FREEWAY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES: PHYSICAL DESIGN, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Transcription

1 Finl Drft s Approved by Technicl Subcommittee SEWRPC Plnning Report No. 7 A REGIONAL FREEWAY RECONSTRUCTION SYSTEM PLAN FOR SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN Chpter V FREEWAY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND DEFICIENCIES: PHYSICAL DESIGN, TRAFFIC SAFETY, AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION INTRODUCTION This chpter will describe for ech freewy segment nd for the freewy system s whole, its existing nd potentil future trffic problems nd deficiencies. The physicl design deficiencies of ech segment of the freewy system will be determined by identifying those elements of the freewy system which do not currently meet ccepted modern freewy design stndrds. Also, trffic sfety problems on ech segment of the freewy system will be identified by reviewing the number nd rte of trffic ccidents over the pst three yers. The existing nd potentil future trffic congestion problems on the freewy system will be identified, including tht trffic congestion which my be expected to remin even upon implementtion of other trnsporttion system improvement nd expnsion s clled for in the dopted regionl trnsporttion pln. Some of the deficiencies of the current freewy system which will be identified in this chpter exist due to the dvncement in knowledge bout freewy opertions nd design which hs been chieved since the time of originl freewy construction, nd the evolution of modern freewy design criteri. Others my exist becuse the originl plnned freewy system, s shown on Mp 5-1, ws never completed. FREEWAY SYSTEM PHYSICAL DESIGN DEFICIENCIES Freewy Design Stndrds The extent to which the physicl chrcteristics of ech segment of the freewy system meets modern freewy design stndrds ws determined by compring the physicl design chrcteristics of ech freewy segment to

2 E ZOO STADIUM Mp 5-1 ORIGINAL PLANNED REGIONAL FREEWAY SYSTEM AND EXISTING FREEWAY SYSTEM FREEWAY U S H 1 8 PLANNED FREEWAY DESIGNYEAR 1990 EXISTING FREEWAYS YEAR 2001 NUMBER OF LANES 5 FOND DU LAC U S H WEST BEND FREEWAY FREEWAY STADIUM NORTH- SOUTH FREEWAY EAST- WEST BAY FR FREEWAY E E WAY U S H 1 IH 9 BELT WAY E FR BAY FREEWAY U S H 5 FREEWAY 8 FREEWAY PARK FREEWAY AIRPORT FREEWAY WAY AIRPORT SPUR FREEWAY GRAPHIC SCALE MILES BELT FREEWAY FREE U S H 12 FREEWAY FREEWAY LAKE RACINE LOOP FREEWAY ROCK U S H 12 I H 9 NORTH- SOUTH The originl plnned freewy system is the recommended freewy system in the Southestern Wisconsin Regionl Plnning Commission s design yer 1990 lnd use nd trnsporttion plns which were completed in 19. Source: SEWRPC. 1

3 modern freewy design stndrds. The primry sources for these design stndrds were the Americn Assocition of Stte Highwy nd Trnsporttion Officil s (AASHTO) report entitled A Policy on Geometric Design Stndrds of Highwys nd Streets nd the Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion s (WisDOT) Fcilities Development Mnul. The design stndrds re defined in Tble 5-1 nd include: Verticl Curvture Stopping Sight Distnce Horizontl Curvture Verticl Alignment Lne Width Shoulder Width Lne Blnce nd Route Continuity Entrnce/Exit Rmp Spcing Verticl Clernce, nd Weving The design stndrds of verticl curvture stopping sight distnce, horizontl curvture, shoulder width, lne blnce nd route continuity, nd weving include both desirble stndrds nd minimum stndrds. The design stndrds of verticl lignment, lne width, entrnce/exit rmp spcing, nd verticl clernce include only one stndrd which is both the desirble nd minimum stndrd. Design stndrds re provided for both 70 miles per hour freewy design speed nd 0 miles per hour freewy design speed. The existing freewy system in Milwukee County ws principlly designed nd constructed with 0 miles per hour design speed; therefore, the design stndrds for 0 miles per hour design speed were pplied in Milwukee County for the identifiction of freewy design deficiencies. The existing freewy system in the other six counties of the southestern Wisconsin Region ws principlly designed nd constructed with 70 miles per hour design speed; therefore, the design stndrds for 70 miles per hour design speed were pplied in these six counties. However, design stndrds relted to lne width, shoulder width, lne blnce nd route continuity, verticl clernce, entrnce/exit rmp spcing nd weving do not vry with design speed. Only the design stndrds of verticl curvture stopping sight distnce, horizontl curvture, nd verticl lignment vry with design speed. In ddition to these physicl design stndrds, design guideline for interchnge spcing ws defined. The design stndrds were pplied to ech freewy segment to determine design deficiencies. The interchnge spcing design guideline ws pplied to ech freewy segment to identify those segments of freewy with less thn desirble or minimum interchnge spcing which my be expected to ffect freewy opertions. 2

