Section 5.4 Traffic and Circulation SECTION 5.4 TRAFFIC AND CIRCULATION This section addresses the impacts of future traffic growth, planned physical improvements, and additional improvements to accommodate growth within the City of Buena Park. This section is based upon the City of Buena Park Circulation Existing Conditions (October 2009) and Circulation Forecast Conditions Analysis (August 2010) prepared by Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc.; refer to Appendix C. 5.4.1 EXISTING SETTING EXISTING CIRCULATION SYSTEM Regional Access The City of Buena Park is located in northwestern portion of Orange County and is bordered on the east by the City of Fullerton, on the south by the Cities of Anaheim and Cypress, and on the northwest by the City of La Mirada. Many of the arterial roadways trending through the City extend beyond the City boundaries into neighboring cities. Therefore, circulation issues and travel patterns extend beyond the City limits. Land use decisions and traffic patterns in adjacent jurisdictions have the potential to affect traffic flow and mobility in the City of Buena Park, and conversely, traffic conditions and decisions made by the City of Buena Park can affect other jurisdictions. The Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) provides north-south regional circulation, extending from Los Angeles County, through Orange County, and into San Diego County. It is currently an eight- to ten-lane freeway, with High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes in both directions. The Artesia Freeway (SR-91) provides for east-west regional access from Los Angeles County, through Orange County, and into Riverside County. It is currently a 10-lane freeway with HOV lanes in both directions. Both the I-5 and SR-91 freeways cut through the center of the city. The I-5/SR-91 interchange is located to the east of the City boundary, just south of Orangethorpe Avenue. Beach Boulevard (SR-39) is a state highway that originates at Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in the City of Huntington Beach, and extends north through the Cities of Westminster, Garden Grove, Anaheim, and Buena Park, terminating at Whittier Boulevard in the City of La Habra. Beach Boulevard has full interchanges with Interstate 405 (I-405), State Route 22 (SR-22), State Route (SR-91), and Interstate 5 (I-5). Beach Boulevard generally consists of three to four through lanes in each direction through the City of Buena Park, and is generally separated by a raised, landscaped median. Draft EIR Page 5.4-1 Buena Park General Plan Update September 2010 Traffic and Circulation Functional Street Classifications BUENA PARK ROADWAY CLASSIFICATIONS The City’s roadway network serves two distinct functions: it provides access to adjacent land uses, and it facilitates the movement of persons and goods to, from, within, and through the City. These functions assist in determining the design and operation of each street. Streets that serve the purpose of mobility and/or regional access will have more lanes, higher speed limits, and fewer driveways. Where direct access to properties is provided, streets will have fewer lanes, lower speeds, on-street parking, and more frequent driveways. To define the intended uses of roadways, many jurisdictions, including the City of Buena Park, use a functional classification system. The system provides a logical framework for the design and operation of the roadway system and assists residents and decision makers to identify preferred characteristics of each street; refer to Exhibit 5.4-1, Existing Circulation Plan. The following roadway classifications have been identified: . Principal Arterial Highway. A principal arterial primarily serves as a regional transportation facility, and consists of an eight-lane divided roadway. The typical right- of-way width is 144 feet and roadway width is 114 feet, curb-to-curb, including a 14-foot median. Principal arterials in the City of Buena Park consist of Beach Boulevard and Valley View Street, from the southern City limits to SR-91. Beach Boulevard and Valley View Street have full interchanges with SR-91 within the City. The City’s Entertainment Corridor, along Beach Boulevard from SR-91 to the southern City boundary, is a major area of well-established destination activity centers. The Entertainment Corridor generates substantial local and regional traffic demands in the area. The Entertainment Corridor includes Knott’s Berry Farm and other various attractions, shopping, and dining destinations. This area is well served by the local street system, as well as the regional freeway system. Infrastructure improvements have been made, as necessary, to accommodate peak traffic flows in the area. Major Arterial Highway. A major arterial is a collector roadway with limited access and coordinated signalization. The primary purpose of a major