US101: SE 16US101: SE 16thth – SE 36 – SE 36thth Street Street (Lincoln City) )Project(Lincoln City) )Project

Community Advisory Committee

July 11, 2007 Meeting

Q & A from June CAC MeetingQ & A from June CAC Meeting• Q: Can we put in two signals, one at 36th and one at

32nd Street that are timed to facilitate pedestrian movement across US101?

• A: Two signals are not being considered here due to preferred signal spacing standards of ½ mile. Signals closer than that tend to have a negative effect on traffic flow, increasing congestion. Most traffic signals do provide a “walk” cycle for pedestrians to cross at the crosswalk. In order for the two signals to allow for pedestrians to cross the highway both signals would need an “all red” phase at the same time which would have significant impacts on traffic flow. Building median islands at any non-signalized crossings would be the best way to help pedestrians get across the highway safely. The islands allow pedestrians to make a two-stage crossing, only having to look for gaps in one direction of traffic at a time.

• Q: Why do we think we’d need 5 lanes if a signal goes in at US101/S. 32nd Street?

• A: In order for the signal to work efficiently and serve all vehicles without excessive backups forming with some people having to wait through several signal cycles to get through the intersection, a signal at this location would need to have a highway “cross section” of 5 lanes: 2 through lanes and a left turn lane in each direction. Without those lanes, long backups could develop quickly during busier traffic times.

• Q: Is there a way to avoid 5 lanes?

• A: If a signal goes in, no we cannot avoid a 5-lane cross-section. We would have to have 5 lanes to provide adequate room for vehicle stacking, which is the area the vehicles occupy when the light turns red. If a signal is not placed at 32nd Street, we would have to examine the current and projected traffic volumes and determine the number of lanes needed to meet ODOT’s mobility standards. This will be done as part of the traffic study for the project.

• Q: Can we put in a pedestrian overpass instead of a signal? Would this help eliminate the need for 5 lanes?

• A: The main purpose for installing a signal is to facilitate traffic movements from side streets onto or across the highway. Improved pedestrian movements is a secondary feature. A pedestrian overpass will not eliminate the need for 5 lanes because that is based on the number of vehicles that would be stopped while the light is red.

• Q: Is it a given that the signal has to be green, yellow and red? Could the signal head facing US101 traffic be green, yellow and red and the signal facing S 32nd Street be a flashing red beacon?

• A: It is required that all signals on a state highway system have green, yellow, red for all approaches. This is important for driver (and pedestrian) expectancies and safety. Detector loops are also installed as part of the traffic signal to sense vehicle presence. Then, based on timing parameters that account for safety, mobility and efficiency, the signal will serve the highway and side streets.

• Q: Can we have a signal at an offset intersection? Do we need to realign 32nd Street and what is the benefit?

• A: An intersection that is offset slightly can be signalized, but is not the preferred method. A design like this can cause conflicts with either right or left turn moves depending on the direction of the offset legs. Through movements also have to make a funny jog. It may require separate green times for the side streets in order to reduce the conflict points which greatly increases delay for everyone getting through the intersection during peak travel times. It also can cause a visibility problem for pedestrians or drivers’ view of pedestrians and requires elimination of all accesses (driveways) in between the legs because of the conflicts.

• Q: Could 32nd Street be blocked off and a signal installed at 29th or 35th?

• A: A signal at 32nd Street would serve neighborhoods on both sides of the highway. Because 29th and 35th Streets only connect to streets on the west side of the highway, these locations would not serve nearly as many drivers. 32nd Street was listed as a major collector in the last version of the Lincoln City Transportation Plan. The 2001 traffic study conducted by PacWest Engineering for the City of Lincoln City identified 32nd Street as the optimal location.

• Q: Can we examine the possibility of design exceptions for lane widths to minimize impacts to the adjacent property owners if we reduce our design speeds?

• A: Design exceptions for projects that are classified as a “modernization” project are difficult, but not impossible. This project is classified as a modernization project and we have to meet both federal and state design requirements. US101 is part of the National Highway System (NHS), is a truck route and a scenic byway. Given the amount of truck traffic, it is also important to consider their needs; 12 foot lanes are desired for truck and RV traffic. The minimum allowable lane width on an NHS route is 11 feet. Design exceptions on modernization projects are carefully reviewed to determine if meeting the standards creates a significant impact, if not the exception may not be granted. We may want to explore other traffic calming measures.

• Q: Do we take local development into consideration when we do a traffic study?

• A: Yes, but we can’t modify most analyses based on details of an individual property; one property doesn’t have enough impact to change the results unless it is something significant.

• Q: Can the parking in front of the Nelscott stores be expanded? Does this area help facilitate the flow of traffic?

• A: We understand the community values this parking area, but generally, we do not provide a parking “lot” like area such as this one adjacent to the highway. Parallel parking is allowed on state highways and can help provide traffic calming effects as it introduces additional friction on the highway. Diagonal parking is generally not permitted on state highways. Exceptions to this have been granted on a limited basis in designated Special Transportation Areas (STA’s). If there was room and it didn’t hinder the function of the intersection, the development team would likely be willing to consider parallel parking.

ODOT Design Standards DiscussionODOT Design Standards Discussion

• Our designers have a variety of guiding documents they use that determine ODOT’s standards and policies. Among those documents are the Highway Design Manual (HDM).

• Many of the design requirements in the Q&A section came from the HDM.

• We’ll provide a brief overview of each standard that we have referred to today.

• To view these documents you can visit: http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/TECHSERV/

Signal Spacing StandardsSignal Spacing Standards

Mobility StandardsMobility Standards

• Mobility Standards are outlined in the HDM.

• “Modernization projects generally add capacity to the highway system to facilitate existing and/or accommodate projected traffic growth…Modernization projects must achieve a 20 year service life” (2003 Highway Design Manual pg 2-6).