First, improvements on two of four approaches,

$7.3 M with E Street

Build Crabtree Crossing Only LOS E

63.7 s

(41% less)

LOS F

117.0 s

(30% less)

Depends on NC 54 diversion, $8.5 M

Build Both LOS E

55.0 s

(50% less)

LOS F

83.6 s

(50% less)

Total $15.8 M with E Street

Page 7: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

How Can NC 54 Intersection be Improved? EXPANDED ANALYSIS - PRELIMINARY Even with the widening of Morrisville-Carpenter Road, LOS F operations can be expected at the NC 54/ M-C Road intersection Therefore, wanted to investigate if additional widening could be done at the NC 54 intersection as part of widening

ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO CONSIDER NC 54 northbound – Add right turn and lengthen left turn bay, approx. $600,000 plus ROW Convert new M-C eastbound right turn to shared thru-right, requires widening east of intersection, non-standard rail gates, approx. $900,000 with short extension

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS Improvements reduced delays in AM but reduced impact in PM Impacts would include at least three relocations, including historical structures. There is potential for additional intersection improvements being effective. Additional simulation analysis with new traffic counts would be needed, however. In addition, impacts would need reviewed.

Page 8: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension
Page 9: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

NC 54 Intersection Improvements - PRELIMINARY

Improvement Delay Reduction Comments

AM PM

Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Road Only

Add EB right 15.2% 24.7% Best improvement AM & PM

Add SB right 1.4% 10.8% Needed for RR preemption

Additional Improvements to Consider

Historical home & others impacted

Add NB right / extend NB left 15.7% 0.4%

(NB NC 54 improves 15%, EB MC Road improves 10% )

Primary impact in AM, NB left is causing queues in thru lanes

Convert EB right to thru/right 4.1% 0.5% Minimal impact in PM, reduces AM eastbound queue

Long Term Improvements

Add WB thru 7.5% 11.1% Requires 2nd WB lane over tracks, RR approval unlikely

Widen NC 54 12.0% 18.8% Very expensive, not identified as long term project

Page 10: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Comparison of Crabtree Crossing vs. Additional

Improvements - PRELIMINARY Improvement Average Delay per Vehicle Comments

AM PM

No Build 108.8 s 166.2 s

Widen Morrisville-Carpenter Road Only ($5.8 M)

86.0 s

(20% less than NB)

105.3 s (37% less than NB)

Build First

Possible Second Project

Build M-C Road & Crabtree Crossing

($8.5 M)

55.0 s

(50% less)

83.6 s

(50% less)

More congestion relief, more expensive, based on assumed diversion

Widen M-C Road & Additional Improvements ($1.5 M plus ROW)

66.2 s

(39% less)

104.0 s (38% less)

AM relief but minimal PM relief, historic home & others impacted, less congestion relief, less expensive

Page 11: Comparative Traffic Study Morrisville-Carpenter Road versus  Crabtree Crossing Extension

Impact of Additional Improvements -

PRELIMINARY Including the additional improvements reduces AM delays an additional 20% but has little impact in the PM peak. (Note: Simulation indicates PM peak delays are reduced 10% - 15% for NC 54 northbound and M-C Road eastbound.) Improvements do not significantly reduce eastbound queues in downtown, but do reduce queues on NC 54 northbound (in both AM and PM peak). Additional improvements would require:

Up to 3 relocations along NC 54 (including historical structures)Stream crossing requiring special permits on Aviation Parkway

Conceptual cost approx. $1.5 M plus ROW Overlaps NCDOT project U-3343.

Conclusion: There is potential for additional intersection improvements being effective. Additional simulation analysis would be needed, however. Note: Traffic analysis based on adjusted 2003 traffic counts. More detailed analysis to focus on intersection details would benefit from new traffic counts.