4 Tble 5-1 FREEWAY DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN REGIONAL FREEWAY SYSTEM Stndrd Level Design Speed of 70 Miles Per Hour Design Speed of 0 Miles per Hour b Verticl Curvture Stopping Sight Distnce Provide dequte sight distnce to observe n obstcle locted on the freewy in crest or sg curve nd rect nd stop your vehicle in sfe nd comfortble mnner prior to reching the Desirble Crest-rte of verticl curvture of 50 or more. Sg-rte of verticl curvture of 220 or more. obstcle. Minimum Crest-rte of verticl curvture of 290 or more. Sg-rte of verticl curvture of 150 or more. Crest-rte of verticl curvture of 310 or more. Sg-rte of verticl curvture of 10 or more. Crest-rte of verticl curvture of 190 or more. Sg-rte of verticl curvture of 120 or more. Horizontl Curvture Desirble No more thn 2 00 of curvture No more thn 3 00 of curvture Avoid shrp curves so trvel cn be mde sfely t design speeds. Minimum No more thn 2 5 of curvture No more thn 15 of curvture Verticl Alignment (Grde) Avoid steep grdes to mximize sight distnce, permit design speeds to be chieved by ll types of vehicles, nd minimize vritions in vehicle speeds. Provide some grde to fcilitte dringe. Lne Width Provide dequte width of trvel lne to llow for sfe nd comfortble driving. Desirble/Minimum No more thn 2.5% nd no less thn 0.5% No more thn 3.0% nd no less thn 0.5% Desirble/Minimum 12 feet 12 feet Shoulder Width Desirble 12 feet 12 feet Provide dequte width to shelter stopped vehicle Minimum 10 feet 10 feet Lne Blnce nd Route Continuity Lne blnce would mintin the number of lnes provided over freewy, nd prticulrly the number of lnes provided through interchnges would be consistent with the number of lnes pproching the interchnge. Route continuity would provide directionl pth through n interchnge which delinetes the mjor route nd minimizes the need for lne chnges to follow the mjor route. Entrnce/Exit Rmp Spcing Provide dequte distnce between freewy rmps mesured from rmp nose to rmp nose to llow trffic to merge with, nd diverge from, the freewy minline without impeding djcent freewy rmp trffic or freewy minline trffic. Desirble Minimum Route continuity nd lne blnce chieved Route continuity not chieved, but lne blnce chieved Route continuity nd lne blnce chieved Desirble/Minimum 200 feet or more 200 feet or more Route continuity not chieved, but lne blnce chieved 2

5 Tble 5-1 (continued) Stndrd Level Design Speed of 70 Miles Per Hour Design Speed of 0 Miles per Hour b Verticl Clernce Minimum height of bridges over the freewy mesured from the pvement to the bottom of freewy overpsses. Weve Segments Stretches of freewy where two or more trffic strems must cross ech other or chnge lnes between djcent merge nd diverge points. Desirble/Minimum 1 feet c 1 feet c Desirble Minimum No left hnd rmps or left lne drops, nd desirble spcing of freewy system nd service interchnge rmp noses of 2800 feet nd freewy service interchnge rmp noses of 200 feet. No left hnd rmps or left lne drops, nd minimum spcing of freewy system nd service interchnge rmp noses of 2000 feet nd freewy service interchnge rmp noses of 100 feet. No left hnd rmps or left lne drops, nd desirble spcing of freewy system nd service interchnge rmp noses of 2800 feet nd freewy service interchnge rmp noses of 200 feet. No left hnd rmps or left lne drops, nd minimum spcing of freewy system nd service interchnge rmp noses of 2000 feet nd freewy service interchnge rmp noses of 100 feet. Guideline Level Design Speed of 70 Miles Per Hour Design Speed of 0 Miles per Hour b Interchnge Spcing Provide dequte distnce between djcent interchnges to minimize the impct on freewy minline opertions of merging, diverging, nd weving movements ttendnt to freewy interchnges. Desirble Minimum 5 miles d 2 miles d 2 miles d 1.0 mile d Applied to freewy segments in ll counties in the Region except Milwukee County. b Applied to ll freewy segments in Milwukee County. c The minimum verticl clernce for signs nd pedestrin bridges over freewy is 17 feet. d Interchnge spcing cn be reduced if uxiliry lnes re provided. Source: Americn Assocition of Stte Highwy nd Trnsporttion Officils nd Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. 2b

