HomeMy WebLinkAboutConsultant Review - 1503 OSGOOD STREET 5/25/2006 Transportation
Land Development
Environmental
S e r v i c e s
101 Walnut Street
Vanasse Hangen Rrustlin, Inc. P.o.Box 9151
Watertown,MA 02471-9151
617 924 1770
FAX 617 924 2286
Memorandum To: Lincoln Daley Date: May 25,2006
Town Planner
Town of North Andover
1600 Osgood Street
North Andover,MA 01845
Project No.: 09280.18
From: Robert L.Nagi,PE,PTOE Re: Traffic Engineering Review of TIAS
Joseph G.Quitter Proposed Gas Station/Convenience Store
North Andover,Massachusetts
Vanasse Hangen Brttstlin, Inc. (VHB)has performed a professional and independent technical review
of the traffic study prepared by Greenman-Pederson, Inc. (GPI)for the proposed gasoline
station/convenience store development project,located at 1503 Osgood Street(Route 125)in North
Andover,Massachusetts. The development of this site includes razing two vacant single-family
residences and constructing a 3,800-square foot convenience store that will include a donut shop
with a drive-through window and a gasoline station with ten vehicle-fueling positions. The single,
full-access driveway for this site would be located on Route 125 opposite the Lucent Technologies
south driveway,modifying an existing three-way,signalized intersection. This review included an
analysis of the information presented in the document and the site plan that were submitted on
behalf of the applicant.
Submission Materials
As part of the technical analysis for the Town of North Andover,VHB reviewed the following report
and set of plans submitted by the applicant:
• Traffic Intpact and Access Study, Proposed Gasoline Station/Convenience Store zoith Drive-Through,
North Andover,Massachusetts;Prepared by Greenman-Pederson,Inc.;October 28,2005.
• Proposed Site Developntertt, 1503 Osgood Street(Ronde 114) [sic]/Orchard Hill Road,North
Andover,Massachusetts,Prepared by MHF Design Consultants,Inc.;April 10,2006.
This information has been considered in the preparation of this memorandum. Other various
sources of information were also referenced,as needed, and are footnoted in the memorandum.
Overview
The traffic report and accompanying plans have been prepared in a manner consistent with
transportation engineering standards. There are a few areas,however,where VHB believes some
additional information and/or clarification is required. The following includes a general review of
the submission materials followed by specific and detailed comments to which the applicant should
respond.
C:\DOCU61 E-1\m ippol i t\LOCALS-1\Temp\Traffic_review_052506.doc
Date: May 25,2006 2
Project No.: 09280.18
Traffic Impact and Access Study Review
In general, the study has been prepared to industry standards using information and methods
suitable for a traffic impact and access study.
Introduction
The description of the proposed project and existing site were presented in a clear manner and
match what is shown on the site plan. The proposed access plan appears reasonable,however there
may need to be some clarification regarding the technical details of the plan to incorporate the site
driveway into the existing signal system at the intersection of Route 125 at the Lucent Technologies
south driveway.
Existing Conditions
The study area appears reasonable for project of this size,considering the roadway network in the
area of the site. The study notes traffic volumes were collected manually at the two study
intersections and mechanically along Route 125 in July 2005. When left unadjusted,as they
represent above-average conditions according to MassHighway data,and balanced along the
Route 125 corridor,these volumes appear to be acceptable for use in this traffic impact study.
MassHighway crash data from the years 2001-2003 was reviewed to determine a crash history at the
study intersections. Based on the results of this assessment,there are no existing safety issues at the
study intersections. However,since the MassHighway crash data did not distinguish between the
north and south Lucent Technologies driveways,it may be useful(as the applicant suggests)to
review crash data from the North Andover Police Department to verify the accuracy of
MassHighway data.
A sight distance safety evaluation was conducted based on vehicle speeds measured along Route 125
and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)standards'.
The results indicate that,without the addition of proposed vegetation or signing that would block
available sight lines, the proposed site driveway would exceed the minimum and desirable sight
distance requirements. It is recommended that ISD sight triangles be added to the site plan.
Future Conditions
The historic annual traffic growth rate of 0.5 percent seems reasonable for this area,however this
rate should be compared to rates used in traffic studies for other developments in the area,such as
the master plan for the redevelopment of the Lucent Technologies Merrimack Valley Works facility.
