Congestion Management Report

Transcription

1 Congestion Management Report NH 101A (Amherst St and Canal/Bridge St), NASHUA Segment Length: 2.7 miles Daily Traffic Volumes: 9,000-40,000 Analysis Period: August 2015 Number of Traffic Signals: 9 Number of travel lanes: 2 Roadway Class: IV (Urban Principal Arterial Other) As the primary entry point to the Nashua Downtown Central Business District from the east and the west, Amherst St, Canal St and Bridge St (which collectively comprise the portion of NH 101A in Nashua east of the F.E. Everett Turnpike) serve several vital transportation functions. This corridor functions as a major east-west thoroughfare as it is one of the only two Nashua River crossings in the downtown area, thereby providing a connection between the F.E. Everett Turnpike and the Town of Hudson. NH 101A includes a number of commercial, industrial, recreational and civic uses. It is also located at the center of several densely populated adjoining neighborhoods. In addition to the relatively high levels of pedestrian traffic, the corridor also serves public transit riders. Some level of motor vehicle congestion should be expected given the mixed-use nature of this corridor. Recently, the City of Nashua has completed or is in the process of completing significant improvement projects along the corridor and nearby to improve navigability and comfort levels for pedestrians and motorists. Impact of Broad Street Parkway Travel time runs and corridor analyses were conducted before the completion and opening of the Broad Street Parkway in December The parkway is forecast to reduce vehicular demand on NH 101A by providing an alternative Nashua River crossing between Main Street and the F. E. Everett Turnpike. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission plans to complete an additional congestion analysis of NH 101A after the impacts of the parkway are fully in effect. Report, travel time runs and data analysis conducted by 2017

2 AM Peak Period Actual & Expected Travel Times Expected Travel Time during the Morning Commute 5 minutes and 15 seconds, traveling in easterly direction based upon posted speeds and free flowing traffic 5 minutes and 21 seconds, traveling in westerly direction based upon posted speeds and free flowing traffic Eastbound 8 minutes and 34 seconds 3 minutes and 19 seconds (63%) longer than expected Actual Travel Time during the Morning Commute:* Westbound 7 minutes and 10 seconds 1 minute and 49 seconds (34%) longer than expected *The actual travel time is based upon a single travel run that was similar in duration and congestion to the average observed travel time.

3 PM Peak Period Actual & Expected Travel Times Expected Travel Time during the Evening Commute 5 minutes and 15 seconds, traveling in easterly direction based upon posted speeds and free flowing traffic 5 minutes and 21 seconds, traveling in westerly direction based upon posted speeds and free flowing traffic Actual Travel Time during the Evening Commute:* Eastbound Westbound 10 minutes and 26 seconds 8 minutes and 37 seconds 5 minutes and 10 seconds (98%) longer than expected 3 minutes and 15 seconds (61%) longer than expected *The actual travel time is based upon a single travel run that was similar in duration and congestion to the average observed travel time.

4 AM Travel Time Ratios (7:00am 9:00am) Travel Time Ratio A travel time ratio (TTR) compares the actual (measured) & expected (noncongested) travel times along a corridor. It is assumed that in non-congested conditions, motorists can travel at the posted speed limit. The actual time is the average of several travel time runs. The ratio between the actual time and the expected time would equal 1 for a non-congested segment. Eastbound Congestion occurs during the morning peak period along the first three segments of the corridor beginning at Everett Turnpike and continuing to the intersection of Lowell St/Canal St, as indicated by Travel Time Ratios that are above the threshold of 1.5. On average, travel in the eastbound direction on this corridor takes approximately 3 minutes and 19 seconds (63%) longer as compared to free-flow conditions. Westbound Congestion occurs in the westbound direction during the morning peak period along the first two segments of the corridor beginning at the Hudson Town Line and continuing to the intersection of Canal St/Main St, as indicated by ratios that are above the threshold of 1.5. On average, travel in the westbound direction on this corridor during the morning commute takes approximately 1 minute and 49 seconds (34%) longer as compared to free-flow conditions.

