HomeMy WebLinkAbout20000577 03'20100 14:19 FAX 3032744277 BANKS AND GESSO Eh01
720 Kipling Street, Suite 117
Lakewood, CO 80215 Banks 8 Gesso, LLC
Phone: (303)274-4277
Fax: (303)274-8329
banksandgesso.com
Fax
To: toc m en,PaidCarly Phan*. From: Rob Laird
Fax: 970 3046498 Pages: 5
Phone: Date: 320/00
Re: USR-1255(Ft. Lupton)Traffic Study CC:
Sheri:
Per my phone message of this morning, please see following pages. The entire
study has been sent directly to Don Carroll in Public Works and he should have
gotten it this morning. I am only sending you the text of the study without all the
b affic counts and diagrams. Please let me know if you need the entire study and I
will arrange it.
Please call me with questions and to let me know of anything that I should know
about prior to the hearing on Wednesday.
a000 - t577
r EXHIBIT
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03'20/00 14:19 FAX 3032744277 BANKS AND GESSO 71T02
LSC TRANSPORTATION CONSULTANTS, INC.
1889 York Street
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 333-1105
FAX (303) 333-1107
E-mail: 1st @Iscden.com
TRANSPORTATION Web Site: http://www.lscden.cnm
CONSULTANTS, INC.
March 16, 2000
Mr. Rob Laird
Banks & Gesso, LW
720 Kipling Street, Suite 117
Lakewood, CO 80215
Re: Ft. Lupton Gravel Mining
Facility Traffic
(LSC # 000290)
Dear Rob:
We have now completed a traffic study of the proposed Ft. Lupton Gravel Mining and Batch
Plant facility in Weld County, Colorado. The 80-acre project site is located somewhat south
of County Road 18 and east of CR 25 (extended). All access is planned at a single access point
along CR 18, about 1,800 feet east of CR 25. Typical peak season site activity is envisioned
to consist of 44 exiting daily truckloads of aggregate,42 exiting truckloads of concrete, and 23
exiting truckloads of asphalt together with related traffic associated with employees, visitors„
and deliveries. These activities are expected to occur over a projected 15-year project life.
Rojidway Characteristics
Figure 1, enclosed, illustrates the site location relative to the nearby roadway system. CR 18
is a two-lane, east/west route between CR 5 and CR 41. Right-of-way assignment at nearby
CR 18 intersections is generally controlled by north/south Stop signs except at US 85 where
an east/west Stop is posted.
US 85 is an important north/south state highway which is posted with a 65 mph speed limit.
Its cross-section consists of two through lanes in each direction and separate approach left-
and right-turn lanes. Acceleration lanes are also provided for eastbound to southbound,west-
bound to southbound, and westbound to northbound traffic entering US 85.
Figure 1 also illustrates the results of peak-hour intersection turning movement traffic counts
in the vicinity of the Ft. Lupton site. Separate large truck counts are also included for the
CR 18/CR 25 intersection. These data are drawn from February 24, 2000 counts by Counter
Measures, Inc. (printouts of all count data are enclosed).
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Mr. Rob Laird Page 2 March 16, 2000
Estimated Traffic Generation
The generation of traffic by the proposed Ft. Lupton Gravel Mining/Batch Plant facilities is
unlike typical industrial land uses. In particular, it will contribute very little employee
commuter peak-hour traffic and peak season (July to October) truck activity is relatively
uniform throughout the planned 11-hour haul activity day (6:00 AM to 5:00 PM).
In general, the following traffic generation activities are projected:
• Aggregate Trucks: An average total of 44 daily exiting loads of aggregate is projected.
During a peak day, this total could increase by 30 percent, resulting in a maximum
total of 57 round trips.
• Concrete Trucks: On average, 42 exiting concrete loads per day are projectec.
Similar to aggregate activity,peak day concrete delivery activity could increase by 30
percent (55 maximum round trips).
• Asphalt Trucks:Average daily activity of 23 exiting loads of asphalt are projected with
a maximum day as high as 30 loads.
• Delivery. Service and Visitor Vehicles: As many as four off-peak round trips per day
are projected for this category of vehicle-trips.
• Employee Vehicles: A peak season total of 16 on-site employees are projected. Of
these, it is assumed that six would work from 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM, five would work
between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, and five would work from 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM. An
average of two vehicle-trips per day per employee is assumed.
