HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-15 TEC Civil Peer Review AUG-31-2005 12:30PM FROM-TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTIO 076-794-1703 T-242 P.002/005 F-426
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TRANSPORTATION
CNGINrrERING + CON5TMUCTION. INC. INNUVATUR:i IN PROJECT DELIVERY
Lincoln Daley,Town Planner August 31, 2005
Community Development and Planning Department T0131
North Andover Town Buildin;
400 Osgood Street
North Andover,MA 01845
Re., Traffic Engineering Peer review
Walgreens Pharmacy/Retail Development
Map 27—Lots 16 through 26
Dear Mr. Daley,
Transportation Engineering and Construction,Inc. (TEC)has completed a preliminary review
of the traffic engineering documents supporting the Walgreens development proposal on
Turnpike Street (Route 114). We received the following documents from MHF Design
Consultants,Inc. as pan of this traffic engineering,peer review;
o Site flan Special Permit Application Piling-Bohler Engineering,P.C.,dated 8-5-05
• Site Development Plans--Bohler Engineering,P.C., dated 8-4-05
• Drainage Report—Bohler Engineering,P.C., dated 8-4-05
• Traffic Impact and Access Study—Vanasse&Associates,Inc.,August 2005
TEC reviewed the above listed documents as they pertain to traffic engineering elements,
including traffic data, lane use at intersections,projections of future traffic, traffic operations
analysis, site roadway configurations,and new driveway locations. The Traffic Impact and
Access Study(TIAS)was prepared in general conformance with industry standards, evaluating
the existing conditions, future year conditions without the project,and a future year analysis of
the impacts associated with the proposed retail development. TEC's peer review comments
have been separated into two categories; Traffic Study and Proposed Site Plans.
Traffic Studv
I. The project area studied within the report is sufficient to identify specific impacts from
the proposed development.
2. The study includes data for the weekday evening and Saturday midday peak hours,
which is normally appropriate for retail developments. Since specific tenants have not
been identified for the 11,385 sf retail area,it is difficult to ascertain the appropriateness
of the time periods selected for analysis. If the site proposal includes a large
donut/coffee restaurant,it would be appropriate to expand the analysis to include the
weekday morning peak hour.
3. The trips associated with the proposed Walgreens was based on empirical data that is
more conservative that the corresponding ITE rates. This is a more accurate way of
determining a local trip generation rate. As mentioned above,it is difficult to accurately
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project the traffic associated with the other proposed retail area without a better
understanding of the intended use(s). The trip generation assessment that was prepared
used only the average rates for trips rather than the more conservative fitted curve
equation. Since the
The following is a summary of the trip generation rates for the undefined shopping
center portion of the site that should be considered by the Planning Board:
Trip Generation Comparison—Shopping Center(ITE Land Use Code 820)
ITE Average Rates ITE Fitted Curve Rates
Time Period (used within VAI Study) (Recommended)
Weekday Evening Peak I-lour 42 149
Saturday Midday Peak Hour 56 211
4. The traffic study does not describe the frequent occurrence of queuing on Route 114
eastbound,traveling up the hill past Waverly Road. The singular through lane
significantly limits capacity and often has rolling queues back to Market Basket Plaza
and 1-495 (toward Lawrence). The existing conditions analyses should be calibrated to
match this existing trend.
5. The traffic volumes collected as part of the Walgreens study(performed in late July/
early August 2005)do not compare well with the data that was collected as part of the
Eaglewood traffic impact and access study in 2003. This report,which was previously
reviewed by VAI, shows a drop in westbound Route 114 traffic between 2003 and 2005
by approximately 300 vehicles per hour. This difference in traffic,raises a question
about the accuracy of the traffic counts and/or the need to evaluate other factors that
may have led to such a significant drop in traffic. TEC recommends that VAI perform
an additional traffic count at the intersection of Route 114/Waverly Road after Labor
Day to reconfirm the traffic volumes.
6. The report briefly describes the method used to estimate the distribution of traffic to and
front the site,which is based on existing travel trends in the area. However,there was
no backup information provided within the appendix. These calculations should be
submitted for review.
7. TEC believes that a more significant voltune of traffic will be accessing the proposed
development from the east along Route 114. This will increase the volume of traffic
making a left turn from Route 114 westbound to Waverly Street for access into the site.
This will put an additional strain on capacity for the eastbound through movement,
ultimately worsening the queuing situation on Route 114 eastbowid. This can be
confirmed or dismissed with additional supporting materials submitted by VAI.
