CHAPTER 3 Transportation Conditions, Plans and Needs
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April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 CHAPTER 3 Transportation Conditions, Plans and Needs 3.1 Traffic Operations and Safety Under Task B of this study, typical of similar corridor transportation planning projects, a field survey and existing data collection program was conducted to inventory information on traffic operations and vehicular accidents. These surveys included travel speeds along NY 27 main roadways, travel speeds and delays at intersections along CR 80 (Montauk Highway), speeds at selected locations along both roadways as well as on I-495 (Long Island Expressway), and traffic volumes along each of these roadways as well as the major parallel and intersecting arterials within the study area. The survey techniques and equipment used were standard methods employed by the transportation engineering industry. Data on traffic accidents over the three year period from January 2005 to December 2007 were obtained from the State’s summarized accident report files. These data were used to document and analyze existing conditions in the study area and provided the basis for identifying deficiencies, confirming problem locations identified in the public outreach efforts and project advisory committee meetings, and developing future travel demand forecasts and alternative improvement recommendations. 3.1.1 Travel Speed and Delay Surveys Travel speed and delay surveys were conducted along NY 27 and CR 80 (Montauk Highway) during the AM and PM peak periods in January and February of 2009. The survey vehicle was driven at speeds corresponding to other westbound and eastbound vehicles on both roadways between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM and between 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM. Travel Speed NY 27 Average speeds along the NY 27 westbound roadway ranged from 50.6 to 68.1 miles per hour and from 52.1 to 69.1 miles per hour during the AM and PM peak periods, respectively (Figures 3-1 and 3-2). The slowest speeds were recorded at the western end of the study corridor between Hospital Road and Ocean Avenue. 3-1 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 FIGURE 3-1: TRAVEL SPEED (NY 27 WESTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD FIGURE 3-2: TRAVEL SPEED (NY 27 WESTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 3-2 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 Average speeds along the NY 27 eastbound roadway ranged from 55.1 to 64.9 miles per hour and from 33.8 to 68.0 miles per hour during the AM and PM peak periods, respectively (Figures 3-3 and 3-4). The slowest speeds were recorded near the western end of the corridor, between Hospital Road and the CR 101 (Patchogue-Yaphank Road/Sills Road) exit during both the AM and PM peak periods. The NY 27 travel speed survey run data are provided in Appendix A.1. FIGURE 3-3: TRAVEL SPEED (NY 27 EASTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD FIGURE 3-4: TRAVEL SPEED (NY 27 EASTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 3-3 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 CR 80 (Montauk Highway) Average speeds on CR 80 (Montauk Highway) westbound ranged from 9.4 to 47.4 miles per hour and from 11.7 to 45.3 miles per hour during the AM and PM peak periods, respectively (Figures 3-5 and 3-6). The slowest speeds recorded during the AM peak period were observed at the western end of the study corridor, between Bay Avenue and Old Medford Avenue. The slowest PM peak period speeds were recorded between Grand Avenue and CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway). FIGURE 3-5: TRAVEL SPEED (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] WESTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD 60.0 50.0 47.4 40.0 30.0 Speed (mph) Speed 20.0 13.7 10.0 9.4 0.0 Average Control Point Standard Deviation FIGURE 3-6: TRAVEL SPEED (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] WESTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 60.0 50.0 45.3 40.0 30.0 Speed (mph) Speed 20.0 10.0 11.7 11.9 0.0 Average Control Point Standard Deviation 3-4 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 The eastbound surveys indicated that average speeds ranged from 9.2 to 47.5 miles per hour and from 5.5 to 45.9 miles per hour during the AM and PM peak periods, respectively (Figures 3-7 and 3-8). The slowest speeds during the AM and PM peak periods were recorded between Upton Street and CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway). The CR 80 (Montauk Highway) travel speed survey run data are provided in Appendix A. 2. FIGURE 3-7: TRAVEL SPEED (CR 80 [M ONTAUK HIGHWAY ] EASTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD 60.0 50.0 47.5 40.0 30.0 Speed (mph) Speed 20.0 10.0 9.2 0.0 Average Control Point Standard Deviation FIGURE 3-8: TRAVEL SPEED (CR 80 [M ONTAUK