6 The identifiction of design deficiencies ddresses the physicl design problems on the freewy minline including the connections of freewy interchnge rmps with the minline freewy. The design problems of individul freewy interchnges, including their connections with the surfce rteril street system, hve not been identified in this nlysis. These design problems include the briding of freewy on-nd off-rmps with freewy frontge rods in Kenosh nd Rcine Counties. This prticulr design problem ws ddressed in preliminry engineering study completed by the Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion in the lte 1990 s. Freewy System Physicl Design Deficiencies Physicl design deficiencies were identified for ech segment of the freewy system by compring the design chrcteristics of ech freewy segment to the modern freewy design stndrds. Mps for ech segment nd system interchnge of the freewy system depicting the extent to which ech freewy segment nd system interchnge meets ech design stndrd re provided in Appendix A. Figure 5-1 summrizes the extent to which ech freewy segment nd system interchnge meet or do not meet ech design stndrd, nd the ttendnt physicl design deficiencies of ech freewy segment with respect to ech stndrd. The findings of this nlysis of the physicl existing design deficiencies of the freewy system, s further summrized on Mp 5-2, indictes tht: Mny of the oldest freewy segments, predominntly in Milwukee County, do not meet number of modern design stndrds for much of their length. Mny older freewy segments, in outlying counties, generlly meet the modern design stndrds with the exception of one or two stndrds t isolted loctions. A number of freewy segments t the fr outlying portions of the Region fully meet ll design stndrds. TRAFFIC SAFETY PROBLEMS The trffic sfety problems of the existing freewy system were ssessed by nlyzing the trffic crsh, or ccident, history of the freewy system over recent three yer period of 199, 1997, nd The trffic crsh rte for ech one-tenth mile segment of the 272 mile regionl freewy system ws estimted for the three yer period. The estimted trffic crsh rte, expressed s the number of crshes per 100 million vehicle-miles for ech freewy segment, ws compred to both the regionl freewy system verge crsh rtes nd the verge crsh rte for freewys within the county within which the freewy segment ws locted. Those freewy segments with crsh rtes which exceeded the regionl verge crsh rte, nd/or which exceeded their county 3

7 Figure 5-1 SUMMARY OF PHYSICAL DESIGN DEFICIENCIES OF THE FREEWAY SYSTEM OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN KEY: The portion of cell colored specific color represents the pproximte proportion of the segment s length clssified s meeting or not meeting desirble nd minimum stndrds. Meets Desirble Stndrd Meets Minimum Stndrd Does Not Meet Either Stndrd Dt Not Avilble t this Time Not Applicble to System Interchnges Freewy Segment Reference Number (See Mp Fcility/ A-1) Fcilities Description 1 IH 9 Illinois Stte Line to STH 158 Verticl Curvture Approximte Extent of Freewy Segment Meeting or Not Meeting Desirble nd Minimum Stndrds Lne Verticl Blnce Entrnce/ Horizontl Alignment Shoulder nd Route Verticl Exit Rmp Curvture (Grde) Width Continuity Clernce b Spcing Lne Width Weve Segments 2 IH 9 STH 20 to STH IH 9 Rcine/ Milwukee Co. Line to STH 20 IH 9 Mitchell Interchnge to Rcine Co. Line 5 IH 3/9 Mrquette Interchnge to Mitchell Interchnge IH 89 Hle Interchnge to Mitchell Interchnge 7 IH 89 Zoo Interchnge to Hle Interchnge 8 IH 9 Zoo Interchnge to Mrquette Interchnge 3

