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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAppendix C - Traffic Impact Memo - 03-24-2021 130 South Howie Street Helena, Montana 59601 406-459-1443 March 24, 2021 Ryan Hudock, P.E. C&H Engineering 1091 Stoneridge Dr Bozeman, MT 59718 RE: Norton Condos/Apartments Traffic Impact Analysis Update Dear Ryan, it is my understanding that the City of Bozeman has requested an updated traffic analysis for the Fallon Apartments and Fallon Condos projects along Fallon Street in Bozeman. The Fallon Apartments consist of two apartment buildings totaling 36 units and the Fallon Condos consists of 8 buildings totaling 22 units which were originally part of the Norton East Ranch Phase 4 development. The City has requested an analysis of the specific impacts of these projects as they relate to the overall traffic analysis which was performed for this section of property with the original 2017 Norton East Ranch Phase 4 Residential/ Commercial Subdivision Traffic Impact Study and the most recent January 2021 Norton East Ranch Commercial Area Traffic Impact/Signal Warrant Study, both prepared by ATS. The 2017 Norton East Ranch Phase 4 TIS assumed that the overall development would include up to 96 residential apartment units plus commercial space. The 2021 Norton East Ranch Commercial Area Traffic Impact/Signal Warrant Study increased the residential portion of the project to 306 apartment and condominium units which would be constructed over the next 10 years. The Norton East Ranch Commercial Area would also include a new connection to Huffine Lane at Laurel Parkway which would be signalized. These two residential projects would account for 58 of the anticipated 306 residential (19%) units anticipated for this area and would account for a total of 315 daily vehicle trips (3%) of the projected 10,000 daily vehicle trips that the Norton East Ranch Commercial Area will ultimately produce. Peak-hour traffic generation from these two residential projects will be 21 AM peak-hour trips and 26 PM peak hour trips (2-3 minutes between peak-hour vehicle trips), which would not create any traffic concerns at the approaches to the two projects or the intersection of Fallon Street and Pond Lily Drive. Most of the traffic from the Fallon Apartments and Fallon Condos would use Fallon Street to the east to connect with Cottonwood Road. Based on 2020 traffic counts conducted by ATS, the intersection of Fallon Street with Cottonwood Road is currently operating at LOS C in the morning and evening peak traffic periods. The 2017 TIS for this project area did not anticipate any traffic issues at the nearby intersection or recommend any roadway improvements with the project. The new 2021 Norton East Ranch Commercial Area Traffic Impact/Signal Warrant Study projected the LOS at the intersection of Fallon Street with Cottonwood Road will fall to LOS E and LOS F with the construction of the proposed developments east of Cottonwood Road (Town & Country grocery store, Icon Apartments, and Ferguson Farm II). These LOS issues were identified in previous reports for projects in this area including the 2019 Ferguson Farm II TIS and the Icon Apartments TIS. The Icon Apartments did not recommend any specific mitigation measures 2 for the intersection with Cottonwood Road and suggested that a higher form a traffic control at this location would not be needed with that project. With the additional traffic from Ferguson Farm II and the Town & Country grocery store, it is likely that a signal will be needed at the intersection of Cottonwood Road and Fallon Street to meet future traffic demands. The City of Bozeman should determine if a new traffic signal at the intersection of Fallon Street and Cottonwood Road fits with the overall corridor development plans for Cottonwood Road. Generally, traffic signals in this area are located at ½ mile spacing, which provides effective vehicle progression through the network of existing traffic signals. The distance from Fallon Street to the Huffine Lane and Babcock Street traffic signals is ¼ mile. Adding a mid-distance traffic signal is acceptable if needed, but all traffic signals ultimately decrease the roadway capacity on the main route (Cottonwood Road). If the City of Bozeman wants to maintain Cottonwood Road as a major north/south arterial route, the number of traffic signals allowed along the corridor will need to be limited. A traffic signal at Fallon Street would be more consistent with the major commercial routes in Bozeman along 19th Avenue and Main Street. Additionally, the east side of Fallon Street may need to be widened at the intersection to provide enough room for left-turn lanes at a traffic signal and the mailboxes along the north side of Fallon Street near the intersection would need to be moved to prevent interruptions in traffic flow if the intersection is signalized. If a traffic signal was erected at this location, the LOS would improve to B. Traffic from the Fallon Apartments and Fallon Condos would account for approximately 1-2% of the future traffic volumes at this intersection. Overall, we feel that the traffic impact studies for the 2017 Norton East Ranch Phase 4 Residential/Commercial Subdivision and the recent January 2021 Norton East Ranch Commercial Area Traffic Impact/Signal Warrant Study accurately accounted for the projected traffic from the 58 residential units proposed at the Fallon Apartments and Fallon Condos. However, the continued growth which has occurred in this area over the last four years and the other planned projects in this area have changed the projected traffic volumes and roadway improvements needs in this area since the projects were originally studied in 2017. The potential need for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Fallon Street and Cottonwood Road should be discussed with the City with the understanding that the need for this signal is primarily tied to the overall development plans for this area and the Fallon Apartments and Fallon Condos would only account for 1-2% of the projected traffic at this intersection. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact me at 406-459-1443. Sincerely, Bob Abelin, P.E. PTOE Abelin Traffic Services, Inc.