City of Decatur Brush College Road Improvement Study Section 09-00933-00-BR Combined Design Report – Volume 1 of 2 Combined Design Report Text and Appendices A, B and C March 2015 Prepared By URS 345 East Ash Avenue, Suite B Decatur, IL 62526 217-875-4800 COMBINED DESIGN REPORT City of Decatur – Brush College Road Improvement Study Table of Contents 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Description and Location of the Project........................................................................................ 1 1.2 Project History .............................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Discussion of Design Criteria ....................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Project Development Process ........................................................................................................ 3 2 Purpose and Need for Improvement ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Conditions on Existing Roadway Network ................................................................................... 5 2.2 Existing Traffic and Capacity Deficiencies .................................................................................. 6 2.2.1 Truck Traffic ......................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.2 Public Transportation ............................................................................................................ 9 2.2.3 Non-Motorized Traffic ........................................................................................................ 10 2.2.4 Level of Service at Intersections ......................................................................................... 10 2.2.5 Intersection at Brush College Road and Marietta Street/ADM JRRC Entrance ................. 12 2.2.6 Norfolk Southern Crossing on North Leg of Faries Parkway Intersection ......................... 13 2.2.7 Crash History ...................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.8 System Linkage ................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Alignment and Profile Deficiencies ............................................................................................ 14 2.4 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.5 Corridor Studies .......................................................................................................................... 15 3 Existing Conditions/Setting ................................................................................................................ 17 3.1 Description of the Project Area ................................................................................................... 17 3.2 Project Limits .............................................................................................................................. 17 3.3 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3.1 Existing Drainage ................................................................................................................ 18 3.3.2 Existing Storm Sewer System ............................................................................................. 18 3.3.3 Drainage at Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR) Track ........................................................... 19 3.3.4 Utilities ................................................................................................................................ 20 3.3.5 Roadway Lighting ............................................................................................................... 21 3.3.6 Structures ............................................................................................................................ 21 Brush College Road Improvement Study Page i 3.4 Emergency Services and School Bus Routes .............................................................................. 22 3.4.1 Fire Department .................................................................................................................. 22 3.4.2 Police Department ............................................................................................................... 22 3.4.3 School Buses ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.5 Environmental Resources ........................................................................................................... 23 3.5.1 Groundwater Resources ...................................................................................................... 24 3.5.2 Upland Plant Communities ................................................................................................. 25 3.5.3 Wildlife Resources .............................................................................................................. 25 3.5.4 Agricultural Resources ........................................................................................................ 26 3.6 Sensitive Environmental Areas ................................................................................................... 26 3.6.1 Parks and Recreational Areas (Section 4(f) properties) ...................................................... 26 3.6.2 Special Waste Sites ............................................................................................................. 26 4 Alternatives Considered ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.1 Proposed Highway Design Guidelines ....................................................................................... 28 4.1.1 Roadway Type .................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.2 Typical Sections .................................................................................................................. 28 4.1.3 Proposed Roadway Design Guidelines ............................................................................... 28 4.2 No-Build Alternative .................................................................................................................. 29 4.3 Build Alternative – Grade Separation at NS Rail Yard .............................................................. 30 4.3.1 Build Alternative – Underpass at NS Rail Yard ................................................................. 31 4.3.2 Build Alternative – Overpass at NS Rail Yard .................................................................. 32 4.3.3 Selection of Preferred Alternative – Overpass at NS Rail Yard ........................................ 33 4.4 Build Alternative – Grade Separation at Faries Parkway ........................................................... 34 4.4.1 Build Alternative – Overpass at Faries Parkway with Ramp Connector using Signalized Intersections ........................................................................................................................ 40 4.4.2 Build Alternative – Overpass at Faries Parkway with Ramp Connector using Roundabouts. ............................................................................................................................................. 41 4.4.3 Selection of Preferred Alternative – Overpass at Faries Parkway with Ramp Connector using Signalized Intersections ............................................................................................. 41 4.5 Build Alternative – Improve Brush College Road and Marietta Street/JRRC Entrance Intersection .................................................................................................................................................... 42 4.6 Build Alternative – Add Lanes to William Street & Brush College Road Intersection .............. 43 5 Detailed Description and Analysis of the Build Alternative ............................................................... 44 5.1 Attainment of Purpose and Need ................................................................................................ 44 Brush College Road Improvement Study Page ii 5.2 Description of Build Alternative ................................................................................................. 44 5.3 Overpass at NS Rail Yard ........................................................................................................... 44 5.4 Overpass at Faries Parkway ........................................................................................................ 45 5.5 Improvements to the Marietta Street/Brush College Road Intersection ..................................... 46 5.6 Improvements to the William Street/Brush College Road Intersection ...................................... 47 5.7 Maintenance of Traffic................................................................................................................ 47 5.7.1 Maintenance of Traffic - Overpass