EODOT Project: ODOT Project: STA-IR 77-.50; PID 00290 Interstate Route 77 / US Route 62 / State Route 687 (Fulton Road) Transportation Improvement Project Summary of Public Comments Received and Responses to Comments Open House Public Meeting Canton City and Plain Township, Stark County, Ohio Thursday, July 6, 207 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Prepared September 6, 207 Documentation of Public Involvement performed for the project, including all written comments received as a result of the July 6, 207 Open House Public Involvement Meeting, is provided in the Project File Public Involvement/Project Information folder.
Table Public Comments Received and Responses to Comments Number of comments 6 Comment/Concern A traffic signal is needed at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection based on existing traffic conditions and/or potential future conditions (including) anticipated increased traffic from closure of Blake Avenue north of Fulton Road. Traffic signals on Fulton Road should be timed/interconnected to ensure effective operation. Response to Comments ODOT adheres to federal guidelines (Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices - MUTCD) that establish minimum conditions under which a traffic signal installation should be considered. A series of traffic signal warrants have been developed to define the minimum traffic conditions that should be present before a traffic signal is installed. If no warrants are met, a traffic signal will not be installed. Based on analysis of peak hour traffic performed at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection, traffic conditions do not warrant installation of a traffic signal. The project will coordinate all traffic signals on Fulton Road within the project limits. 5 4 The left turn signal phase at the Fulton Road/Broad Avenue intersection traffic signal is too short. Why can t the project leave a right turn from Fulton Road onto Blake Avenue North or, make Blake Avenue North a right-in/out? Comment in favor of the proposed Blake Avenue North cul-de-sec at Fulton Road with addition of a traffic signal at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection. Comment opposed to the proposed Blake Avenue North cul-de-sec at Fulton Road. Comments expressing opposition to the cul-de-sec commonly references issues with increased traffic on Clearview Avenue, increased traffic on 26 th Street, impacts to on-street parking along 26 th Street, excessive speed on 26 th Street, property devaluation on Clearview Avenue and 26 th Street, and potential increased cut through traffic on private property at the Fulton Drive/Clearview Avenue intersection. The existing left turn signal phase timing is tailored to specific facility conditions. The project will evaluate the Fulton Road/Broad Avenue intersection signal timing and coordination to determine if adjustments are needed during project construction. Following completion of project construction, the signal timing will be reevaluated/adjusted accordingly. The project improvements are recommended in conjunction with elimination of access to Blake Avenue north of Fulton Road (i.e., Blake Avenue North). This action coupled with widening the I-77 southbound ramp approach improves capacity for the heavy right turn movement and allows sufficient green time to be devoted to the heavy eastbound through movement on Fulton Road. The resulting revision in the signal phasing allows the westbound left turn, northbound right turn, and southbound right turn maneuvers to occur simultaneously which dramatically improves intersection operation and the operation in the Fulton Road corridor. Simultaneous westbound left turn, northbound right turn, and southbound right turn maneuvers is not feasible with right-in or right-in/out access to Blake Avenue North and this undesirable condition results in unacceptable congestion at the Fulton Road/I-77 Southbound Ramp/US Route 62 Westbound Ramp intersection and negatively impacts the Fulton Road corridor. Based on analysis of peak hour traffic (4:00pm 6:00pm) performed at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection, traffic conditions do not warrant installation of a traffic signal at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection. Further, based on the highest single hour traffic volume counted (5:00pm 6:00pm) on Blake Avenue North, the closure of Blake Avenue North will result in an increase of approximately 2 vehicles per hour during the peak hour at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection. Installation of a traffic signal at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection is not warranted and would result in additional traffic flow disruption along the Fulton Road corridor. Vehicle turning movement counts were collected at the Fulton Road/Blake Avenue North intersection and the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection from 7:00am to 9:00am and from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The count data captures the highest volumes using Blake Avenue North and Clearview Avenue at Fulton Road. Based on the highest single hour traffic volume counted (5:00pm 6:00pm), the closure of Blake Avenue North will result in an increase of approximately 2 vehicles per hour on 26 th Street and at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection. Existing conditions on both 26 th Street and Clearview Avenue can accommodate the expected minor increase in traffic resulting from the elimination of the Blake Avenue North access point on Fulton Road. The project will not change the legal speed limit on 26 th Street. The proposed project improvements are unrelated to vehicle travel speed on the side streets and the project will not eliminate existing on-street parking. The proposed project improvements will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion along the Fulton Road corridor providing increased gaps for southbound left-turning vehicles on Clearview Avenue and may reduce any cut through traffic occurring at the Fulton Road/Clearview Avenue intersection. Lastly, the proposed elimination of the Blake Avenue North access point on Fulton Road will not result in devaluation of any properties along 26 th Street and/or Clearview Avenue. ODOT operates under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Acquisition Policies Act of 970 and amendments of 987, and every effort will be made to acquire any needed right-of-way in a fair and equitable manner.