HIGHWAY ] EASTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 60.0 50.0 45.9 40.0 30.0 Speed (mph) Speed 20.0 10.0 5.5 0.0 Average Control Point Standard Deviation 3-5 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 CR 80 (Montauk Highway) Intersection Delays Delays in the westbound direction experienced during the AM peak period were due to the traffic signals located along the roadway segments from Smith Avenue to CR 21 (Old Horseblock Road) as well as from Grand Avenue to CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway) (Figures 3-9 and 3-10). Major delays at traffic signals were also observed in the westbound direction during the PM peak period between the Kohl’s shopping mall entrance traffic signal and CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway). FIGURE 3-9: TRAFFIC SIGNAL DELAYS (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] WESTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD 0:50 0:43 0:36 0:28 0:21 Delay (Min:Sec) 0:14 0:07 0:00 7:03AM 8:05AM Control Point 9:03AM FIGURE 3-10: TRAFFIC SIGNAL DELAYS (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] WESTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 0:57 0:50 0:43 0:36 0:28 0:21 Delay (Min:Sec) 0:14 0:07 0:00 4:32 PM 5:30 PM Control Point 6:35 PM 3-6 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 Delays in the eastbound direction experienced during the AM peak period were due to the traffic signals located from Upton Street to Grand Avenue, with major delays at CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway), and from Titmus Drive to Moriches Middle Island Road (Figure 3-11). Major eastbound delays were observed during the PM peak period at the CR 46 (William Floyd Parkway) signalized intersection (Figure 3-12). FIGURE 3-11: TRAFFIC SIGNAL DELAYS (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] EASTBOUND) – AM PEAK PERIOD 0:50 0:43 0:36 0:28 0:21 Delay (Min:Sec) 0:14 0:07 0:00 6:31AM 7:32 AM Control Point 8:34AM FIGURE 3-12: TRAFFIC SIGNAL DELAYS (CR 80 [MONTAUK HIGHWAY] EASTBOUND) – PM PEAK PERIOD 1:12 1:04 0:57 0:50 0:43 0:36 0:28 Delay (Min:Sec) 0:21 0:14 0:07 0:00 4:01 PM 5:05PM Control Point 6:02 PM 3-7 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N. 0059.08 3.1.2 Spot Speed Surveys Spot speed surveys were performed in the eastbound and westbound directions along NY 27, CR 80 (Montauk Highway), and the Long Island Expressway within the study area between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM and between 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM in October 2008. The results of these surveys indicated that the 85th percentile speeds ranged between 61 and 71 miles per hour on NY 27, between 48 and 51 miles per hour on CR 80 (Montauk Highway), and between 69 and 72 miles per hour on the Long Island Expressway (Table 3-1). The survey data are provided in Appendix A. 3. Table 3-1: Spot Speed Survey Results 85th Percentile Speed Travel Direction (miles per hour) Number of 9:30 AM– 2:30 PM– Roadway Location Lanes Westbound Eastbound 11:30 AM 4:00 PM X 64 62 NY 27, Mainline West of Medford Avenue 3 X 61 62 NY 27, Mainline West of Station Road 2 X 64 65 NY 27, Mainline West of Station Road 2 X 67 63 NY 27, Mainline West of Wading River Road 2 X 71 69 NY 27, Mainline West of Wading River Road 2 X 71 69 CR 80 (Montauk Highway) West of Station Road 1 X 50 51 CR 80 (Montauk Highway) West of Station Road 1 X 48 49 I-495 (Long Island Expressway) West of Horseblock Road 3 X 70 69 I-495 (Long Island Expressway) West of Horseblock Road 2 X 72 71 3.1.3 Traffic Volumes Automatic Traffic Recorder (ATR) Counts The ATR (pneumatic road tube actuated counting equipment) counts were taken in October 2008 at 77 locations on NY 27 and CR 80 (Montauk Highway). The count locations are shown in Appendix A.4. The counters were placed for a period of two weeks, recording volumes every hour. The data was processed using weekday and seasonal factors to provide balanced average annual daily traffic volumes and AM, Midday, and PM peak-period and peak-hour volumes along each directional roadway as shown in Appendix A. 5. Intersection Turning Movements The automatic traffic recorder counts obtained along the NY 27 mainline were supplemented by intersection manual traffic turning movement counts at the intersections along the corridor between NY 112 (Medford Avenue) and Wading River Road, including: • NY 27 north service road at NY 112 (Medford Avenue) • NY 27 south service road at NY 112 (Medford Avenue) • NY 27 north service road at Hospital Road • NY 27 south service road at Hospital Road • NY 27 north service road at CR 101 (Sills/Patchogue-Yaphank Road) • NY 27 south service road at CR 101 (Sills/Patchogue-Yaphank Road) • NY 27 north service road at Station Road • NY 27 south service road at Station Road • Yaphank Avenue at Old Horse Block Road • Horseblock Road at Old Horse Block Road 3-8 April 2011 DRAFT Report P.I.N.