8 Freewy Segment Reference Number (See Mp Fcility/ A-1) Fcilities Description 9 USH 1/ Ntionl Avenue STH 31 to Lisbon Avenue Verticl Curvture Figure 5-1 (continued) Approximte Extent of Freewy Segment Meeting or Not Meeting Desirble nd Minimum Stndrds Lne Verticl Blnce Entrnce/ Horizontl Alignment Shoulder nd Route Verticl Exit Rmp Curvture (Grde) Width Continuity Clernce b Spcing Lne Width Weve Segments 10 IH 3 Silver Spring Drive to the Mrquette Interchnge 11 IH 3 STH 17/57 to Silver Spring Drive 12 IH 3 STH 0/ Ozukee CTH Q to STH 17/ STH IH 3 Ozukee CTH P to STH 0 1 IH 3 Ozukee CTH P to Ozukee/ Sheboygn Co. Line 15 IH 3 Wukesh CTH Y to the Hle Interchnge 1 IH 3 STH 83 to Wukesh CTH Y 17 IH 3 STH 120 to STH IH 3 USH 12 to STH IH 3 STH 50 to USH 12 3b

9 Freewy Segment Reference Number (See Mp Fcility/ A-1) Fcilities Description 20 IH 3 Wlworth/ Rock Co. Line to STH 50 Verticl Curvture Figure 5-1 (continued) Approximte Extent of Freewy Segment Meeting or Not Meeting Desirble nd Minimum Stndrds Lne Verticl Blnce Entrnce/ Horizontl Alignment Shoulder nd Route Verticl Exit Rmp Curvture (Grde) Width Continuity Clernce b Spcing Lne Width Weve Segments 21 USH 12 IH 3 to STH USH 12 STH 120 to Illinois Stte Line 23 IH 9 Wukesh CTH Y to the Zoo Interchnge 2 IH 9 STH 1 to Wukesh CTH Y 2 IH 9 STH 83 to Wukesh STH 1 25 IH 9 Jefferson/ Wukesh Co. Line to STH 83 2 STH 1 Wukesh CTH KE to IH 9 27 STH 1 Wukesh CTH KE to Wukesh CTH R 28 USH 5 Zoo Interchnge to STH USH 5 STH 100 to North Interchnge 3c

10 Freewy Segment Reference Number (See Mp Fcility/ A-1) Fcilities Description 30 STH 15 North Interchnge to 8th Street Verticl Curvture Figure 5-1 (continued) Approximte Extent of Freewy Segment Meeting or Not Meeting Desirble nd Minimum Stndrds Lne Verticl Blnce Entrnce/ Horizontl Alignment Shoulder nd Route Verticl Exit Rmp Curvture (Grde) Width Continuity Clernce b Spcing Lne Width Weve Segments 31 USH North 1/5 Interchnge to USH 1/5 Interchnge 32 USH 5 USH 1/ 5 Interchnge to Wshington CTH D 33 USH 1 Wshington CTH K to USH 5 3 USH 1 Wshington CTH K to Wshington/ Dodge Co. Line 35 STH 119 IH 9 to Estern Terminus 3 IH 79 Mrquette Interchnge to Crferry Drive 50 IH 9/ Zoo IH 89/ Interchnge USH 5 51 IH 3/ Mrquette IH 9/ Interchnge c IH IH 3/ Hle IH 89/ Interchnge USH 5 53 IH 3/ Mitchell IH 9/ Interchnge IH 89 3d

11 Freewy Segment Reference Number (See Mp Fcility/ A-1) Fcilities Description 5 USH 1/ North USH 5/ Interchnge STH 15 Verticl Curvture Figure 5-1 (continued) Approximte Extent of Freewy Segment Meeting or Not Meeting Desirble nd Minimum Stndrds Lne Verticl Blnce Entrnce/ Horizontl Alignment Shoulder nd Route Verticl Exit Rmp Curvture (Grde) Width Continuity Clernce b Spcing Lne Width Weve Segments 55 USH 1/ USH 1/ USH 5 USH 5 Interchnge 5 IH 9/ IH 9/ STH 1 STH 1 Interchnge 57 IH 3/ IH 3/ USH 12 USH 12 Interchnge 58 IH 9/ IH 8/ STH 119 STH 119 Airport Interchnge 59 IH 9/ Stdium USH 1/ Interchnge STH 31 Identifiction of design deficiencies bsed on criteri included in Tble 5-1. The extent of ech of the freewy segment meeting or not meeting the minimum or desirble stndrds is displyed on the mps included in Appendix A. b The extent of ech segment meeting or not meeting the minimum stndrd for verticl clernce pplies only to the extent of structures present within ech segment. c Dt for the Mrquette Interchnge is not presented here becuse tht system interchnge is being considered by seprte study. Source: SEWRPC. 3e

