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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-11-19 Traffic Study HAJEC ASSOCIATES Transportation Engineering and Planning Ref . No. 98023 (via hand-delivery) August 12 , 1998 Ms . Kathleen Bradley Colwell, Town Planner North Andover Planning Department Community Development & Services 384 Osgood Street (DPW Building) North Andover, MA 01845 Re : Hillside Road Office Development Traffic Review Dear Ms . Colwell : Hajec Associates, Inc . has completed a review of the Traffic Impact and Access Study (TIAS) for the proposed office development at the Route 125 (Andover By---pass) /Hillside Road intersection. The review focused on : data collection Methods, traffic volumes, levels of service, site trip generation/distribution, driveway design/location, study area safety, and mitigation. Study area traffic conditions during the 1998 Existing, 2003 No-Build, and 2003 Build analysis periods were considered. The findings of this evaluation are attached for your consideration. I will be available to discuss these findings at the next Planning Board meeting on the project, currently scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 , 1998 . Please call me if you have any questions in the interim. ce ely yours, o d� Paul J. Hajec President att . CC : Dermot Kelly, Dermot J. Kelly Associates, Inc . (via fax) Hajec Associates, Inc. 375 Common Street Lawrence, MA 01840 Tel. (978) 557-5887 Fax (978)557-1185 WEO 1-1AJEC ASSOCIATES Transportation Engineering and Planning HILLSIDE ROAD OFFICE DEVELOPMENT TRAFFIC IMPACT AND ACCESS STUDY REVIEW SUMMARY OF FINDINGS I . PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed project is development of a 23 , 520 square foot (sf) office building on a parcel of land located on the east side of Route 125 (Andover By-Pass) , at its intersection with Hillside Road, in North Andover, Massachusetts . The project is proposed for a currently vacant and wooded land parcel on the north side of Hillside Road at this intersection. The property is bounded by land occupied by an office complex (Chestnut Green at The Andovers) and OSCO Drug on the north, Hillside Road and residential units on the south, and Route 125 , Merrimack College, and Alcott Village (residential use) on the west . According to information presented in the proponent' s Traffic Impact Study (TIAS) , the proposed office building would be served by a single full-movement (all turns permitted) driveway located on Hillside Road, approximately 130 feet east of the Route 125/Hillside Road intersection. This driveway would be intended to provide a direct connection to Hillside Road, and ultimately to Route 125 for travel to/from all points by all site-generated vehicles . The driveway is proposed to provide a single travel lane in each direction, separated by a double yellow centerline . Exit movements would be under stop sign/stop bar control . The closest public intersection to the site is Route 125/Hillside Road, located approximately 130 feet west of the proposed driveway. The Hillside Road/Bucklin Road intersection is oriented on the south side of Hillside Road, approximately 170 feet east of the driveway. It is understood that the site is zoned Business 4 , allowing the construction of office land uses . Hajec Associates, Inc. 375 Common Street Lawrence,MA 01840 Tel.(978)557-5887 Fax (978)557-1185 P i • I -2 In the proponent' s traffic study, as well as for the purposes of this review, three traffic flow conditions have been considered, as follows : * 1998 Existing (or Baseline) ; * 2003 No-Build (without the proposed project) ; and * 2003 Build (with the proposed project) . TT . STUDY AREA The study area selected for the proposed project included the following intersections and their connecting roadway segments : * Route 125 at Hillside Road; and * Hillside Road at Site Drive . Each of these intersections is in the Town of North Andover. Hillside Road on the east (project) side of Route 125 is a locally owned and maintained two-lane, two-way roadway serving residences and the rear driveway of the Chestnut Green office complex. The pavement width is generally 24 feet, except narrower in a very few areas where there is an outgrowth of vegetation. There are no lane markings or sidewalks present on this segment of roadway. This side of Hillside Road terminates in a dead-end turn-around at the Chestnut Green rear driveway. The pavement is in good condition, exhibiting no visible break--up. Hillside Road on the west side of Route 125 is also a locally owned and maintained two-lane, two-way roadway section. It serves abutting (to the roadway) single--family residences . There is a posted ,speed limit of 25 miles per hour . This portion of Hillside Road continues in a general westerly direction into the neighboring community of Andover, Massachusetts, eventually intersecting Route 28 (an arterial roadway with