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Home My WebLink About20082535.tiff RESOLUTION RE: APPROVE ADOPTION OF WELD COUNTY/LONGMONT/MEAD SUBAREA ANALYSIS (BLACK HOLE TRAFFIC STUDY) WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with a Weld County/Longmont/Mead Subarea Analysis, also known as the Black Hole Traffic Study, among the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Mead, prepared by Felsburg Holt and Ullevig, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to adopt said analysis, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Weld County/Longmont/Mead Subarea Analysis, also known as the Black Hole Traffic Study, among the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Mead, prepared by Felsburg Holt and Ullevig, be, and hereby is, adopted. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 22nd day of September, A.D., 2008. �� v :OARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LD COUNTY, COLORADO yJ Jr i `� r- r to � . BUSED ATTEST: �� ,1•, H. Jerke, Chair Weld County Clerk to the Bo- r .� Robe D e , Pro-Tem BY: De ty Cler V. the Board Willi F. Garcia APP D AS T cM.� ux vid E. Long ty Attorne i��2 j0�6 Dougla ademac er Date of signature: l 11 2008-2535 EG0058 g() ! p ) /0% /0g- MEMORANDUM CTO: Clerk to the Board DATE: Sept. 15, 2008 • COLORADO FROM: Dave Bauer, Public Works SUBJECT: Request for Resolution Request Resolution from the BOCC approving the Black Hole Study with Longmont, Mead, and Weld County on the Subarea Analysis. See the attached pass around approved. M:AFrancie\Request Resolution from BOCC doe 1 1 JY 1 2008-2535 Weld Mead Subarea s a Iv ^.01. Y n • W.ti w�a- •li e s ♦ ,r te• _ � . 11 _ ram June 2007 i•J 4oi_LONG 9,A FELSBURG E * le T E � HOL 4�/ ea Mead - "A d l.ittk Town ULLEVIG L E V I G COL o R �� With n Dig Future" . Weld County / Longmont / Mead Subarea Analysis Prepared for: Weld County City of Longmont Town of Mead Prepared by: Felsburg Holt & Ullevig 6300 South Syracuse Way, Suite 600 Centennial, CO 80111 303/721 -1440 Principal in Charge: Christopher J . Fasching, P.E . Project Manager: Jenny A. Young, P.E . FHU Reference No. 07-051 June 2007 I . Jf - 4 • , A Weld County / Longmont / Mead lsm� ="4.4": Subarea Analysis TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 EXISTING AND FUTURE CONDITIONS 2 Study Area 2 Roadway Network 2 Planned Improvements and Potential Issues 2 FUTURE TRAVEL DEMAND 6 Land Use Forecasts 6 Traffic Forecasts 8 RECOMMENDATIONS 10 Roadway Plan 10 Other Considerations 10 Felsburg Holt & Ullevig .t1o. of LI4 . r ___ Weld County / Longmont / Mead °U . . �.g=tan Subarea Analysis LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1 . Existing Roadway Network 3 Figure 2 . Planned Improvements and Potential Issues 4 Figure 3. Traffic Analysis Zones and Trip Generation 7 Figure 4. Future Traffic Forecasts 9 Figure 5. Future Roadway Plan 12 LIST OF TABLES Table 1 . Land Use Forecasts 8 Felsburg Holt & Ullevig t / a iy0 fi�% �► �tcl Weld County / Longmont / Mead tar OR , Subarea Analysis INTRODUCTION The area of Weld County that is bounded by SH 119 on the south, County Line Road on the west, SH 66 on the north, and 1-25 on the east is expected to experience substantial development in the coming years. Portions of this subarea have been annexed into the City of Longmont and the Town of Mead . Additionally, St. Vrain State Park has been annexed into the Town of Firestone. Two transportation studies have recently been completed in the vicinity of the subarea; the Mead Transportation Plan (Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, August 2006) and the Weld County /-25 Parallel Arterial Study (Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, September 2003). Although these two studies each address the subarea in part, a need was identified to complete an analysis focusing on the future roadway needs of the subarea, particularly in light of recent modifications to the 1-25 parallel arterial alignment. Weld County, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Mead have jointly commissioned this subarea analysis to identify, in broad terms, the roadway needs of the subarea in order to preserve appropriate rights of way and to highlight areas that may require further detailed study. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 1 °/-. `0410.40 � Weld County / Longmont / Mead Subarea Analysis EXISTING AND FUTURE CONDITIONS Study Area The subarea is bounded by SH 119 on the south, County Line Road on the west, SH 66 on the north, and 1-25 on the east. The 12 square mile subarea is currently relatively undeveloped . There are two existing unincorporated residential developments (Meadow Vale and Longview) along SH 119. At the north side of the study area, the Liberty Ranch subdivision in Mead has begun residential sales, and Mead Crossings Business Park in Mead is zoned for commercial uses, although it is largely vacant. There are some industrial uses in the northeast quadrant of the SH 119/County Line Road intersection and some gas/convenience stores located at the I- 25/SH 119 interchange. The St. Vrain State Park is located in the southeastern portion of the study area near the I-25/SH 119 interchange. The remainder of the land is currently agricultural with several homesteads scattered throughout the subarea. Roadway Network 1-25, along the eastern edge of the subarea, serves as the primary north-south highway for travel along Colorado's front range. Although the section of 1-25 through the subarea is currently four lanes, funding has been programmed to widen it to six lanes. Both SH 119 and SH 66 are four lane state highways that provide east-west connections between 1-25 and Longmont. While SH 66 extends to west of the subarea to Lyons, SH 119 extends southwest of the study area to Boulder. County Line Road, on the western edge of the subarea, provides continuity from SH 7 in Erie up to SH 56 in Berthoud . The section of County Line Road through the study area is currently two lanes, but funding is currently in place to widen portions of it to four lanes . Internal to the subarea, each of the county roads is two lanes; some are paved, but most remain unimproved gravel roads. CR 28 provides the only crossing of 1-25 between SH 119 and SH 66. The CR 28 underpass beneath 1-25 is currently a single lane (originally intended for agricultural- level traffic volumes). The county road system generally follows the mile section-lines; however, the reservoirs and St. Vrain Creek limit the continuity of the county roads. The existing roadway network in the subarea is shown on Figure 1 . Planned Improvements and Potential Issues In order to identify the future needs of the subarea, it is important to first understand the planned improvements and to highlight potential issues associated with the subarea's roadway network. The planned improvements and potential issues are shown on Figure 2 and are described as follows: ► 1-25 Parallel Arterial: Although the Weld County 1-25 Parallel Arterial Study identified the western arterial along the CR 7 alignment, the preferred alignment has subsequently been modified due to changed circumstances. The Mead Transportation Plan identifies the preferred alignment as CR 5 through the Town of Mead to SH 66 . Recently, the arterial alignment between SH 66 and SH 119 has been established as CR 5 from SH 66 south to CR 26, then curving west to CR 3 1/2 (this has been recommended by agency staff). This arterial alignment is discontinuous at SH 119, with the arterial continuing along the CR 7 alignment south of SH 119. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 2 CD o L 4-1 iz CD Di i co . . ' --, cc' —CH -a , - ), c 4f. cc cm \\ cn cc . \ m). a <, :, :...- . ._. , LiJ -....,._,% t ,,' t, CR7 ' _ , CR7 IF \ ,O11 cn m , i % CR 5 i/2 **--Ns,,,... .) '--�J ii.___(% „_, , , (.., (..., _ _ J . Great (,y U occ cc �. \,,, •-N,-,17 astern ai/ c, CR 5 R �'aY rn U `` r - - tiled ,\t ((' C�) CR 3 '/2 CR 3 .0i c .L. `\ Fairview SL o ' 1 cN tea) Er / ,, ' l County Line Rd. 1,1 n o J� 0 a ^ N. ` ) n Q3 o N 03 T as C a co e. C c0 co 43 W H ►-+ J en V 0_1O LEI O.I -3 li U LLU I E .. 4.. 0 It- Z N Cl, Cl)NU) c up cc am L- a _ a3 v LL Cl.) cd ., z p +� �I C.( - .-0...., I E }' �{ 0 10 CL. C g \\ g'0 co LLL CS 0 0 X EN UV CCS p o) yK co_ v c cc N �\ to 11. cu X O rna _ `__ v x cc w .. rnN �,� 611 X O ' X i1 « a `o :' v CR 7 CR 7 = L V 1 - o cu o L a� o L r C C 0 0 r O 4- ,.. � • Nai °' aRa \-,Nillbr J N o r 1 CR 51/ 2 ` - --� C"- � ip O3 N. N a R CC ‘...\\%,..CC ^ r (great We U U stern A.. . ��-,k. ai/Wa rn L� '411.1111.143 A • 1O Cf) O C C a) 0y i_ NIA \I ti Hi 1.