Prepared for: Initial Design Concept Report 205 South 17th Avenue October 2019 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Interstate 10: Junction Interstate 19 to Kolb Road Tucson – Benson Highway State Route 210: Golf Links Road to I-10 Barraza – Aviation Parkway Prepared by: Federal No.: 010-E(210)S 101 North 1st Avenue, Suite 2600 Project No.: 010 PM 260 H7825 01 L Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Southcentral District – Pima County Initial Design Concept Report Interstate 10: Junction Interstate 19 to Kolb Road Tucson – Benson Highway State Route 210: Golf Links Road to I-10 Barraza – Aviation Parkway Federal No.: 010-E(210)S Project No.: 010 PM 260 H7825 01 L Southcentral District – Pima County Prepared for: 205 South 17th Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85007 October 2019 Prepared by: 101 North 1st Avenue, Suite 2600 Phoenix, Arizona 85003 I-10; Jct. I-19 to Kolb Road & SR 210; Golf Links Road to I-10 Initial Design Concept Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction $4,000,000 using HURF26 funds for design. A programmed between Alvernon Way and Kolb Road. Traffic along I-10 concentrates amount of $2,086,000 in FY 2022 using ASTP funds for Design. at certain TIs where major north-south arterials exist. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), the Federal • Highway Administration (FHWA), the City of Tucson, and Pima County TIP ID 74.07; A programmed amount of $8,000,000 in FY 2022 Expected future growth in the Tucson area will be to the south and understood that a significant amount of future growth in population using ASTP funds for the design of the Country Club Road TI. southeast of the downtown area. Since I-10 cuts diagonally across this around the Tucson area would take place to the south and southeast of growth area, it is also expected that I-10will be the primary travel corridor Tucson. Interstate 10 (I-10) cuts diagonally across this growth area and I-10 is a full access controlled interstate freeway. for this growth. would be impacted by the future growth. East of the System Interchange The functional classification of SR 210 is Urban Other Freeway. SR 210 East of the System Interchange with I-19, I-10 was constructed in the with I-19, I-10 was constructed in the 1960’s as a rural interstate highway is a divided multi-lane urban highway that parallels I-10 and is located 1960’s as a rural interstate highway with rural design criteria and typically with rural design criteria and typically with just two lanes of traffic in approximately 1.75 miles northeast of I-10. SR 210 begins at Broadway with just two lanes of traffic in each direction. Several of the TIs are each direction. While a third lane in each direction from I-19 to west of Boulevard and ends just past South Palo Verde Road. From Broadway partial cloverleaf type interchanges that have short ramp weave distances Kino Parkway was added around 1990, the remainder of the I-10 corridor Boulevard through the intersection of Country Club Road, SR 210 has that adversely impact traffic operational efficiency, especially as traffic is virtually unchanged. three-lanes in each direction. The roadway then narrows and continues volumes increase over time. Some of the interchanges are spaced closer ADOT and FHWA commissioned the preparation of a two-phased study with two-lanes in each direction to the end of SR 210. However, the together than the recommended minimum of one mile, thus contributing to define and evaluate future safety and capacity improvements to I-10 roadway continues east and connects to Golf Links Road. to reduced operational efficiency. from the Junction with I-19 to the Junction with SR 83. The study also FHWA is serving as the lead federal agency and will provide input and In summary, the small number of north-south arterials, the diagonal included the extension of the Barraza-Aviation Parkway (SR 210) from oversight for the alternative’s identification and evaluation process. alignment of I-10, and the projected growth pattern in Tucson contribute Golf Links Road to a connection with I-10 at a location to be determined. to an increase in local traffic using the Interstate Highway for short local The following agencies were involved in developing the Feasibility trips. The numerous access points on I-10 and the old 1960’s design The first phase of this study was a Feasibility Study (FS) and an Study, the Environmental Overview, the Design Concept Study and the present additional performance issues. These limitations further slow Environmental Overview (EO). In summary, the FS and EO evaluated Environmental Assessment: FHWA, Pima Association of Governments travel on the I-10 mainline and lead to more conflict between local and several alternatives for improving I-10 and for extending SR 210 to I-10. (PAG), Pima County, Pima County Sherriff’s