direct access to Route 495 in Andover) . At the jurisdictional boundary and entering Andover, the roadway name changes to Highland Road. Route 125 (Andover By-Pass) in the study area is under the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) . There are four lanes for through traffic (two in each direction) , with directional flows separated by a raised median . Left turn/storage lanes are provided at many of the intersections along this roadway (such as at Merrimack College Driveway and at Hillside Road) . There is no posted speed limit in the immediate vicinity of the intersections with Hillside Road. Observations indicate, however, that travel speeds are generally between 45 and 50 miles per hour during times of low impedance (non-peak periods) . Speeds are noticeably lower and vary within a wider range during hours of heavier congestion (commuter peak periods) . Route 125 is oriented i I -3- in a general north/south pattern and provides a direct connection to Route 114 just north of the site and to Route 93 toward the south (for travel to downtown Boston and the surrounding Metropolitan Area) . The Route 125/Hillside Road intersection is under stop sign control for exit movements from the Hillside Road approaches . In the absence of pavement markings (lane delineation or stop bars) , vehicles tend to form a single lane on each of these approaches . There appears to be adequate width along the Hillside Road (east/project side) approach to accommodate two exit lanes for a side--by-side queue of two or three vehicles . The Route 125 approaches to the intersection consist of two through lanes as well as a left turn storage lane in each direction. The MHD is considering the installation of traffic signals at several intersections along Route 125, south of the proposed project site and in Andover, sometime within the next five years . In fact, it is understood that the Route 125/Gould ,Street intersection will be signalized this year. The other Route 125 intersections being contemplated for signalization are Vine Street, Prospect Road, and Salem Street . It is also expected that the Hillside Road intersection could receive improvements in the form of signage, pavement markings, and manor geometry changes . III . OVERVIEW The TIAS, dated March 1998 , was prepared by Dermot J. Kelly Associates, Inc . (DJK) of Andover, Massachusetts . The analysis contained therein was, for the most part , conducted in accordance with traffic study guidelines of the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD) and as typically expected by the Town of North Andover. Detailed review of the TIAS, however, has nevertheless resulted in the identification of issues which should be addressed in order to provide a technically complete and authoritative report, clearly outlining the potential impacts and ultimate feasibility (from a safety and operations standpoint) of the proposed office project . It should also be noted that the review copy of the TIAS contained correspondence from MHD to DJK stating a "no significant impact" finding on the proposed project, relative to the need for an Indirect Access Permit from the state (typically required for new driveways at private developments that are within close proximity to state highway) . Hajec Associates, Inc . has also obtained general project information and discussed project-related traffic issues during a handful of telephone conversations with the proponent' s traffic consultant (DJK) , Ii I -`*- 1 Hajec Associates, Inc . conducted one study area visit for reconnaissance of sight distances, vehicle gaps, and driveway orientation/design. The visit was conducted on a typical weekday during August 1998 . As of the writing of this document , Hajec Associates, Inc . and DJK are in the process of trying to arrange a site/study area visit to jointly observe traffic operations and discuss issues raised in this review. It is expected that this visit will occur prior to the next Planning Board meeting on the project, currently scheduled for Tuesday, August 18 , 1998 . IV. REVIEW REPORT FINDINGS This review of the data input, methods, and analysis results presented in the proponent' s traffic study has yielded the following additional specific determinations : Need No Further Clarification or Additional Evaluation/Information traffic count data (including seasonal adjustment, etc . ) analysis hours (weekday AM and PM peak commuter hours) * analysis years (Existing 1998 , No-Build 2003 , Build 2003) project-specific background growth project trip generation estimates level of service methodology intersection and roadway geometric descriptions * proposed driveway location on Hillside Road It should be noted that the proponent' s traffic consultant clearly made an effort to be sure that traffic generated by Merrimack College "in session" was accounted for in the report . Specifically, the traffic counts for the TIAS were