\-. a \ CRh/ \KX x = k, In N Q Qti . CR 3 i- = o Fairview St o >6. • ca) y= ai a r 'c wa) a) co r C � �'CON/ �r 0 O ca� 3L' x � ca ,f w cocaZ County/11 7: czy.... -4 Qi mci O ! o o C c r c 3 co N .LO � Q a1 O � N. � o CC N. c Ecot U � �� 1-. O) �Na) 4 o «. o = E _ a cL ._ o NQ L (in Cr >. a� a� y V o CD -Ft. Ca CT.) CC U < O C O a ,f Ir��1 E O '� a) d U v C E cm co co cC -a'� n o co a)cflLLI a a) N -IO „.4 3 ca.. c K1 a%,.... z __ • tI Weld County / Longmont / Mead ARV p OR Subarea Analysis The planned alignment results in an awkward angle for the railroad crossing approximately mid-way between CR 26 and CR 28, but the current railroad crossing at CR 3 1/2 will be closed with this proposed alignment. In exchange, a new at-grade railroad crossing will be located a half-mile west at Fairview Street. ► I-25/CR 28: The CR 28 underpass beneath 1-25 is currently a single lane. There are plans to build a new underpass which will accommodate up to four through lanes. Additionally, there are plans to "bow" CR 28 to the south between 1-25 and CR 7 as a part of the Waterfront at Foster Lake development. ► Expansion of Union Reservoir: The City of Longmont has plans to expand Union Reservoir. Since both CR 26 and CR 28 run along the edge of the reservoir, both of these roadway facilities will require realignment in conjunction with the reservoir expansion. The City of Longmont is planning to shift CR 26 slightly to the south around the reservoir and connect it to the existing intersection of County Line Road and 9th Avenue. On the north side of the reservoir, CR 28 will be shifted north. The exact alignment of CR 28 has not yet been determined ; however, it will not align with an existing intersection along County Line Road . ► Liberty Reservoir: The City of Longmont has the rights to create a new reservoir north of CR 28 and east of the Great Western Railway. ► CR 26/CR 7: Both CR 26 and CR 7 terminate at their intersection because St. Vrain State Park is located to the southeast. The design for the intersection of these facilities is currently under consideration . Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 5 ' ; v��- rst '� �` ,reed Weld County / Longmont / Mead ORS+ Subarea Analysis FUTURE TRAVEL DEMAND In order to properly identify the future roadway needs of the subarea, it is important to first understand the nature and volume of future traffic in the subarea. The analysis of future traffic volumes for the subarea is based on the 2030 regional travel demand model developed by the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization (NFR MPO). This computerized model includes the entire North Front Range region. The model area extends from SH 66 on the south to Larimer County Road 88 on the north, and from west of Fort Collins to east of Greeley. As a part of the Mead Transportation Plan (Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, August 2006), the NFR model was extended south to SH 119. That model has been further refined for use in this subarea analysis. Land Use Forecasts One of the basic inputs to the NFR travel demand model is the future land use. The model uses the future household and employment projections to estimate the number of trips being generated and then assigns those trips to origins and destinations both within and outside the modeling area . The NFR MPO has subdivided its planning area into 815 traffic analysis zones (TAZs). In order to more accurately forecast traffic volumes in the subarea, the 12-square mile subarea has been subdivided into nine TAZs, as shown on Figure 3. Household and employment forecasts in the subarea have been developed for two future scenarios: 2030 and Post 2030. The 2030 land use forecasts are based on existing developments plus development proposals that have been submitted to Weld County, the City of Longmont, and the Town of Mead . The following development proposals are included in the 2030 land use forecasts: ► West Union Reservoir ► Liberty Ranch ► Silengo ► Kiteley Ranch ► Mead Crossings Business Park ► Waterfront at Foster Lake ► Adler Estates ► St. Vrain Valley School District High School/Middle School site ► Union (Lifebridge) There are approximately 1 ,800 acres of remaining developable land within the subarea that is not accounted for in the proposed developments listed above. The Post 2030 land use forecasts are based on buildout of this remaining developable land in the subarea. Zoning from Longmont's and Mead's Comprehensive Plans were used to estimate the future development types and densities in these areas. Table 1 shows the 2030 and Post 2030 household and employment forecasts for the nine TAZs in the subarea. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 6 M O C O O C i O � = cts N L , _ 0 a I. _w 0 Cam; — , CCS a f a F- ? o o p � CS CC5 �O � a H O N Oy OOO)' N U) N N U. a) ) O r \ LTh- -- `-----. r r ' O `� Oat - S CR7 _0 .- , foo----, • [irin . 0 O O ft_) ' in ti `�°C o--rte:,I ?ti • : O O o CC eat We e �,- __ st �n R�?i/Wa ' o o c`) °L . CR5 Y _ i o o .-- UL ; ;- -. Ono T- O O N U/-�4 r r ,,r COO O (n N ,, fD r _ CR 3 '/2 ,,/ -, It , N\ / • CR 3 .o Fairview St. ry o °' O O p p O 43 CID isla Q M O O co r c cm o ./ t) o c a) N C C .ca_ O 0 County Line Rd. Q ,, .) �•C cij A H Q N- Jul c A O N ni— co Q/ j U 0 b o N c ` co w O I, a) ,.„ t o O 0 F-- N a. _ y T II II II (--ti a (13 Ufo 0 la W © X K co D i -' > cv w z a ILI., ao er Le L co 0 cm LL CJ L o 1,-- LL u0 is, • - -Inn ' i 1- ' \ - - C -0 0 CJ ct In W O' \ C ; a rN , +r M et ae 11_ ,f_• ou��, JLij — E1-1.2 = CC \ in tri LK--t-------s- . Li_ ' J 1 v -lth-Th;) CR 7 5-10 5-10 CR 7 5-10 L 10-15 ��r �''-C— la 2Th of � c �nin / in In ' ca eq v.) to V 0 V V \is\ 3 R z....5..."�; <5 CR 51/2 -`— co N <5 \,-,.. ,. CV Q, C ' \, 4 Great western U U Way rn L� CR 5 5-10 5-10 1 v 20-25 15-20 r U/e�4\ .44 U) ,, In V v I 0 co in 5-10 CR 31/2 t./ 10-15- - , �, to o cn N ca on co) \ 02 th N M (a 1 -� ., ' v <5 U) CR 3 <5 r o \ Fairview St. �° c 5-10 c <5 ^ as m 0 = C I -° /1 Co / z C 0 O o u) o +- o M coI in O ^f , �� to U N CO La cm V II) I, h � Q 42 f N' Co 0 L_/ LL 0 C) o County Line Rd.15-20 15-20 20-25 o Es 20-25 20-25 25-30 0 I—co a I- - c� a 0 Q./ >' 0 o -C Q Ti o C N -C ` Q c\Jo o Q) o co I a o o rn N a. m C II II CO o C� � C7 Z X X os W X X (7 co �l - J CV X X CV is_ NI z 0 4, ," (*eac \ Weld County I Longmont I Mead bi Subarea Analysis � OA� Table 1. Land Use Forecasts TAZ 2030 Post 2030 Households Employees Households Employees A 1 ,360 289 3,040 289 B 25 0 2,240 0 C 600 369 600 369 D 1 ,245 2, 185 1 ,245 2, 185 E 468 0 1 ,588 0 F 1 , 157 720 1 , 157 720 G 995 144 1 ,275 1 ,538 H 624 1 ,325 624 1 ,325 0 20 560 20 Total 6,474 5,052 12,329 6,446 Based on the development proposals that have been submitted , approximately 6,500 households are anticipated by 2030. The number of households is projected to nearly double with development of the remaining land , resulting in approximately 12,300 households at buildout of the subarea. In 2030, approximately 5,050 employees are anticipated in the subarea, with an additional 1 ,400 employees at buildout of the subarea. Based on these land use forecasts, the estimated number of daily trips generated by each of the nine zones in 2030 and Post 2030 is shown on Figure 3. Traffic Forecasts The household and employment forecasts for each TAZ were entered into the NFR travel demand model, and the model was then used to forecast 2030 and Post 2030 traffic volumes. As mentioned , the subarea is not included in the NFR MPO model area, but rather the model has been extended to include this area. Because the subarea is at the edge of the model, the reliability of the traffic forecasts is somewhat limited . For this reason, the traffic forecasts are provided in 5,000 vehicle per day (vpd) ranges. The resulting 2030 and Post 2030 traffic forecasts are shown on Figure 4. While the Post 2030 forecasts correspond to buildout of the subarea, they do not represent buildout of the surrounding region . Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 8 a A_.0 �Ot LOVpi ` r - A' ead Weld County / Longmont / Mead o OR Subarea Analysis RECOMMENDATIONS Roadway Plan As future development occurs in the subarea, it is important for the county and the municipalities to ensure that appropriate right of way is preserved for the ultimate roadway needs in the subarea. Based, in part, on the travel demand forecasts, a recommended roadway plan has been established , as shown on Figure 5. Internal to the subarea, the CR 5/CR 3 '/2 alignment will serve as a north-south arterial. In the east-west direction, CR 28 will serve as an arterial facility between CR 5 and 1-25, with an underpass beneath 1-25 and connecting east to CR 13. West of CR 5, the realigned CR 26 will serve as an arterial facility with a connection to 9`h Avenue, providing continuity through Longmont. On the western edge of the subarea, County Line Road will also serve as an arterial; County Line Road provides continuity from SH 7 in Erie up to SH 56 