For purposes of this analysis, we have conservatively used peak day, peak season traffic
projections. Based on the above estimates, the Ft. Lupton site is projected to generate a total
of 324 peak day vehicle-trips (162 entering and 162 exiting) including 284 truck trips and 40
passenger vehicle and pickup trips. During commuter peak hours, this level equates to 13
entering/exiting trucks plus five entering employees during the morning peak-hour, and 13
entering/exiting trucks plus five entering/exiting employees during the evening peak-hour.
Assuming that each loaded truck is equivalent to two passenger vehicles,maximum peak hour
activity would total 18 entering and 26 exiting passenger car equivalents (PCE's) whereas PM
activity would total 18 entering and 31 exiting PCE's.
Estimated Traffic Distribution and Assignment
Based on estimates from L.G. Everist, Inc., about 75 percent of the Ft. Lupton site's peak
season traffic activity will be oriented towards the south on US 85. The remainder would be
oriented towards the north on US 85 (23 percent) and west along CR 18 (two percent).
Application of these percentages to the previously cited peak day generation estimates results
03/20/00 14:19 FAX 3032744277 BANKS AND GESSO X703
Mr. Rob Laird Page 3 March 16, 2000
in the daily and peak-hour vehicle-trip distribution and assignment projections shown on
Figure 2.
Figure 3 illustrates the combination of existing (Figure 1) and site-generated (Figure 2) PCE
traffic.
Estimated Traffic Impacts
In order to assess the impacts of the proposed Ft. Lupton facility, related capacity analyses
have been performed which compare existing traffic operating conditions (Figure 1)with those
reflecting the addition of project-generated traffic (Figure 3). The methodology used is that
presented in the nationally accepted Highway Capacity Manual published by the Trans-
portation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. The concept of Level of Service
(LOS) is used as a baths for computing combinations of roadway operating conditions. By
definition, six different Levels of Service are used (A, B, C, D, E, and F) with "A" being a
relatively free-flow condition and "E" representing the "capacity" of a given intersection or
traffic movement. Table 1, enclosed, summarizes the results of our LOS analyses (actual
computer printouts are enclosed). As indicated,the addition of project-generated traffic is not
projected to adversely impact existing Levels of Service (LOS). Even though westbound left-
turns at CR 18/US 85 are calculated at LOS"F" during the PM peak-hour, the Ft. Lupton site
will not contribute to this particular traffic movement.
Recommendations
As noted in Table 1, a left-turn lane is recommended for the westbound CR 18 approach to the
site access drive. Without such a lane, westbound vehicles waiting to turn left into the site
would totally block westbound through traffic. The resultant backup of traffic would create
unnecessary accident potential along westbound CR 18 for motorists west of the Platte River
Bridge. Based on the requirements set forth in the current Colorado Department of Trans-
portation Access Code and assuming a 40 mph speed limit,this left-turn lane should be twelve
feet wide and 395 feet long including a 144-foot entrance taper and a 30:1 redirect taper.
apinmaiy and Conclusions
Based on the analyses presented herein, the following summarizes our study findings
concerning the projected traffic to be generated by the Ft. Lupton site:
1. Estimated peak season traffic generation is expected to total 142 truck round trips
and 20 passenger vehicle/pickup round trips. This level of activity equates to about
13 entering and 13 exiting trucks per hour over an 11-hour workday (6:00 AM to
5:00 PM).
2. About 75 percent of the proposed truck activity is expected to be oriented towards
the south along US 85.
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Mr. Rob Laird Page 4 March 16, 2000
3. Peak-hour Level of Service analyses indicate that the project's additional traffic
activity will have minimal impact on both the site access intersection and the nearby
US 85/CR 18 study intersection.
4. Given implementation of the recommended traffic improvements cited herein, the
addition of site-generated traffic can be accommodated by the surrounding roadway
system.
r r
We trust that this information will assist you with further planning for the proposed develop
ment of the Ft. Lupton site. Please call if we can be of further assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
LSC Transportation Consultants, Inc.
By: ,fr / w�-
Phili�N Sc tt III, P.E.
•
PNS/wc •
Enclosures: Table 1
Figures 1 through 3
Capacity Analyses (10)
Traffic Counts
F:\PROJECTS\2000\000290\Rl-FLOM.WPD
Development Standard #20:
Proper building permits shall be obtained prior to any construction,
demolition, or excavation and any asbestos related inspections as
required by Regulation 8 of the Colorado Air Quality Commission
shall be conducted. Part of the permit application process includes a
complete plan review.
Development Standard 3a:
No fill, berms, or stockpiles shall be placed in the One Hundred (100) Year
Flood Plain of the South Platte River which would obstruct passage of
flood flows.
4 EXHIBIT
L'*1Z55
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