PORTAGE ROAD FEASIBILITY STUDY Forest Drive to E. Centre Ave February 2020, Abonmarche
Transportation consultant Abonmarche was hired to perform this study in an effort to analyze the proposed rebalancing of the Portage Road right-of-way from Forest Drive to East Centre Avenue from five travel lanes to three travel lanes for vehicular traffic. This study included analysis of traffic, operational, and safety impacts for existing automobile traffic volumes, as well as three future scenarios related to automobile traffic volumes. The three future scenarios for automobile traffic volumes included 1) adding a traffic signal at Forest Drive while maintaining the existing five travel lanes, 2) converting to a three travel lane section with existing automobile traffic volumes and 3) converting to a three lane section with future automobile traffic volumes (1% growth). The vehicular traffic counts used to conduct this study were from 2015 and 2018. The data was extrapolated to 2019 by using a 1% growth factor consistent with a 2019 FHWA growth factor and ten years of historical traffic data on the corridor which confirmed the 1% growth factor applied. Based on this vehicular traffic analysis, the study conclusions regarding the impacts to vehicles were as follows: 1) Significant existing delays for eastbound left turning movement on Forest Drive can be mitigated by installing a traffic signal at the intersection; 2) Rebalancing the right-of-way on this segment from five travel lanes to three travel lanes was determined to have detrimental effects on southbound vehicular traffic at Forest Drive and Zylman Avenue intersections during the PM peak period (5-6pm); 3) Queuing that will form for southbound vehicular traffic during PM peak period will have impacts on driveway access along the corridor; 4) There were no discernible safety concerns on the corridor for vehicular traffic that would be impacted by the rebalancing of the right-of-way. To mitigate potential vehicular delays at Forest Drive, this study recommended the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Portage Road and Forest Drive to better manage eastbound left turning movements on Forest Drive. The City is currently advancing this traffic signal recommendation.
The images and renderings in this study are for conceptual and illustrative purposes, and may not be to scale.
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02 Planning Context