conducted during two different weeks in March 1998 , separated by the school ' s "Spring Break" week. The project--specific background growth calculation, meanwhile, adheres to typical traffic study guidelines by considering only approved projects at the time of TIAS preparation. The Chickering Road office/retail development (at existing Rennie' s site) is currently in the local permitting process and warrants some discussion relative to the Hillside Road office project, from a study area impact perspective . The project trip generation estimates were conservatively calculated using the highest peak hour rates from among those published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) for viable office--type land uses . The daily (24--hour) trip generation of the site would be 226 vehicle trips (113 in, 113 out) . The peak hour trip totals would be 42 (37 in, 5 out) in the AM and 40 (6 in, f i --5- 34 out) in the PM. The level of Service calculations were completed using the most recently published (and accepted by MHD) methodologies and computer programs . The proposed driveway location on Hillside Road would be approximately 130 feet from Route 125 and 170 feet from Bucklin T rRoad (the next closest intersection) . This orientation provides acceptable spacing between the driveway and each intersection. It aqw- correctly accounts for the storage of vehicles exiting Hillside Road, between Route 125 and the Site Drive . 10 Need Clarification or Additional Evaluation/Information * The historical traffic volume summary in Table 2 of the TIAS indicates an actual average annual growth rate of 2 . 1% at a nearby MHD permanent count station. An average annual growth rate of only 1% was used in calculations of No---Build traffic flows in the TIAS . This difference should be explained. * A sight distance evaluation for the study area intersections (including the Hillside Road/Site Drive location) is not provided. (Hajec Associates, Inc . has conducted a sight distance evaluation of these intersections and determined that distances are/will be adequate . Thus, no further work is required on this issue . ) * Study area accident data has not been provided. A summary of data for the most recently available three year period is suggested. * The project trip distribution/assignment was based on existing peak hour traffic flow distribution in the study area (73 . 9% southbound in the AM and 74 . 9% northbound in the PM) . This existing distribution may be biased by the heavy use of Route 125 as a commuter route to Boston (via Route 93) . It would be better and more realistic to develop the project distribution using Journey-to-Work data for Andover/North Andover from the United States Census . * A summary table of peak hour net vehicle and percentage traffic increases on study area roadways is not in the TIAS . This summary is a typical traffic study element and should be presented in a response document . * Level of Service (LOS) calculations and results are not presented for the Hillside Road/Site Drive intersection. These calculations and results should be part of the response document . The introductory portion of the TIAS indicated that this intersection was a part of the study area and implied that such calculations would be forthcoming. * The LOS results for Route 125/Hillside Road indicate that the addition of site-generated traffic would increase average PM peak hour delays for turns from the westbound approach by 38 seconds . This warrants further discussion from the proponents traffic consultant . It is also hoped that actual delays to this movement will be verified during the joint site visit between Hajec Associates, Inc . and DJK. * Hajec Associates, Inc . concurs with the suggestion of a need for the operational./safety improvements mentioned for Route 125 Hillside Road in the TIAS . The proposed signage, pavement marking, and minor geometry improvements mentioned for Route 125/Hillside Road, however, need further clarification. Specifically, the type, schedule, and responsibility (financial and construction) elements for implementation need to be explained. * Alternative access plans were not considered in the TIAS . Two additional options for primary or secondary access for the site would be via a connection to the Chestnut Green office complex and via a direct connection to Route 125 . The viability and feasibility of these alternatives should be discussed. The Chestnut Green alternative would mitigate the need for a new curb cut on Hillside Road (directly opposite residential uses) . * in the absence of a legal agreement for shared use, the potential for site traffic using the Hillside Road (rear) driveway to Chestnut Green as a by-pass to Route 114 should be discussed. Even though speed bumps are present throughout the Chestnut Green parking and driveway areas, it is not clear that this would be an unfavorable route (from a travel time