City of High Springs Traffic Study

1
City of High Springs Traffic Study
Public Meeting 2
Sept. 16th, 2003
2
Barry Plath, URS
3
Thank you!

• Thanks to all who participated in the survey.
• Thanks to city hall for supporting this effort.
• Your feedback has helped guide the direction of
  the study.

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Traffic Survey (Meeting 1)

• 1) Conflicts at the intersection of Main Street
  and US 27.
• 2) Diverting truck traffic around the downtown
  area.
• 3) Future extension of Palm Avenue to US 441.
• 4) Widen CR 236 from US 441 to I-75.
• 5) Conflicts at the intersection of Main Street
  and US 441.
• 6) Improve sidewalks and bicycle facilities
  throughout the city.
• 7) Intersection improvements at Main Street and
  Poe Springs Rd.
• 8) Traffic signal at NW 9th Street intersection
  with US 27.
• 9) Traffic signal at NW 9th Street and US 441.
• 10) Traffic calming measures on NW 9th Street.
• 11) Speed reductions through downtown.
• (please refer to handout provided)

5
Survey Results
1 Diverting truck traffic around the
downtown area.
2 Conflicts at the intersection of Main
Street and US 27.
No matter how data rated, these are by far 1 and
2.
3 Intersection Improvements at Main Street
and CR 340/Poe Springs Rd. 4 Traffic signal at
9th and US 441 5 Traffic signal at 9th and US
27
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Priority Item 1
Diverting truck traffic around the
downtown area.
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Truck Traffic Routes
COLUMBIA COUNTY
CR 778/Oak Ridge Rd.
US 441
ALACHUIA COUNTY
US 27
N MAIN ST
I-75
CR 340/Poe Springs Rd.
US 441
CR 235A
S MAIN ST
NW 142nd AV
NW 30th ST
SR 47
GILCHRIST COUNTY
CR 235
CR 232/NW 78th Ave.
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Goal
COLUMBIA COUNTY
CR 778/Oak Ridge Rd.
US 441
ALACHUIA COUNTY
US 27
N MAIN ST
I-75
CR 340/Poe Springs Rd.
US 441
CR 235A
S MAIN ST
NW 142nd AV
NW 30th ST
SR 47
GILCHRIST COUNTY
CR 235
CR 232/NW 78th Ave.
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Creating Alternate Truck Routes
COLUMBIA COUNTY
US 441
CR 778/Oak Ridge Rd.
ALACHUIA COUNTY
US 27
N MAIN ST
I-75
CR 340/Poe Springs Rd.
US 441
CR 235A
S MAIN ST
NW 142nd AV
NW 30th ST
SR 47
CR 235
GILCHRIST COUNTY
CR 232/NW 78th Ave.
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Alternate Truck Routes
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Oak Ridge Road
US 441
N MAIN ST
US 27
I-75
CR 340/ Poe Springs Rd.
US 441
S MAIN ST
NW 30th ST
CR 235A
CR 235
CR 232/NW 78th Ave.
GILCHRIST COUNTY
ALACHUA COUNTY
COUNTY LINE
US 27 / US 41
SR 26
SR 26
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Alternate Truck Routes
COLUMBIA COUNTY
US 27 north of Main St. Average daily truck
traffic 950 trucks (11)
Oak Ridge Road
US 441
US 27
N MAIN ST
Cannot prohibit trucks on a US or State
route Can make alternative route appealing to
trucks - Signing - Traffic calming measures
downtown
US 441
Palm Ave.
S MAIN ST
NW 30th ST
CR 235A
CR 235
CR 232/NW 78th Ave.
GILCHRIST COUNTY
ALACHUA COUNTY
COUNTY LINE
US 27 / US 41
SR 26
SR 27
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Input on Alternate Truck Route
Please give us your feedback regarding the
alternate truck routes by filling out the comment
cards
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Priority Item 2
Conflicts at the intersection of Main
Street and US 27.
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Main Street US 27

• Intersection may improve with reduction of
• truck traffic
• Reducing conflicts at this intersection will
• require some reconfiguration

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Current Intersection Configuration
VACANT GROCERY STORE
STORES
US 41 / N. MAIN ST.
NORTH
VACANT
10 lane
GAS STATION
US 27 / NW 1st AVE
NW 1st AVE
12 lanes
12 lanes
10 lane
These are features at the intersection that can
be used to reconfigure the operation of the
intersection
CAFE
STORES
US 27(41) / S. MAIN ST.
PARKING
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Option A Configuration
VACANT GROCERY STORE
STORES
US 41 / N. MAIN ST.
NORTH
VACANT
GAS STATION
NW 1st AVE
US 27 / NW 1st AVE
Optimize signal for left turns and
longer pedestrian cycle
CAFE
STORES
US 27(41) / S. MAIN ST.
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Option B Configuration
Proposed Parking Area
STORES
US 41 / N. MAIN ST.
NORTH
VACANT
GAS STATION
NW 1st AVE
US 27 / NW 1st AVE
CAFE
STORES
US 27(41) / S. MAIN ST.
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Input on Downtown Intersection Configurations
Please give us your feedback regarding the
intersection options by filling out the comment
cards
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Priority Items 3, 4, 5
Intersection improvements 3 ) CR 340/Poe
Springs Rd. US 27 4) NW 9th St. US 441 5) NW
9th St. US 27
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MUTCD Warrant Analysis

• MUTCD - Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices
• Adopted by the Department in compliance with
  Chapter 316.0745 of the Florida Statutes. The
  MUTCD is the basic guide for traffic signals.