5 PM Travel Time Ratios (4:00pm 6:00pm) Travel Time Ratio A travel time ratio (TTR) compares the actual (measured) & expected (noncongested) travel times along a corridor. It is assumed that in non-congested conditions, motorists can travel at the posted speed limit. The actual time is the average of several travel time runs. The ratio between the actual time and the expected time would equal 1 for a non-congested segment. Eastbound Congestion occurs during the evening peak period along the entire corridor beginning at Everett Turnpike and continuing to the Hudson Town Line, as indicated by Travel Time Ratios that are above the threshold of 1.5. On average, travel in the eastbound direction on this corridor takes approximately 5 minutes and 10 seconds (98%) longer as compared to free-flow conditions. Westbound Congestion occurs in the westbound direction during the evening peak period along the first two segments of the corridor beginning at the Hudson Town Line and continuing to the intersection of Canal Street/Main Street, as indicated by ratios that are above the threshold of 1.5. On average, travel in westbound direction on this corridor during the evening commute takes approximately 3 minutes and 15 seconds (61%) longer as compared to free-flow conditions.

6 Northbound Probe Travel Time Data The NPMRDS provides roadway performance data for the National Highway System (NHS). The NPMRDS data are derived from instantaneous vehicle probe speed data supplied by a variety of GPS devices carried by both trucks and cars. The data are supplied on a GIS roadway network, which divides the NHS into directional road segments based on the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) standard. Travel times from the National Performance Measurement Research Data Set (NPMRDS) are available for the entire extent of the NH 101A east of the F.E. Everett Turnpike to the Hudson Line. Weekday travel time data collected in 2015 along TMCs located as shown in the above figure are summarized by travel speeds. The percent of traffic traveling below the speed limit versus at or above the posted speed limit of 30 mph during the peak and off peak hours for each segment is graphed in the figure to the right and on the following page. The data indicate that, in general, that the vast majority of vehicles fall below the posted speed limit of 30 mph. Yet, there are slight differences between the Canal/Bridge Street and the Amherst Street TMCs. The speeds along Amherst Street are slightly higher in the westbound direction compared to the eastbound direction. Along Canal/Bridge Streets, motorists tend to drive at faster speeds in both the westbound and eastbound directions during the AM and Off-peak hours compared to the PM peak hours. (Photo to the right: Vehicles heading in the easterly direction across the Taylor Falls Bridge on the Nashua/Hudson border.)

7 Probe Travel Time Data A Gateway to Downtown Nashua Nashua s NH 101A Corridor east of the F.E Everett Turnpike is vestige of traditional New England communities that has a blend of nearby housing, retail, civic, recreational, and industrial uses all within walking distance of its downtown. The corridor also exhibits the symptoms of the mid-twentieth century evolution to an automobile-centric society in that 101A is a major east-west travel corridor with large volumes of traffic. The corridor also serves many public transit riders and pedestrians. The 2015 weekday travel time data was also summarized by average travel speed by hour of day for all vehicle types (passenger and freight combined). The graphs below clearly show that average speeds during the majority of the day are below the posted speed limit of 30 mph, with the exception of the westbound traffic between Main St and Exit 7, which moves a little faster at 30 mph or slightly below the speed limit. Like many areas, parking is constrained and motorists on the corridor must contend with a number of potential obstructions, including fellow motorists making parallel parking efforts, crossing pedestrian traffic, cyclists and the loading and unloading of freight. The NH 101A corridor generally operates as it should because it is reasonable to expect traffic along the corridor to be congested given the mix of uses. Attractions along this corridor that may generate traffic include the Amherst Street Elementary School, Holman Stadium, and BAE Systems. The fact that there is pedestrian traffic and some motor vehicle congestion means the corridor is not only the entryway to the downtown, but a desirable location by itself.

8 Projects There are several recent infrastructure projects in Nashua s urban core that could impact the 101A Corridor east of the F.E. Everett Turnpike. In recent years, the City of Nashua has completed a significant rehabilitation of pedestrian facilities along the corridor that are designed to improve navigability and comfort levels for pedestrians. The Nashua Regional Planning Commission plans to complete an additional congestion analysis of the corridor after the impacts of the improvements are fully in effect.