Department, Davis- regional traffic. This is confirmed by the steady increase in crashes. The subsequent Feasibility Study Update Report (February 2015) Monthan Air Force Base (DMAFB), City of Tucson, City of South Conflicting interaction between local and regional/interstate traffic has recommended three alternatives to be evaluated further as a part of the Tucson, US Customs & Border Protection (CBP), Sunnyside Unified led to a reduction in the capacity of I-10 to accommodate through second phase of the study; the development of a Design Concept Study School District, Tucson Airport Authority, Sun Tran, Arizona Game and (regional) travel. Expected growth in both regional and local traffic on I- (DCR) and an Environmental Assessment (EA). Due to future Fish Department (AGFD), Arizona State Land Department (ASLD), the 10 will further reduce the capacity of I-10. construction funding limitations prior to the 2040 design year, the limits Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the University of Arizona of the DCR were revised to end at Kolb Road, which is designated as a (UofA), and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). SR 210 in the City of Tucson, Arizona, was built as an urban highway future north-south parkway and is a logical point of termini along I-10. subsequent to the construction of I-10. SR 210 is approximately 3.4-miles The number of recommended alternatives to be evaluated further in the Purpose and Need long and is oriented in a northwest to southeast direction, extending second phase of the study was also reduced to two after further review by The Interstate Highway System was intended to relieve congestion, southeast from West Broadway Boulevard at North 1st Avenue, with the stakeholders. improve safety, and enhance the economy by facilitating the movement intersections at Kino Parkway, East 22nd Street, South Country Club The study area is located in the ADOT Southcentral District within the of people and goods throughout the nation. Increasing traffic volumes on Road, East 34th Street, Richie Road, and Dodge Boulevard, before City of Tucson, the City of South Tucson and Pima County. I-10 in the vicinity of Tucson, Arizona have contributed to reduced terminating at Alvernon Way / Golf Links Road. operational effectiveness, particularly the segment of I-10 between I-19 SR 210 is intended to provide motorists with an alternate route into Portions of ADOT Project No. 010 PM 260 H7825 01L; Federal No. 010- and Kolb Road. E(210)S have been programmed in the Pima Association of Governments Tucson’s downtown business district from points east and south of (PAG) Regional Transportation Highway Program for Fiscal Year (FY) The traffic modeling and analysis accomplished for the Feasibility Study downtown. 202042023. The following projects are programmed. demonstrated that north-south traffic demands through the project area The use of SR 210 as a business spur is limited by the fact that motorists are constrained by limitations on north-south arterial corridors. The on westbound I-10 desiring to access downtown Tucson via SR 210 must • TIP ID 39.13; A programmed amount of $1,914,000 in FY 2021 UPRR switching yard located parallel to SR 210, north of I-10 prohibits using ASTP funds for Kino Parkway TI utility relocation and currently use city arterials to get from I-10 to SR 210. The additional trips any north-south arterials between Kino Parkway and Alvernon Way. The on the city arterials tend to exceed the capacity of the local roadway Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) prohibits any north-south arterials network, which causes motorists to stay on I-10. Commercial and i I-10; Jct. I-19 to Kolb Road & SR 210; Golf Links Road to I-10 Initial Design Concept Report commuter traffic heading into downtown Tucson also use I-10 and add to arterials, traffic interchange intersections, and intersections adjacent to The existing roadway network within the study area was evaluated peak hour congestion, causing increased volume and stress to the the interchange that are directly affected by the interchange operations. using traffic data collected in year 2010. The section of I-10 between operation of the interstate highway. As is, the limited capacity and limited I-19 and Kolb Road is considered urban in character. access for local trips prevents the existing roadway network in the study Traffic Operational Analysis 2. Year 2040: No-Build area from functioning as primarily intended. An Initial Traffic Operational Analysis was conducted as part of the The existing roadway network within the study area was evaluated Feasibility Study and Update. An updated traffic operational analysis was Since I-10 runs parallel to SR 210 approximately 1.75 miles south of SR with the projected year 2040 traffic volumes. Under this scenario there conducted as part of the Design Concept Study.