in Berthoud . Right of way for an ultimate four lane section (plus turn lanes at intersections) should be preserved for all arterial facilities. The remaining county roads in the subarea will serve as collector facilities. In general, the collector facilities should be planned for two through lanes. However, the section of CR 7 from the St. Vrain School District high school and middle school (located approximately half way between CR 26 and CR 28) up to SH 66 may require four lanes in the future to accommodate school traffic and other traffic generated by the adjacent developments. Right of way for an ultimate four lane section should be preserved along this section of CR 7 . Other Considerations The following is a summary of items that likely require further detailed study in the subarea: ► CR 5/Great Western Railway Crossing: Currently, this railroad crossing is at a severely skewed angle, which limits the visibility and creates difficulty for bicyclists crossing the tracks. In the design of CR 5 in this area, consideration should be given to improving the angle of the railroad crossing . ► CR 51/2 Traffic Calming: The primary north-south arterial through the subarea is accessed via CR 3 1/2 from SH 119, which is a 1 .5 mile offset from the CR 7 arterial south of SH 119 and a 2.5 mile offset from the I-25/SH 119 interchange. Because of this offset, drivers may be tempted to utilize CR 5 1/2 as a cut through route to access either CR 5 or CR 7. Since the desire is to keep CR 5 %2 as a two lane collector facility, primarily serving the adjacent residential development, consideration should be given to implementing traffic calming measures along this roadway. An access control plan is currently underway for the section of SH 119 between County Line Road and CR 5 1/2. The draft access control plan recommends signalization of the SH 119/CR 5 '/2 intersection if MUTCD warrants are met in the future. If and when a signal is installed at this intersection, the likelihood of cut through traffic using CR 5 '/2 will increase. Possible traffic calming measures to consider along this facility might include speed tables, traffic circles, or chokers (roadway narrowing). Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 10 o4 �ay�lot . 1 Weld County / Longmont / Mead O ""� Subarea Analysis � OO. 1O1O,P`�LO ► CR 26/CR 7: Both CR 26 and CR 7 terminate at their intersection because St. Vrain State Park is located to the southeast. The design for the connection of these two roadways should maintain a collector street standard , allowing for connectivity between the two facilities. Felsburg Holt & Ullevig Page 11 a • Inc a _ C) >+ Uiil -v — - _ (TS CC r. L0 u__ . _ —te.„ El. ) \• • : 611 , 4 . 1. ___:c CR 7 I. ( -off KY - , fin � '. \ , )-,--z'\ _ L___,L___,-in ,:c _ , ‘? Lj CR5i ____\N- --J ein Os CC El rest western R • o , �`- v<�f `alive 0 . - _ T v ,I4 4 1/./t34-) N ,, n i 1 I C O ci S V C N et to I 1111; I N / a> J as i • � I-- a '' :06.) a)y rK as ` o `s N I 0 IN LL Q U IL 0 II II II II q 4/ T CO C Q CO C7 (zSV Z b tx 1. 41 W co E" J C3 co W `l W W J Cr O ,,Up `_'.l 3 1.14 = t t r N Z BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REVIEW/WORK SESSION REQUEST RE: Adoption of Black Hole Traffic Study DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DATE: August 14, 2008 PERSON REQUESTING: David Bauer, Wayne Howard DV& Brief description of the problem/issue: Weld County, Mead and Longmont jointly funded the `Black Hole Study of the area north of State Highway 119, west of I-25, south of State Highway 66. This study was complete in June 2007 and provides guidance for land use and roadway construction planning in the area, however the study has not been formally adopted by the County. Copies of the principle pages of the study are attached. What options exist for the Board? (Include consequences, impacts, costs, etc. of options) The study is complete, no additional costs are required at this time. Individual roadway construction costs resulting from the study's recommendations can be dealt with at the time of construction approvals. Recommendation to the Board: Adopt the 2007 Weld County-Mead-Longmont SubArea Analysis. Approve Schedule Recommendation Work Session Comments William H. Jerke, Chair L--- Robert D. Masden N William F. Garcia V David E. Long 1;72Douglas Rademacher Attachments pc: M:PAdministration\Fortns\Work Session Request.doc • Hello