P O R T A T N S I O N R A C T O L M A M I N S O I S I G O E N R OF SOUTHERN NEVADA TROPICANA AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY Submitted By: MARCH 2008 THE Louis Berger Group, INC. TROPICANA AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page No. Chapter Page No. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..............................................................ES-1 6.0 ROADWAY IMPROVEMENT ALTERNATIVES ....................... 69 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................1 6.1 Construction of Intersection Improvements .................. 69 6.1.1 Construction of Dual Left Turn Lanes.............. 69 1.1 Overview of the Tropicana Avenue Corridor 6.1.2 Construction of Right Turn Lanes.................... 69 Within the Regional Transportation Network ..................1 6.1.3 Additional Intersection Improvements ............. 72 1.2 Corridor Description ........................................................3 6.1.4 Summary of Alternative 1.3 Planning Process ............................................................7 Intersection Improvements .............................. 73 1.4 Organization of Report ....................................................7 6.2 Construction of Raised Median..................................... 79 2.0 PURPOSE AND NEED................................................................8 6.3 Widening of Tropicana Avenue..................................... 80 6.3.1 Construction of a Fourth Westbound Lane 3.0 PLANNING FRAMEWORK .......................................................10 On Tropicana Avenue from I-15 to 3.1 Transportation Studies and Projects.............................10 Decatur Boulevard ........................................... 81 3.2 University of Nevada at Las Vegas 6.3.2 Widening of Tropicana Avenue to 8 Lanes Comprehensive Campus Master Plan ..........................13 From Swenson Street to Maryland Pkwy ........ 81 3.3 Land Use and Zoning....................................................16 6.3.3 Summary of Proposed Widening of 3.3.1 Current Land Use and Tropicana Avenue............................................ 84 Proposed Developments..................................16 6.4 Grade Separations........................................................ 84 3.3.2 Zoning ..............................................................30 6.4.1 Dean Martin Drive Grade Separation .............. 84 6.5 I-15 Southbound Slip Ramp to Dean Martin Drive ....... 89 4.0 EXISTING TRANSPORTATION 6.6 Harmon Avenue Extension Over the UPRR................. 91 SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS .................................................31 6.7 University of Nevada at Las Vegas............................... 91 4.1 Roadway Characteristics ..............................................31 6.8 McCarran Airport........................................................... 93 4.2 Traffic Volumes and Level of Service............................34 7.0 TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT ALTERNATIVES........................... 94 4.2.1 Existing Traffic Volumes...................................34 4.2.2 Existing Level of Service ..................................34 7.1 Alternatives to Provide Enhanced Bus Service 4.2.3 Left Turn Storage .............................................45 On Tropicana Avenue................................................... 98 4.2.4 Right Turn Storage...........................................45 7.2 Monorail Extension ..................................................... 103 4.3 Travel Speeds ...............................................................52 7.3 UNLV CAT Bus Transfer Station ................................ 103 4.4 Safety ..........................................................................52 8.0 PEDESTRIAN REALM............................................................ 104 4.5 Transit Service ..............................................................56 4.5.1 Existing Transit Service....................................56 9.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS....................... 106 4.5.2 Transit System Performance............................60 9.1 Proposed Roadway Improvements............................. 106 4.6 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities...................................64 9.2 Proposed Transit Improvements................................. 109 9.3 Estimated Costs for Proposed Improvements ............ 112 5.0 PROJECTED YEAR 2030 TRAFFIC AND LEVEL OF 9.3.1 Estimated Cost for Roadway Improvements . 112 SERVICE WITHOUT IMPROVEMENTS ...................................65 9.3.2 Estimated Costs for Transit Improvements ... 112 THE Louis Berger Group, INC. i TROPICANA AVENUE CORRIDOR STUDY THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page No. Figure Page No. 1-1 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Study Location Map .........................2 4-12 CAT Route 201 Annual Ridership.............................................. 60 1-2 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Regional Roadway Network ............4 4-13 Rout 201 Westbound – Daily Boardings, Alightings, and 1-3 Spanish Trail Gated Residential Community Coach Load .................................................................61 Along W. Tropicana Avenue ........................................................3 4-14 Route 201 Eastbound – Daily Boardings, Alightings, and 1-4 The Orleans Hotel and Casino.....................................................5 Coach Load .................................................................62 1-5 MGM Grand Hotel and Casino at Las Vegas...............................5 4-15 Route 201 – Hourly Ridership.................................................... 63 1-6 Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV.................................................6 4-16 Pedestrian Crossings along Tropicana Avenue ........................ 64 1-7 Whitney Library ............................................................................6 5-1 Tropicana Avenue 2030 Projected Peak Hour Volumes ........... 66 2-1 Clark County Resident and Visitor Population 1980-2035...........9 5-2 Tropicana Avenue 2030 Projected Increase/Decrease 3-1 Las Vegas Monorail....................................................................10 In Peak Hour Volumes............................................................... 67 3-2 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Study Planned Projects 6-1 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Locations Where On the TIP and RTP...................................................................11 Construction of Dual Left Turn Lanes Are Proposed................. 70 3-3 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Study – Planned Regional 6-2 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Locations Where Transit Projects ..........................................................................12 Construction of Right Turn Bays are Proposed ......................... 71 3-4 UNLV Master Plan......................................................................15 6-3 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Locations of Proposed 3-5 Tropicana avenue Corridor Study – Existing and Future Additional Intersection Improvements........................................ 74 Land Use (Sheets 1 through 11) ................................................17 6-4 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Summary Locations of 3-6 Single-Family Residential Land Uses along W. Tropicana........28 Proposed Intersection Improvements........................................ 75 3-7 The Orleans Hotel and Casino...................................................28 6-5 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Study Proposed 3-8 New York New York Hotel and Casino ......................................29 Intersection Improvements (Sheets 1 & 2) ................................ 76 3-9 Office Commercial Land Uses along E. Tropicana Avenue.......29 6-6 Typical Raised Median – Six-Inch Concrete Median with 3-10 Current Base Zoning Along Tropicana Avenue Corridor ...........33 Left-Turn Pockets for Driveways………..................................... 79 4-1 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Study Lane Configuration 6-7 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Location of Proposed And Intersection Control (Sheets 1 & 2).....................................32 Raised Medians ……………....................................................... 82 4-2 Tropicana Avenue November 2006 Peak Hour 6-8 Tropicana Avenue Corridor Location of Proposed Traffic Control ..........................................................................36 Raised Medians ……………....................................................... 83 4-3 AM Peak Hour Turning Movement Traffic (Sheets 1 & 2)..........37 6-9 Dean Martin Grade Separation- Option 1.................................. 86 4-4 PM Peak Hour Turning Movement Traffic (Sheets 1 & 2)..........39 6-10 Dean Martin Grade Separation – Option 2 ................................ 87 4-5 Tropicana Avenue near Rainbow Boulevard Weekday 6-11 Dean Martin Grade Separation – Option 2 ................................ 88 Distribution of Traffic ..................................................................41 6-12 I-15 Southbound Slip Ramp to Dean Martin Drive 4-6 Tropicana Avenue near Las Vegas Boulevard Weekday Option with Polaris Avenue Connection .................................... 90 Distribution of Traffic ..................................................................42 6-13 Harmon Avenue Extension over the UPRR with 4-7 Tropicana Avenue near Eastern Avenue Weekday Connections to Valley View Boulevard...................................... 92 Distribution of Traffic ..................................................................43 7-1 CAT Route 201 Population and Average Daily Boardings .......