2 3 Are there plans to reroute traffic onto Orchard Park to access I-77 North? Will any signage be erected directing traffic north on Clearview to Orchard Park to access I-77 North? Comment received indicating opposition to possible Canton City annexation of Plain Township land in the project vicinity. Project only cares about the National Football League (NFL) and/or the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The project is a benefit to the Pro Football hall of Fame and they should pay for the project. The project is not needed. There are a limited number of people who visit the Football Hall of Fame (HOF) on a typical day. With all the infrastructure needs, is this the best way to spend limited funds? Why have real estate taxes increased when properties have lost value? Will the project effect my property value? Will taxes be assessed on Plain Township Residents for any of this project? The project, as proposed, will not reroute traffic onto Orchard Park to access I-77 North and no signage will be erected directing traffic north on Clearview Avenue to Orchard Park to access I-77 North. ODOT maintains State Route 687 (Fulton Road), US Route 62 and I-77 mainline and ramps within the project limits and the Department has no involvement with potential Canton City annexation in the project vicinity. The Department will continue to improve and maintain the State Route 687, US Route 62 and I-77 infrastructure accordingly, respond to Federal and State data reporting mandates and make any required updates due to changes in roadway characteristics and/or other changes including annexations. Recommended Transportation improvements were developed based on a Traffic Impact Study (February 28, 207) performed on the project study area to analyze existing and future capacity for the I-77/US Route 62/Fulton Road interchange and the adjacent intersections using current traffic counts, predicted traffic forecasts for 209 and 2039, origin destination (O-D) data on US 62 and Fulton Road, and known commercial and residential development information for the project study area. The project has been designed to benefit the traveling public and funding for the project has been secured from appropriate federal and state transportation funding sources. As documented in the Traffic Impact Study (February 28, 207), proposed improvements were developed and evaluated on the basis of improving traffic flow and reducing congestion in the project study area without impacting freeway operations on I-77 and US Route 62. Further, an Interchange Operations Study (March 20, 207) was completed and the study determined the recommended improvements will improve operations of the I-77 southbound/us Route 62 westbound weave area to Fulton Road as well as the I-77 northbound exit and I-77 southbound/us Route 62 westbound exit ramp intersections with Fulton Road. The proposed improvements are needed and therefore recommended for implementation. Real estate tax assessment property value and rate is determined by the appropriate tax jurisdiction (e.g., City of Canton or Stark County). ODOT has no involvement with determining real estate taxes. If purchase of additional permanent right-of-way and/or construction easements and temporary right-of-way from private property is required. ODOT will ensure that every effort is made to acquire the needed right-of-way in a fair and equitable manner following the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Acquisition Policies Act of 970 and amendments of 987 and all other applicable state and federal acts, laws, regulations and policies. Funding for the project has been secured from appropriate federal and state transportation funding sources and ODOT will not assess Plain Township Residents for any part of the project. Is there any current or future plan to widen Broad Avenue? No improvements are recommended for Broad Avenue as part of the proposed Interstate Route 77 / US Route 62 / State Route 687 (Fulton Road) transportation improvement project and ODOT is not aware of any current or future plan to widen Broad Avenue. Concern about potential contractor fraud during project construction. ODOT will provide construction administration and project monitoring to ensure construction of high quality infrastructure while minimizing construction time, costs, traffic delays and litigation. A stop sign at the I-77 south ramp will eliminate the need for the four proposed ramp lanes. As documented in the Traffic Impact Study (February 28, 207), proposed improvements are needed to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in the project study area. Further, an Interchange Operations Study (March 20, 207) was completed and the study determined the recommended improvements will improve operations of the I-77 southbound/us Route 62 westbound weave area to Fulton Road as well as the I-77 northbound exit and I-77 southbound/us Route 62 westbound exit ramp intersections with Fulton Road. The proposed improvements are needed and therefore recommended for implementation. Installation of a stop sign at the I-77 southbound ramp approach to Fulton Road does address the needs established for the project is not recommended.