arterial is to carry vehicles to or from freeways, principal arterials, and primary arterials. A major arterial is a six-lane divided roadway with a typical right-of-way width of 120 feet. The roadway width from curb-to-curb is 100 feet, including a 14-foot median. Major arterials within the City of Buena Park include Orangethorpe Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, Beach Boulevard (from SR-91 to the northern City limits), and Valley View Street (from SR-91 to the northern City limits). The Orangethorpe Avenue interchange with SR-91 is located outside the western City limit; the Orangethorpe Avenue interchange with I-5 is located outside the eastern limit of the City. Primary Arterial. A primary arterial is a high speed facility with limited and restricted access and coordinated signalization. The primary purpose of a primary arterial is to carry intermediate-range trips to, or between, major residential and non-residential land uses, and to connect these land uses to the regional circulation system. A primary arterial is a four-lane divided roadway, with a typical right-of-way width of 100 feet, and a roadway width curb to curb of 84 feet, including a 14-foot median. Primary arterials in the City of Buena Park consist of Knott Avenue, Artesia Boulevard (between Valley View Page 5.4-2 Draft EIR September 2010 Buena Park General Plan Update Traffic and Circulation Street and Firestone Boulevard/I-5), Malvern Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, La Palma Avenue, and Ball Road. Artesia Boulevard has a full interchange with I-5 within the City limits. Knott Avenue has a full interchange with SR-91 within the City limits. Secondary Arterial. A secondary arterial serves to collect and distribute traffic within the hierarchy of roads, to carry short trips between adjacent residential neighborhoods, and to provide direct access to surrounding land uses. A secondary arterial highway is a four- lane undivided (without a median) roadway, with a typical right-of-way width of 80 feet, and a roadway width from curb-to-curb of 64 feet. Secondary arterials in the City of Buena Park consist of Holder Street, Western Avenue, Stanton Avenue, Dale Street, Stage Road, Artesia Boulevard (between Firestone Boulevard/I-5 and the eastern City limit.), Whitaker Street, Crescent Avenue, Orange Avenue, Auto Center Drive, and Cerritos Avenue. Western Avenue passes under SR-91 and does not provide ramp access to the freeway. Commuter Arterial/Local Streets. A local street is a two-lane arterial that is a low speed, low volume facility. Local streets primarily provide direct access to adjacent land uses and collect and distribute traffic to and from secondary arterials. A commuter arterial is a two-lane undivided roadway, with a typical right-of-way width of 56 feet, and a roadway width from curb-to-curb of 40 feet. A commuter arterial is an unrestricted access roadway which functions primarily as a collector facility, designed to handle traffic movements between arterials. Table 5.4-1, Functional Classifications and Roadway Characteristics, summarizes the City’s functional classifications and roadway characteristics. Table 5.4-2, Existing Roadway Characteristics, indicates the existing functional classification for the arterial roadways in the City, the total number of lanes for each arterial, and whether a center divider is provided. Table 5.4-1 Functional Classifications and Roadway Characteristics Typical Right-of- Typical Curb-to- Level of Service C Classification Typical Lanes Way Width Curb Width Capacity Principal Arterial 8 lanes, divided 144 feet 114 feet 45,000 – 60,000 Major Arterial 6 lanes, divided 120 feet 100 feet 30,000 – 45,000 Primary Arterial 4 lanes, divided 100 feet 84 feet 20,000 – 30,000 Secondary Arterial 4 lanes, undivided 80 feet 64 feet 10,000 – 20,000 Commuter Arterial 2 lanes, undivided 56 feet 40 feet 10,000 Local Street 2 lanes, undivided - - 4,0001 1 - Local Street LOS E threshold capacity of 4,000 vehicles per day. Source: Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., City of Buena Park General Plan Update, Circulation-Existing Conditions, October 2009. Draft EIR Page 5.4-3 Buena Park General Plan Update September 2010 Source: Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc., September 2010. NOT TO SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT BUENA PARK GENERAL PLAN UPDATE Existing Circulation Plan 09/10 • JN 10-105872 Exhibit 5.4-1 Traffic and Circulation Table 5.4-2 Existing Roadway Characteristics Lanes Speed Roadway Segment Direction Classification NB or WB SB or EB Limit Valley View Street between: Cerritos Avenue and Ball Road N/S Major 3 3 45 Lincoln Avenue and Crescent Avenue N/S Principal 3 3 45 Crescent Avenue and La Palma Avenue N/S Principal 3 3 45 La Palma Avenue and Orangethorpe Avenue N/S Principal 3 3 45 Orangethorpe Avenue and Artesia Boulevard