standpoint) to motorists exiting the new project, particularly during the PM peak commuter period (when northbound traffic on Route 125 is heavy and queues/delays at the Route 125/Route114 intersection are long) . * The potential for site exiting traffic using the west side of Hillside Road as a by--pass (to obtain access to Route 495 in Andover, etc . ) should be discussed. This seems likely as an option when considering the delays along the "primary" route (Route 114 westbound) . The movement across six lanes of traffic on Route 125 that would be required to access the Hillside Road by-pass route would be compromising, from a safety standpoint . VT . CONCLUSIONS Appropriate responses should be provided to the outstanding issues and questions outlined herein prior to an official determination on this project . lWE 1-1AJEC ASSOCIATES Transportation Engineering and Planning Ref . No . 98023 October 1, 1998 Ms . Kathleen. Bradley Colwell, Town Planner North Andover Planning Department Community Development & Services 27 Charles Street North Andover, MA 01.845 Re : _Executive Quarters Traffic Review site Access Egress options Dear Ms . Colwell : Per your request in correspondence dated September 10 , 1998 , Hajec Associates, Inc . has evaluated several access/egress options for the above---referenced proposed project, from a traffic and safety perspective . The individual options and my findings with respect to each are outlined below . option 1-- Enter and exit via Route 125 with a cut in the existing median strip on Route 125 Hajec Associates, Inc . concurs with the findings of Mr. Dermot Kelly (proponent` s Traffic Consultant) and Mr. Michael Karas (MHD) , as outlined in your September 10 correspondence, particularly relative to the safe and efficient spacing of median breaks . option #2 - ....Enter and exit via Route 125 at the existing median break at the driveway to Merrimack College Hajec Associates, Inc . concurs with the findings of Mssrs . Kelly and Karas, as outlined in your September 10 correspondence, particularly relative to the safety compromise resulting from positioning the project entrance/exit in alignment with the existing median break and Merrimack College Driveway. option 3 - Exit only with a right turn only onto Route 125 Hajec Associates, Inc . feels that this option is worthy of further study. The limited access nature of Route 125 is indeed an obstacle, albeit one that may be surmounted with a cooperative effort between the proponent and the town. The Town should take the lead in presenting cost/benefit evidence to the State which Hajec Associates, Inc. 375 Common Street Lawrence,MA 01840 Tel. (978)557-5887 Fax (978)557-1185 -2-- clearly identifies a surplus of traffic and safety advantages that would occur with implementation of this option (in conjunction with construction and occupancy of the proposed project) . A permit is required from the State to construct this option . Although such a permit is not commonly applied for or granted, there is precedent for approval . Mr . Karas' concern that some site exiting vehicles would attempt U-- turns or left turns on Route 125 is unfounded. Site exiting vehicles making left turns onto Route 1.25 would be able to accomplish the maneuver at Hillside Road. O tion #4 - Full entrance and right turn exit only via Hillside Road This would be accomplished by construction of a delta island channelizing exiting vehicles so as to discourage left turns toward Chestnut Green. This option has been presented on an interim plan submitted by Mr. Kelly. We concur with this plan, in that it was originally suggested by Hajec Associates , Inc . at the August 18, 1998 Planning Board meeting. Option #5 - Full entrance and right turn exit only via Hillside Road with a dedicated turning lane on Hillside Road at Route 125 The proponent would donate some land to allow widening the Hillside Road approach to the intersection . This widening would permit provision of two approach lanes, with one for shared use by through and left-turning vehicles and the second for exclusive use by right-turning vehicles . We concur with Mr. Karas' positive findings on this option , Mr . Kelly should prepare a concept plan for local review which depicts this alternative . Conclusions Hajec Associates, Inc . feels that the option of a right turn only exit from the site onto Route 125 (Option ##3) provides traffic flow and safety benefits which should be further investigated, with the Town taking the lead in a cooperative effort with the proponent . We suggest that Option #5 is the second best plan and should be implemented at such time as efforts to procure approvals for Option #3 are rejected or become otherwise unfeasible . I will be available to discuss these findings at the October 6 , 1998 meeting of the Planning Board. Please call me if you have any questions . Si cer 1 yours, Paul J. Hajec President cc; Dermot J. Kelly (via fax)