3 4 It is not clear how the proposed improvements will improve operation of the I-77 southbound / US Route 62 westbound exit ramps to Fulton Road. Additional lanes are needed on Fulton Road between Harrison and Clarendon and an additional lane on to northbound and southbound I-77 to further reduce congestion. I-77 southbound ramp traffic does not yield to US 62 westbound ramp traffic as directed in the current signage. More enforcement action is needed. Will I-77 southbound traffic have to yield to the US 62 westbound traffic exiting to Fulton Road? The left turn lane on Fulton Road to the eastbound US 62 on ramp is not long enough and regularly blocks the left lane on Fulton Road. The I-77 southbound exit to 3 th Street needs to be widened to two lanes, lights on 3 th Street should be better controlled/timed and other access improvements are needed on 3 th Street. The proposed ramp modifications improve both safety and operations of the existing weave by addressing the primary deficiencies of the current condition. In the existing condition, vehicles westbound on US 62 wishing to access Fulton Road must change lanes into the I-77 Southbound exit lane. Vehicles merging from US 62 Westbound have the right-of-way while the I-77 Southbound exit ramp traffic must yield to US 62. The proposed condition provides an add-lane through this weave area, eliminating the merge condition. In addition, the heaviest movement through the existing weave area, US 62 Westbound traffic continuing onto I-77 Southbound, is physically separated, and therefore removed from the weave area in the proposed condition. The existing weave also occurs over a distance of approximately 300 feet. In the proposed condition, vehicles are provided a distance of approximately 850 feet to complete the optional weave. The possibility of adding additional through lanes on Fulton Road was not dismissed in the traffic planning phase of this project. However, it was not carried forward because the recommended alternative reduces congestion while minimizing impacts to private properties. As recommended the proposed project improvements are prudent and feasible. I-77 southbound ramp traffic will no longer have to yield to US 62 westbound traffic. Signage will be installed on the I-77 southbound and US 62 westbound ramps requiring motorists changing lanes to yield. Lengthening the eastbound left turn lane to eastbound US 62 would result in elimination of the westbound left turn lane to the southbound I-77 entrance ramp or require shifting the southbound I-77 entrance ramp further west to keep the westbound to southbound I-77 left turn lane. This shift would result in elimination of George Halas Drive. Lengthening the eastbound left turn lane on Fulton Road to eastbound US 62 would add substantive cost and increase project impacts and therefore, is not feasible for this project. Comment noted. The I-77 southbound exit to 3 th Street and the 3 th Street corridor is not located within the study area established for this project. The project should provide a direct access without stoppage into the Hall of Fame (HOF) Village area by way of a bridge over or a Tunnel Under Fulton Drive. Construction of a dedicated ramp bridge or ramp tunnel to the Pro Football Hall of Fame does not address the needs established for the project and is not recommended. 8 The use of Broad Avenue, a township street, as a detour route will result in increased traffic, noise and degradation of the Broad Avenue road infrastructure. State Routes should be utilized for the project detour. As a result of comments received from Plain Township and the public, Broad Avenue will not be utilized as a detour route for this project. Closure of the I-77 South and US 62 West will cause a backups at the exit ramps to Fulton Road. Traffic will be maintained on I-77 and US 62 at times during project construction. Phase I shows no change on the I-77 North entrance ramp at Fulton Road. Does this mean future phases will alter this ramp? Will the I-77 northbound ramp from Fulton Road be expanded/widened with the project or a future project? Request for comments / conversations / consultation with Plain Local School District and Canton City School District regarding considerations for student / staff / parental accessibility and traffic patterns and the same comments / considerations / consults with school transportation departments regarding bus traffic and routing. The project will not reconstruct or otherwise alter the I-77 North entrance ramp at Fulton Road. There is no other current or future plan to widen or otherwise alter the I-77 North entrance ramp at Fulton Road. Plain Local School District and Canton City School District representatives were invited to attend the open house public involvement meeting. To date, no comments have been received from Plain Local School District and/or Canton City School District regarding the project.