12 Mp 5-2 EXISTING FREEWAY SYSTEM PHYSICAL DESIGN DEFICIENCIES: 2000 FREEWAY SEGMENTS SEGMENT WITH A NUMBER OF DESIGN DEFICIENCIES OVER MUCH OF ITS LENGTH SEGMENT WITH DESIGN DEFICIENCIES AT ISOLATED LOCATIONS SEGMENT WHICH FULLY OR NEARLY FULLY MEETS THE DESIGN STANDARDS DATA NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME SYSTEM INTERCHANGES INTERCHANGE WITH A NUMBER OF DESIGN DEFICIENCIES INTERCHANGE WITH ONE DESIGN DEFICIENCY DATA NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME INTERCHANGE BEING ADDRESSED BY SEPARATE STUDY GRAPHIC SCALE MILES A system interchnge is n interchnge between segments of the regionl freewy system. Source: SEWRPC. 3f

13 freewy verge crsh rte were considered to experience trffic sfety problems which my wrrnt considertion during the review of freewy redesign lterntives. The verge freewy crsh rtes within southestern Wisconsin nd within ech of the seven counties of southestern Wisconsin re shown on Figure 5-2. Only the Milwukee County freewy crsh rte, 10 crshes per 100 million vehicle-miles, is greter thn the Region verge freewy crsh rte of 77 crshes per 100 million vehicle-miles. Mp 5-3 displys those freewy segments within southestern Wisconsin with verge trffic crsh rtes which exceed the regionl verge freewy crsh rte. Within ech county there re freewy segments which exceed the regionl verge crsh rte. Mps 5- through 5-10 disply for ech of the seven counties those freewy segments which exceed the verge crsh rte for freewys within ech county. Freewy segments with trffic crsh problems my be considered to be those which exceed the regionl freewy system verge crsh rte nd/or their county freewy system verge crsh rte. The trffic crsh rtes for the southestern Wisconsin freewy system my be compred to sttewide highwy crsh rtes. The trffic crsh rtes for federl interstte freewys locted in urbn res in Wisconsin is n estimted 10 crshes per 100 million vehicle-miles, nd for ll other interstte freewys is 7 crshes per 100 million vehicle-miles. TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS This section will document the existing trffic congestion on the freewy system of southestern Wisconsin. Historic levels of trffic congestion on the freewy system will lso be presented for comprison to the existing level nd to document the historic trend in the growth of freewy trffic congestion in southestern Wisconsin. Also, the estimted current nd historic levels of freewy system trffic congestion will be compred to forecst future yer 2020 levels of freewy trffic congestion. Freewy trffic congestion cn be clssified into three levels s follows: Extreme Trffic Congestion Freewy speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour or less. Brekdown of freewy trffic flow with stop-nd-go, bumper-to-bumper trffic. No bility to mneuver or chnge lnes. Defined s level of service F.

14 Figure 5-2 FREEWAY CRASH RATES WITHIN THE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN REGION: CRASH RATE (CRASHES PER 100 MILLION VEHICLE MILES) REGION KENOSHA COUNTY MILWAUKEE COUNTY OZAUKEE COUNTY RACINE COUNTY WALWORTH COUNTY WASHINGTON COUNTY WAUKESHA COUNTY The verge freewy crsh rte for the six counties of the Southestern Wisconsin Region except Milwukee County is 51 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion.

15 Mp 5-3 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM WITHIN THE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN REGION: CRASH RATES PER 100 MILLION VEHICLE MILES 7.9 OR LESS OR GREATER GRAPHIC SCALE MILES The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in southestern Wisconsin from 199 through 1998 ws 7.9 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. b

16 Mp 5- CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN KENOSHA COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Kenosh County from 199 through 1998 ws 70. crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. c

17 Mp 5-5 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Milwukee County from 199 through 1998 ws 10.1 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. d

18 Mp 5- CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN OZAUKEE COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Ozukee County from 199 through 1998 ws 53.5 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. e

19 Mp 5-7 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN RACINE COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Rcine County from 199 through 1998 ws 1.3 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. f

20 Mp 5-8 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN WALWORTH COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Wlworth County from 199 through 1998 ws 0.3 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. GRAPHIC SCALE MILES g

21 Mp 5-9 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN WASHINGTON COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Wshington County from 199 through 1998 ws 52.8 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. h