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MUTCD Warrant Analysis

• Warrant 1A - 8-hour Volume
• The major street must have 350 vehicles per hour.
• The minor street must have 105 vehicles per hour.
• Warrant 1B - 8-hour Volume
• The major street must have 525 vehicles per hour.
• The minor street must have 53 vehicles per hour.
• Warrant 2 - 4-hour volume
• Used where the minor street volumes experience
  undue delay
• Warrant 3 - Peak hour volume
• Used where the minor street volumes experience
  undue delay

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MUTCD Warrant Analysis

• Warrant 4 - Pedestrian Volume
• applied where road volumes cause excessive
  pedestrian delays
• Warrant 5 - School Crossing
• applied at locations heavily used by school
  children
• Warrant 6 - Coordinated Signal System
• used in coordinated systems to maintain vehicle
  platooning
• Warrant 7 - Crash Experience
• used where there are high instances of
  intersection crashes
• Warrant 8 - Roadway Network
• used in instances where both streets are major
  routes

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MUTCD Warrant Analysis

• A traffic control signal should not be installed
  unless an engineering study indicates that
  installing a traffic control signal will improve
  the overall safety ond/or operation of the
  intersection. -From the MUTCD
• Warrants should be viewed as guidelines, not as
  absolute values. Satisfaction of a warrant is not
  a guarantee that the device is needed. Because
  these are minimum requirements, satisfaction of a
  warrant is not necessarily justification or a
  mandate for a traffic signal. - Florida MUTS
  (Manual on Uniform Traffic Studies)
• Engineering judgement should be exercised in
  making the final determination. - Florida MUTS

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Intersection summary

• 3) CR 340/Poe Springs Road US 27
• 2003 counts near the intersection indicate future
  potential for study and analysis. Currently
  operating at acceptable levels of service.
• 4) NW 9th Street US 441
• FDOT assessment of the intersection shows that
  there is no significant delay and/or large crash
  occurrence to warrant a signal at this time
  although it meets one of the minimum warrants.
  Currently operating at acceptable levels of
  service.
• Southbound right turn lane to be added to enhance
  operation.
• 5) NW 9th Street US 27
• FDOT assessment shows that there is no
  significant delay and/or large crash occurrence
  to warrant a signal at this time. Currently
  operating at acceptable levels of service.
• Actuated flashing signal to be installed to alert
  US 27 drivers when cross street traffic is
  present.

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Survey Responses

• A noteworthy item from the survey

Many surveys commented on high vehicle speeds
within the city.
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Speed Enforcement

• Laser survey on US 441 near the city limit showed
  one (1) of every three (3) drivers exceeded the
  65 mph speed limit.
• Recommend local law enforcement act to reduce
  posted speed limit violations.

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Crash Summaries 1998-2002
Object
Other
Angle
1
1
1
CR 236
Angle
4
1
Rear end
Sideswipe
3
3
1
US 441
Other
Left turn
Rear End
1
NW 9th St.
US 27
3
Angle
6
Left Turn
NW 4th St.
4
Other
NW 1st St.
1
Rear End
NE 1 St.
Backed Into
2
5
NE 1st Ave.
3
1
Backed Into
Rear End
Rear End
Angle
Head On
US 441
1
2
Other
Angle
US 27
1
1
Ped
1
8
CR 340/Poe Springs Rd.
1
NW 222 St.
Left Turn
5
Rear End
Head On
2
Rear End
SE 9th Ave.
6
Downtown intersections with more than one crash
per year
1
Left Turn
Palm Ave.
Rear End
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Possible solutions Right turn merge, prohibit
southbound left turn
CR 236
US 441
NW 9th St.
US 27
NW 4th St.
Possible solutions Left Turn Lane Increase Curb
Radii
NW 1st St.
NE 1 St.
NE 1st Ave.
US 441
US 27
CR 340/Poe Springs Rd.
NW 222 St.
Possible solutions Left Turn Lanes Increase Curb
Radii
SE 9th Ave.
Palm Ave.
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US 441 Enhancements
Project will be begin in Spring 2004
Source Florida Dept. of Transportation
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US 441 at CR 236 Winn-Dixie sidewalk
intersection improvement 2004
US 441 Santa Fe River Bridge Replaced Bridge -
2003
US 27/NE 1st Ave at Main St./US 41 Upgraded
traffic signal - 2003
US 441 Resurfacing, traffic signal upgrade, turn
lanes 2004
US 41/US 27 at CR 232/NW 78th Ave. flashing
beacon, add left turn lanes - 2006
FDOTImprovements
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Overview

• Alternative truck route sought to give relief to
  downtown intersection
• Downtown intersection modifications may lead to
  reduced conflicts and increased safety
• US 441 and NW 9th Street receiving right turn
  lane from southbound US 441
• US 27 and NW 9th Street receiving actuated
  flashing signal and
• US 441 and Main Street upgrades begin next year

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Thank you again!

• Comment cards available.
• The Department would like your input regarding
  alternate truck routes, downtown intersection
  modifications and other related traffic concerns.
• Please come to the November meeting for final
  recommendations.

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Contact Information

• Doreen Joyner-Howard
• FDOT District 2
• 2250 Irene Street
• Jacksonville, FL 32236
• [phone] or [phone]
• email
• doreen.joynerhoward_at_dot.state.fl.us