Further,since it is unclear how the applicant distributed the estimated traffic for the Lucent
Technologies redevelopment,site-generated trip assignment networks from the master plan
document should be used to assign traffic from this background project to the roadway network.
Trip generation for the proposed site was determined using empirical data for similar sites in the
region,rather than data established by the Institute of Transportation Engineers(ITE)2. This is an
accepted practice and provides a more conservative estimate of trips expected to be generated by the
proposed development than would be projected using ITE data for the most comparable use. The
number of trips estimated for the proposed development appears to be reasonable. Further, the
25 percent pass-by rate,while consistent with state guidelines,is somewhat conservative as it will
likely be much higher.
A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Sheets;American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials(AASHTO);
Washington,DC;2004.
-Trio Generation;Seventh Edition;Institute of Transportation Engineers(ITE);Washington,DC;2003.
C:\DCCU M&4\m ippol it\LCCAIS-I\Temp\Traffic_review_052506.doc
Date: May 25,2006 3
Project No.: 09280.18
The new trip distribution for the proposed development was estimated to be 50 percent in each
direction along Route 125,while the pass-by trip distribution was expected to follow the existing
travel patterns along Route 125 during each peak hour. Since this development is a gas
station/convenience facility,the new trip distribution is reasonable.
The access and circulation plan for the site appears sufficient for accommodating vehicles entering
and exiting the site,traveling within the site,and queuing at the drive-through window.
Capacity and Queue Analysis
The methodology for analyzing the predevelopment and postdevelopment conditions is sound and
it appears to have been performed correctly. The results of the Synchro analysis show that all
movements at the intersection of Route 125 at the Lucent Technologies south driveway and the
proposed site driveway are expected to operate acceptably with the addition of the site driveway
and the proposed signal improvements in place.
The Orchard Hill Road westbound left-turn movement at Route 125 is expected to degrade from
LOS D in the No-Build condition to LOS E under the Build during the morning peak hour. Further,
this movement is expected to operate at LOS F during the evening peak hour under both conditions.
However,(as suggested by the applicant)the traffic signal at the site driveway only 250 feet away
would provide acceptable gaps for these left-turning vehicles to enter the flow of traffic on
Route 125. These gaps in traffic flow are not modeled by the traffic analysis software,so this
movement would be expected to operate better than is shown in the analysis results.
The results of the Synchro analysis show that only one of the 95th percentile queues is expected to
exceed its storage capacity with the project in place. The 95t"percentile queue on the Route 125
northbound approach at the site drive is expected to be approximately 350 feet,extending beyond
the Orchard Hill Road approach. It is recommended that the applicant review the existing traffic
signal timings and determine if there is an opportunity to adjust the signal timings such that they
can reduce this queue so that it does not interfere with exiting vehicles on the Orchard Hill Road
approach.
Peer Review Recommendations
The applicant has made a commitment to provide traffic signal improvements to minimize the
impacts of this development on the Route 125 corridor. In addition to this mitigation measure,VHB
recommends that the following issues be addressed by applicant:
1. As suggested by the applicant,crash data from the North Andover Police Department
should be reviewed to verify the accuracy of MassHighway crash data.
2. ISD sight triangles should be added to the site plan and any objects (vegetation or signage,
for example) should be modified or removed so that safe sight lines can be provided.
3. The annual growth rate used in this study should be compared to rates used in traffic
studies for other developments in the area,such as the master plan for the redevelopment of
the Lucent Technologies Merrimack Valley Works facility.
4. The site-generated trip assignment networks from the Lucent Technologies redevelopment
master plan document should be used to assign traffic from this background project to the
roadway network.
C:\DOCU ME-1\in i ppolit\LOCALS-1\Temp\Traffic_review_052506.doc
Date: May 25,2006 4
Project No.: 09280.18
5. The timings at the traffic signal should be reviewed and modified to reduce the queue on the
Route 125 northbound approach so that it does not interfere with exiting vehicles on the
Orchard Hill Road approach.
The preceding information was prepared for use by the Town of North Andover to assist them in the
review of the proposed gasoline station/convenience store development project,located at
1503 Osgood Street(Route 125)in North Andover,Massachusetts.
cc: Timothy B.McIntosh,P.E.-VHB
C:\DOCU\[E-1\m i ppol i t\LOCALS-1\Temp\Traffic_review_052506.doc