8. The right-turning traffic exiting from the site onto Rotate 114 eastbound is projected to
operate at Level of Service F with delays in excess of 50 seconds per vehicle. This does
not reflect small gaps in traffic that will be created by the adjacent traffic signal and is
likely conservative.
9. Time TIAS shows unmitigated impacts to the signalized intersection of Route 1141
Waverly Road. The northbound approach worsens in both its volume-to-capacity(v/c)
ratio and average delay per vehicle. It is important to mitigate capacity impacts since
the Route 114 corridor is an important local and regional arterial. If traffic impacts are
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not mitigated appropriately for each project along Route 114, it will likely draw more
traffic over to the Massachusetts Avenue/Salem Street corridor and ultimately impact
other areas of town.
10. The impacts at the intersections of Route 114/Route 133 and Route 133/Waverly
Road/High Street are expected to be minimal.
11. The queuing information was not summarized within the report. This information
should be provided as a summary to evaluate the impacts of the queues,knowing that
the queues for movements with a v/c ratio greater than 1.0 may be understated.
12. This project will require review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA)based on the number of new parking spaces required and the number of new
trips generated by the development program.
Proposed Site Plans
1. The site proposal includes two full-movement access points to Waverly Street and one
right-in/right-out access point onto route 114 eastbound. The site is cut into the
hillside and will require 6-7%slopes into the site. There is a steep slope along the
northeastern edge of the site,starting at the back of the existing public sidewalk on
Route 114.
2. The site frontage on Route 114 does not consider any widening of the roadway. The
widening of Route 114 is absolutely critical to more efficient travel up the hill east of
the site. TEC witnessed slow climbing rates for heavy vehicles traveling east. The
presence of a busy right-in/right-out driveway in this location will further affect the
capacity for traffic traveling up the hull. It will also be difficult to control westbound
left-turns into this driveway without a raised median along Route 114. T1C
recommends that the Planning Board require widening of Route 114 to accommodate
two eastbound travel lanes in front of the site prior to approving the right-in/right-out
driveway. This will require a retaining wall along this slope. Since this roadway falls
under the jurisdiction of MassMghway, it will ultimately require concurrence from
MassHighway's District 4 Office.
3. Widening;on the Route 114 eastbound approach to Waverly Road(on the Lawrence
side of the intersection)will ultimately require an additional travel lane in order to more
efficiently serve the existing and future levels of traffic. However, it appears that there
are constraints in the existing right-of-way that will require future land takings by
MassHighway as well as wetland constraints further down the hill. While this
improvement would mitigate any impacts to the intersection,it appears that it will
required modifications to the Boston Market site(outside the State Highway right-of-
way and on private property within the City of Lawrence).
4. There is a minor potential for cut-through traffic for traffic traveling northbound on
Waverly Road,turning right onto Route 114,when long queues are present on Waverly
Road.
5. The site plans show 158 new parking spaces based on the Town of North Andover's
regulations for 6 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross building axea. Tlus amount of
parking should be more than adequate for the intended amount of retail space on the
site.
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G, There is no defined pedestrian access between Route 114 driveway and the store
entrances. If an on-site sidewalk is introduced to link these two areas, it will also assist
pedestrian movements from outlying parking areas.
7. The proposed drive-thru area for the pharmacy can accommodate four vehicles before
impacting the internal drive aisle. The proponent should supply drive-thru traffic data
to confirm that this vehicle storage area is sufficient to accommodate the expected
queue.
S. The proposed drive-thru for the retail area has a significant storage area for queued
vehicles since the area behind the building is one-way. The site plans do not show an
area for a menu board, if that is appropriate for the intended use of the retail space.
9. The site plans should be supplemented with a truck delivery plan showing the turning
characteristics for heavy vehicles within the parking lot area and behind the building.
TEC recommends that additional traffic data and analyses be submitted for review prior to
acceptance of the traffic study and site plans for the Walgreens/retail site proposal to ensure
that there will not be significant impacts to the intersection of Route 114/Waverly Road. We
appreciate this opportunity to assist the Town of North Andover with this peer review. If you
have any questions regarding our review in the meantime;,please do not hesitate to contact me
at(978) 794-1792 x 145. Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
AND CONSTRUCTION, INC.
/41t�
Kcvin R, Matt ade,P.E.,PTOE
Senior Traffic Engincer
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