22 Mp 5-10 CRASH RATES ON THE FREEWAY SYSTEM IN WAUKESHA COUNTY: COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 1% TO 50% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE 51% TO 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE MORE THAN 100% ABOVE COUNTYWIDE FREEWAY AVERAGE The verge crsh rte on the freewy system in Wukesh County from 199 through 1998 ws 3.7 crshes per 100 million vehicle miles. Source: Wisconsin Deprtment of Trnsporttion. GRAPHIC SCALE MILES i

23 Severe Trffic Congestion Freewy speeds reduced bout 5 to 15 mph below typicl freewy free-flow speed. Extremely limited mneuverbility. No gps in trffic strem to ccommodte lne chnging or vehicles entering the freewy. Minor disruptions such s multiple vehicles entering the freewy or vehicles prked on the side of the freewy will result in brekdown of freewy trffic flow with stop-nd-go trffic. Trffic volumes t 81 to 100 percent of mximum trffic crrying cpcity. Defined s level of service E. Moderte Trffic Congestion Minor reduction in speeds of up to 5 mph. Freedom to mneuver or chnge lnes is substntilly limited. Minor disruptions, such s multiple vehicles entering the freewy or vehicles prked on the side of the freewy, will result in brekdown of freewy trffic flow nd stop-nd-go trffic. Trffic volumes t to 80 percent of mximum trffic crrying cpcity. Defined s level of service D. Tble 5-2 further describes these three levels of trffic congestion. The estimted existing yer 1999 level of freewy trffic congestion in southestern Wisconsin is displyed on Mp 5-11 nd summrized in Tble-5-3. This existing level of freewy system trffic congestion ws estimted by reviewing freewy hourly verge trffic speeds, verge trffic densities, nd trffic volumes by segment of the freewy system for ech hour of n verge weekdy in Approximtely 27 miles of freewy, or 10 percent of the freewy system, experience extreme trffic congestion for pproximtely one hour in ech direction on n verge weekdy, nd n dditionl three hours of severe trffic congestion in ech direction on n verge weekdy. These 27 miles of freewy lso experience n dditionl four hours of moderte trffic congestion on n verge weekdy, representing for these 27 miles totl of pproximtely eight hours of trffic congestion on n verge weekdy. Another 2 miles of freewy, or bout nine percent of the system, experience pproximtely one hour in ech direction of severe trffic congestion ech weekdy, nd n dditionl two hours of moderte trffic congestion in ech direction on n verge weekdy for totl of bout three hours of trffic congestion on n verge weekdy. Another 12 miles of freewy, or bout four percent of the totl system, experience totl of pproximtely two hours of trffic congestion on n verge weekdy in ech direction, ll of which re moderte congestion. All of these currently congested freewys re locted in Milwukee nd Wukesh Counties. 5

24 Tble 5-2 DESCRIPTION OF LEVELS OF FREEWAY TRAFFIC OPERATION AND CONGESTION Averge Hourly Freewy Trffic Conditions Level of Trffic Congestion Level of Service Rtio of Hourly Trffic Volume to Mximum Hourly Trffic Averge Freewy Speed None A nd B Freewy free flow speed None C to 2 mph below freewy free flow speed Moderte D Up to 5 mph below freewy free flow speed Severe E to 15 mph below freewy free flow speed Extreme F 1.00 or less 20 to 30 mph or less Operting Conditions No restrictions on bility to mneuver nd chnge lnes. Some restrictions on bility to mneuver nd chnge lnes. Substntil restrictions on bility to mneuver nd chnge lnes. Extreme restrictions on bility to mneuver nd chnge lnes. Opertion t mximum cpcity. No gps in trffic strem to ccommodte lne chnging. No bility to mneuver or chnge lnes. Stopnd-go, bumper-tobumper trffic. Impcts of Freewy Incidents Minor disruptions such s multiple vehicles entering the freewy or vehicles on the side of the freewy do not disrupt trffic flow. Mjor disruptions such s n ccident blocking lne my not result in severe or extreme trffic congestion. Minor disruptions my result in severe trffic congestion. Minor disruptions will result in extreme trffic congestion. The most minor of disruptions will result in extreme trffic congestion. Durtion nd extent of extreme trffic congestion will be extended. Source: SEWRPC nd Trnsporttion Reserch Bord, Ntionl Acdemy of Sciences, nd Ntionl Acdemy of Engineering. 5

