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• To: Matk Roffers,Senior Manner From John Norwell,Commissione F Date: March 10,1998 i.( ,o m Subject: Transportation Issues Related to Proposal for 44 unit Residential/Commercial Pro, ect,Town f Westport, ick Ladopoulos D.C. PLANNING&DEVELOPMENT We have provided answers to the following questions for the ZNR Committee. PROPERTY RECORDS 1. What is the nature of the intersection improvements requested(i.e.,what does a type n oo e . ._ About how much would construction of two such intersections cost? Attached are drawings from the State of Wisconsin Facilities Manual(S.D.D. 9A 1-10a,S.D.D.9A1-10b)which details the design. Also included are the standards in the Facilities Development Manual that show the criteria for their selection (Procedure 11-5-1,and Figure 5). We are recommending the installation of two Type B1 intersections with a passing lane for each of the intersections. We are estimating each intersection with passing lane to be approximately$40,000 each. If one of the entrances to Willow Drive were eliminated the developer's cost would be reduced 50%. (These are construction estimates only,and do not include costs associated with engineering and traffic control.) 2. What are the reasons for recommending these intersection improvements? The reasons for the recommendations are to safely accommodate the movements in and out of the proposed development, while maintaining the through traffic on CTH"M". The turn lanes allow for safer and quicker exits and entrances to the main highway. The passing lane installations allow room for left hand turns while still allowing uninterrupted through movements in a westerly direction on CTH"M". The passing lanes also help reduce passing on right movements on the shoulders,and rear end accident collisions for left turning vehicles. We took some traffic counts on Willow Drive this last week. Those counts show approximately 400 vehicles per day on the west leg to CTH M,and 200 on the east leg to CTH M. The information provided by McDonald indicates that the additional trips to CTH M would be approximately 1,150 vehicles or almost double the existing traffic count of this last week. The existing traffic volume on CTH M is approximately 16,000 cars an extremely high volume for a 2-lane highway. The highway is already congested in peak hours. The additional passing lane and turn lanes are therefore needed to help soften the additional traffic load and to continue to provide safe access and egress to this area. 3. Can we critically analyze the"Yahara Crossing Centre traffic analysis," presented by Mr. Ladopoulos and attached? Are the numbers and conclusions reasonable? We support Bob McDonald's comments. The Yahara information is not accurate,and we support Bob McDonald's analysis. (See McDonald's comments). We are concerned on the analysis not reflecting the name of the traffic engineer or engineer responsible for the analysis. The author of the document is not noted by the developer. 4. What is existing/projected traffic along CTH"M"? How does that compare with design capacity? How does traffic impact the ability to safely access CTH M from Willow Road? See the information provided by Bob McDonald. The present highway at peak hours is near design capacity for a two-lane highway. The level of service in the peak hour for CTH M is presently near a Level of Service"D". It is near or at the design capacity,and any additional side road traffic will exasperate the congestion at peak hours. Providing safe intersections with passing lanes will reduce congestion problems,and provide a safety factor for vehicles entering and exiting the development. 5. What capacity or intersection improvements to CTH M are currently programmed or in the long-range plan? We are presently investigating with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation some interim safety improvements with key intersections with CTH M between STH 113 and Middleton. Those would involve signal installations and turn lanes at some of the major intersections such as CTH K and Woodland Drive. Those possible interim improvements are under consideration, and no actual dates for construction have been set. The Dane County Transportation Improvement Program(TIP) has noted some improvements in the 2002-2006 time frame. It is our opinion the improvements would be in the later years of that projected timetable. These improvements are needed to accommodate safe entrance and exit to CTH"M". Please call me if you have any questions on the information that is included in our comments. Attachments c: Bob McDonald,RPC 3/10/98 h:\commis\corresp\co_exec\drafts\zoningl.doc