Will the dual right turn lanes on the I-77 create an issue for traffic turning right on Clearview Avenue; will it be difficult for the traffic in the inner right turn lane to merge? Vehicles changing lanes must yield and safely change lanes. The 2 th Street project should be finished prior to the start of this project construction. ODOT will continue to coordinate with Canton City regarding the completion of the 2 th Street Bridge Replacement Project. Request for copies of the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Report, Interchange Operation Study and Traffic Impact Study. The requested information was provided via electronic mail, dated July 7, 207. Request received for resurfacing on approximately 300 linear feet of Fulton Rd. between the US 62 Eastbound (EB) Entrance Ramp and Park Road. The project does not address the weave resulting from the I-77 Southbound (SB) off ramp traffic turning left onto Fulton Road while the US 62 exiting traffic predominately wants to turn right. Was any consideration given to physically separating these two ramps such that I- 77 SB traffic would continue to Fulton Road opposite Blake Avenue? The US 62 traffic would then parallel its counterpart ramp around the curve and then exit onto Fulton Drive opposite the I-77 SB on ramp, likely warranting a signal at this intersection. The number of lanes at each off ramp is also reduced, presumably a right thru and left only at each ramp. This results in complete separation of these two ramps with signalized intersections spaced 500 or so distant between the I-77 Northbound (NB) off ramp and I-77 SB on ramp and another 700 to the Blake Avenue intersection. George Halas Drive to remain right in-right out. I can t speak to the ramp geometry; magnitude of cost escalation to the overall project; potential right of way impacts to the cell tower; intersection sight lines; and resulting traffic progression along Fulton Drive. It would result in the elimination of what I perceived to be the predominate exit ramp traffic pattern and my perception of the major contributing cause of these crashes; that is, the inherent weave that results. The resurfacing requested by the Stark County Engineer s Office has been added to the project scope of work. ODOT recently completed a Safety Summary Report to review crash data within the I 77/US 62/Fulton Road project area, including the I-77 SB Exit Ramp/US 62 Westbound (WB) Exit Ramp weave. Based on crash data from 202 through 204, six crashes occurred in the weave area, four of which were directly related to the weave movement. ODOT also reviewed crashes at the weave area in 202, focusing on crash data from 2009 through 20. In that 3-year period, one crash was identified as directly related to the weave movement. ODOT and their consultant, Mott MacDonald, reviewed several alternatives at this location during the traffic planning phase of this project. The focus of the alternatives was to maintain and/or improve conditions (geometrics, safety, operations) given the existing and expected additional traffic generated by the Hall of Fame development. Separating the I-77 SB Exit Ramp and the US 62 WB Exit Ramp to Fulton Road, similar to the scenario described, was explored. From a traffic operations standpoint, the positive impact of separating the ramps would be the elimination of any weaving movement. The expected negative impact would be increased travel time along Fulton Road due to the additional signal and delays associated with the new signal along with impacts to the adjacent signals at Blake Ave and the I-77 NB exit. As stated, the majority of US 62 WB vehicles would turn right onto Fulton Road, reentering the Blake Ave intersection they were removed from. Separating the US-62 Ramp from the I-77 SB Exit Ramp and aligning with the Fulton Road Ramp to I-77 SB would require traversing a 28-foot elevation drop and connecting to Fulton Road parallel and adjacent to the existing I-77 bridge in approximately 600 feet of roadway. This would create an intersection angle of ~65 with Fulton Road, skewing away from the predominant, right-hand-turning movement. The intersection location would also require installation of retaining walls to mitigate impacts to the existing I-77 side slopes. The adjacent I-77 bridge would obstruct sight distance along Fulton Road for the new signals, potentially requiring additional, post mounted signals that would be visible below the bridge. Furthermore, the grading for new ramp alignment would impact the telecommunications tower to the south and west, requiring an additional retaining wall structure. The proposed ramp modifications improve both safety and operations of the existing weave by addressing the primary deficiencies of the current condition. In the existing condition, vehicles westbound on US 62 wishing to access Fulton Road must change lanes into the I-77 SB exit lane. Vehicles merging from US 62 WB have the right-of-way while the I-77 SB exit ramp traffic must yield to US 62. The proposed condition provides an add-lane through this weave area, eliminating the merge condition. In addition, the heaviest movement through the existing weave area, US 62 WB traffic continuing onto I-77 SB, is physically separated, and therefore removed from the weave area in the proposed condition. The existing weave also occurs over a distance of approximately 300 feet. In the proposed condition, vehicles are provided a distance of approximately 850 feet to complete the optional weave. The possibility of separating the I-77 SB Exit Ramp and the US 62 WB Exit Ramp was not dismissed in the traffic planning phase of this project, but it was not carried forward because a) crash data does not support separating the ramps, b) creating an additional signalized intersection on Fulton Road increased delay and vehicle travel time, and c) the preferred alternative addressed the purpose and need of this project, which is to maintain and improve current conditions (geometrics, safety, operations) given the existing and expected additional traffic generated by the Hall of Fame development.