25 GRAPHIC SCALE Mp 5-11 ESTIMATED TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON FREEWAYS WITHIN THE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN REGION: 1999 ESTIMATED HOURS OF CONGESTION ON AN AVERAGE WEEKDAY NO CONGESTION MOST SEVERE LEVEL OF HOURLY CONGESTION EXPERIENCED -- MODERATE MODERATE SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE MILES Source: SEWRPC. 5b

26 Tble 5-3 ESTIMATED EXISTING SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON AN AVERAGE WEEKDAY: 1999 Miles of Congested Freewys Averge Hours of Congestion on n Averge Weekdy Highest Level of Hourly Congestion Experienced Miles Percent of Freewy System Extreme Congestion (Hours) Severe Congestion (Hours) Moderte Congestion (Hours) Totl Congestion (Hours) Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Miles of Congested Freewy nd Percent of Regionl Freewy System All Levels of Congestion Source: SEWRPC. 5c

27 Figures 5-3 nd 5- nd Tble 5- compre the current level nd loction of freewy system trffic congestion within southestern Wisconsin to estimted historic trffic congestion in the yers 1991, 1980, nd Trffic congestion hs significntly incresed over the pst 10 yers s well s over the pst 20 nd 30 yers. The increse in freewy trffic congestion ech decde hs prticulrly been substntil with respect to the milege of freewys experiencing extreme nd severe trffic congestion. The totl milege of freewys experiencing trffic congestion on n verge weekdy hs incresed from bout nine miles in 1972, to 18 miles in 1980, to miles in 1991, nd to 5 miles in The totl milege of freewys experiencing extreme trffic congestion hs incresed from bout 11 miles in 1991 to 27 miles in No freewy segments experienced extreme trffic congestion in 1972 or The totl milege of freewys experiencing severe trffic congestion incresed from bout two miles in 1972, to 1 miles in 1980, to 18 miles in 1991, nd to 2 miles in The verge number of hours on n verge weekdy tht congested freewy segment experienced trffic congestion in ech direction ws n estimted 2.8 hours in 1972, 3.5 hours in 1980, 3.5 hours in 1991, nd 5.5 hours in The forecst future yer 2020 level of freewy system trffic congestion within Southestern Wisconsin is presented on Mp-5-12 nd in Figure 5-5 nd Tble 5-5. The forecst increse in freewy system trffic congestion my be expected to be substntil in terms of extent, severity, nd durtion of freewy congestion: The totl milege of freewys experiencing congestion my be expected to increse from 5 miles of freewy, or 2 percent of the freewy system, in 1999 to 122 miles, or percent of the freewy system, in By the yer 2020, freewys in Kenosh, Rcine, Ozukee, nd Wshington counties my be expected to begin to experience trffic congestion on n verge weekdy. The totl milege of freewys experiencing extreme trffic congestion my be expected to increse from 27 miles, or ten percent of the freewy system, in 1999 to 8 miles, or 18 percent of the freewy system, in The totl milege of freewys experiencing severe trffic congestion my be expected to increse from 2 miles in 1999 to 28 miles in the yer 2020.

28 Figure 5-3 COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED FREEWAY SYSTEM AVERAGE WEEKDAY TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN: 1972, 1980, 1991, AND ESTIMATED HOURS OF CONGESTION ON AN AVERAGE WEEKDAY MOST SEVERE LEVEL OF HOURLY CONGESTION EXPERIENCED NOT CONSTRUCTED -- NO CONGESTION -- 1 MODERATE 3 MODERATE GRAPHIC SCALE MILES 3 SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE Source: SEWRPC. 1

29 Figure 5- COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED FREEWAY SYSTEM AVERAGE WEEKDAY TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN: 1972, 1980, 1991, AND MODERATE CONGESTION 0 SEVERE CONGESTION CONGESTION 50 FREEWAY MILES YEAR Source: SEWRPC. b

30 Tble 5- ESTIMATED HISTORIC AND EXISTING FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON AN AVERAGE WEEKDAY: HISTORIC 1972, 1980, AND 1991, AND EXISTING 1999 Yer Miles of Congested Freewy Highest Level of Hourly Congestion Experienced Miles Percent of Freewy System Averge Hours of Congestion on n Averge Weekdy Extreme Congestion (Hours) Severe Congestion (Hours) Moderte Congestion (Hours) Totl Congestion (Hours) Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Source: SEWRPC. c

