SH-6 Corridor Improvement Study Policy Committee Progress Report M O N D AY, J U N E 1 0, B R A Z O S C E N T E R

SH-6 Corridor Improvement Study Policy Committee Progress Report M O N D AY, J U N E 1 0, 2 0 1 3 B R A Z O S C E N T E R

Project Overview Study Goals and Objectives» Improve traffic flow» Reduce delay» Enhance safety Project Schedule Data Collection Activities Summary of Existing Conditions» Traffic volumes» Intersection level of service» Field observations» Sam Rayburn Middle School Topics Addressed

Brad McCaleb BCS MPO Director Project Team Members J. Michael Heath, P.E. ATG Project Manager Glen J. Thurgood, P.E. ATG Deputy Project Manager

Project Overview Goals and objectives: Address current issues and operational challenges Accommodate anticipated growth in traffic demand (2040 horizon year) Focus will include improving traffic flow, reducing delay, and enhancing safety 13-month schedule, anticipated study completion March 2014 Recommendations to include near-term enhancements, longer-term priorities

Measures of Effectiveness Peak Period Travel Time Peak Period Queue Lengths Number of Stops when Travelling on the Corridor Intersection Level of Service Crash Frequency (car, bike, pedestrian) Number of Conflicting Movements Number of Business Vacancies Business Turnover Rate Residential Property Values Parcel Interconnectivity Number of Access Points Directly on Main Roadway Transit Opportunities Pedestrian Ability to Traverse Corridor

Goals and objectives: Project Overview Improve the mobility of the corridor Improve the safety of the corridor Improve the quality of life of the residents of the corridor Maintain the economic vitality of the businesses in the corridor

Data Collection Update Traffic data collection completed in February/March: Peak-hour turning movement counts 24-hour ramp traffic volume counts Mainline SH-6 volume counts (two locations) Other data collection activities: Aerial photography received from MPO Traffic signal timing data provided by TxDOT Crash statistics for most recent five-year period 30-day response, still pending Pending development/land use information provided by College Station & Bryan Construction drawings for planned ramp reversal received from TxDOT

Current Corridor Issues/Challenges Peak-hour frontage road/arterial street operations Mainline queuing and delays Possible ramping modifications (upcoming TxDOT project) School zone challenges (Sam Rayburn Middle School, James Earl Rudder High School) Limited pedestrian facilities throughout corridor Maintaining adequate campus access

Current Corridor Issues/Challenges Extensive floodplain features along east side of corridor Limited median U-turn opportunities at existing interchanges Imminent development pressure (Scott & White hospital, others?) Existing overcrossing bridges with limited sight distance (University Drive, Boonville Road) Tight turn radii from frontage road onto arterial cross streets Northbound left-hand exit to Texas Avenue (Bus 6) Other issues?

Existing Conditions Analysis Peak period generally occurs between 7:15 8:15 AM and 5:00 6:00 PM, sharp peaks Highest ramp volume in AM peak: NB on-ramp S. of Barron Rd (1,313 vph) Highest Ramp volume in PM peak: SB off-ramp S. of Barron Rd (1,248 vph) AM peak-hour highest mainlane volumes (3,179 vph NB S. of Harvey Rd) PM peak-hour highest mainlane volumes (3,262 SB b/w University and Harvey Rd) Intersection levels of service evaluated for AM and PM peak periods

Intersection Capacity Analysis Each interchange analyzed using:» measured AM and PM peak hour traffic volumes» existing signal timings» existing lane geometry» main lanes on SH 6 not included Each intersection and turning movement assigned a Level of Service score based on average delay: LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Critical Locations U.S. 190 / SH 21 LOS F for WB-to-SB left turn during both AM and PM Queue sometimes spills back into NB intersection LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Critical Locations University Dr (FM 60) LOS E or F for NB-to-WB left turn during AM / PM Queue may spill back to main lanes occasionally Will be remedied by upcoming project to flip ramps LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Critical Locations William J Bryan Pkwy / Boonville Rd (FM 158) Multiple approaches with LOS E in PM LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Critical Locations Briarcrest Dr (FM 158) Multiple approaches with LOS E in PM Harvey Rd (SH 30) LOS E for westbound left turn in PM Southwest Pkwy LOS E for eastbound through in PM LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Critical Locations Rock Prairie Rd LOS E for westbound through in PM William D Fitch Pkwy LOS E for southbound left turn in PM LOS A: < 10 sec / veh LOS B: < 20 sec / veh LOS C: < 35 sec / veh LOS D: < 55 sec / veh LOS E: < 80 sec / veh LOS F: > 80 sec / veh

Existing Conditions Analysis Some houses with frontage road access in Bryan Tight ramp spacing, update to TxDOT requirements Lots of undeveloped land along corridor Possible ramping modifications to preserve mainline operations over long-term X-ramp configuration to promote future development?

Existing Conditions Analysis Field observations completed at Sam Rayburn Middle School Observations during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up periods Parents arrive 25-30 minutes before school ends to park and wait Vehicles queue up on frontage road in right-hand lane, spilling back to Booneville Road Queue affects middle lane on frontage road 25 minutes for queue to clear following dismissal

Upcoming Meeting Schedule Stakeholder Meeting #1 Wednesday, May 30 th, 10:00 AM Public Meeting #1 Thursday, June 13 th, 6:00 PM Advisory Group Meeting #3 Tuesday, July 16 th, 9:00 AM Stakeholder Meeting #2 Tuesday, July 16 th, 6:00 PM

Questions?

Welcome and Introductions Data Collection Update Summary of Existing Conditions» Traffic volumes» Intersection level of service» Field observations» Sam Rayburn Middle School Law Enforcement Perspective» Major issues along corridor» Incident management/traffic control» Event traffic management Upcoming Meeting Schedule Today s Agenda

Law Enforcement Perspective Critical areas along corridor Crash hotspots? Incident management/traffic control during emergency response Event traffic management challenges Other issues

Open Discussion