31 GRAPHIC SCALE Mp 5-12 FORECAST FUTURE YEAR 2020 TRAFFIC CONGESTION ON FREEWAYS WITHIN THE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN REGION ESTIMATED HOURS OF CONGESTION ON AN AVERAGE WEEKDAY NO CONGESTION MOST SEVERE LEVEL OF HOURLY CONGESTION EXPERIENCED -- MODERATE MODERATE SEVERE SEVERE SEVERE MILES Source: SEWRPC. d

32 Figure 5-5 COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED EXISTING YEAR 1999 FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN TO FORECAST FUTURE YEAR 2020 FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION MODERATE CONGESTION SEVERE CONGESTION CONGESTION FREEWAY MILES YEAR Source: SEWRPC. e

33 Tble 5-5 COMPARISON OF ESTIMATED EXISTING YEAR 1999 FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION WITHIN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN TO FORECAST FUTURE YEAR 2020 FREEWAY SYSTEM TRAFFIC CONGESTION Yer Miles of Congested Freewy Highest Level of Hourly Congestion Experienced Miles Percent of Freewy System Averge Hours of Congestion on n Averge Weekdy Extreme Congestion (Hours) Severe Congestion (Hours) Moderte Congestion (Hours) Totl Congestion (Hours) Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Extreme Severe Moderte Totl Source: SEWRPC. f

34 The totl milege of freewys experiencing moderte trffic congestion my be expected to increse from 12 miles, or four percent of the freewy system, in 1999 to miles, or 1 percent of the system, in the yer The verge number of hours tht congested freewy segment my be expected to experience trffic congestion my be expected to increse from 5.5 hours in 1999 to.1 hours in the yer The forecst yer 2020 trffic congestion is bsed upon forecst yer 2020 trffic volumes nd trnsporttion fcilities nd services which ssume implementtion of the yer 2020 regionl lnd use pln nd regionl trnsporttion system pln, excepting only certin freewy widening improvements (the widening of IH 3 from four to six lnes between Bender Rod nd Highlnd Rod). SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS This chpter defines the problems nd deficiencies of the existing freewy system with respect to physicl design, trffic sfety, nd trffic congestion. A summry of the most importnt findings of this chpter is s follows: Physicl Design Deficiencies Mny of the oldest freewy segments, predominntly in Milwukee County, do not meet number of modern design stndrds for much of their length, including with respect to shoulder width, entrnce/exit rmp spcing, lne blnce, verticl curvture, nd verticl clernce. Mny older freewy segments in outlying counties generlly meet the modern design stndrds with the exception of one or two stndrds t isolted loctions, including with respect to verticl lignment, verticl curvture, verticl clernce, or shoulder width. A number of freewy segments t the fr outlying portions of the Region fully meet ll design stndrds. Trffic Sfety Within ech county, there re segments of freewy which should be considered to hve trffic sfety problems. These freewy segments hve trffic crsh rtes which exceed the regionl verge crsh rte, or exceed the crsh rte for freewys within the county within which they re locted. 7

35 Trffic Congestion Existing trffic congestion on the freewy system is substntil, with totl of 5 miles, or 2 percent, of the 272 mile freewy system experiencing congestion on n verge weekdy. An estimted 53 miles, or 19 percent of the freewy system, experiences extreme or severe trffic congestion for t lest one hour ech weekdy. Freewy trffic congestion hs incresed prticulrly over the pst 20 yers, in extent, severity, nd durtion of congestion. The extent of the freewy system experiencing congestion hs incresed from 18 miles, or eight percent of the totl freewy system in 1980, to 5 miles nd 18 percent in 1991, nd to 5 miles nd 2 percent in The miles of freewy experiencing extreme or severe congestion hs incresed from 1 miles nd 7 percent of the freewy system in 1980, to 29 miles nd 11 percent in 1991, nd to 53 miles nd 19 percent in The verge number of hours of congestion on n verge weekdy occurring on congested freewy segment hs incresed from 3.5 hours in 1980 to 5.5 hours in Freewy trffic congestion is forecst to increse substntilly by the yer 2020 even if regionl lnd use nd trnsporttion plns re implemented. The extent of the regionl freewy system experiencing congestion my be expected to increse from 5 miles nd 2 percent of the freewy system to 122 miles nd percent of the freewy system. The miles of freewy experiencing extreme or severe congestion my be expected to increse from 53 miles nd 19 percent of the freewy system to 77 miles nd 28 percent of the freewy system. * * * 8