US BUSINESS 77 CORRIDOR STUDY US BUSINESS 77 CORRIDOR STUDY Prepared for: Waco Metropolitan Planning Organization Under a Contract with the City of Waco, Texas November 3, 2016 Prepared by: FREESE AND NICHOLS, INC. 2711 N. Haskell Ave., Suite 3300 Dallas, TX 75204 214-217-2200 WAC15506 US Business 77 Corridor Study City of Waco, Texas TABLE OF CONTENTS 3.4 Roadway Network Enhancements ............................................................................................... 12 3.5 Special Intersection Treatments ................................................................................................... 12 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ ES-1 3.6 Initial Concept Illustrations ............................................................................................................ 13 3.6.1 Marlin Highway & Orchard Lane Interchanges ............................................................. 13 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1 3.6.2 US 84/Waco Drive (Potts Interchange) ............................................................................ 14 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 1 3.6.3 Loop 340/Lakeshore Drive .................................................................................................... 15 1.2 History of the Corridor ........................................................................................................................ 1 3.6.4 Craven Avenue ............................................................................................................................ 16 1.3 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................................ 2 3.6.5 Crest Drive (FM 2417) ............................................................................................................. 17 1.4 Review of Regional Plans ................................................................................................................... 2 4.0 CORRIDOR ILLUSTRATIVE DESIGN ................................................................................................ 18 1.4.1 Waco MPO Thoroughfare Plan (2012) ................................................................................ 2 1.4.2 Imagine Waco: A Plan for Greater Downtown Waco ..................................................... 2 4.1 Typical Roadway Elements ............................................................................................................. 18 1.4.3 Connections 2040: Waco Metropolitan Transportation Plan ..................................... 2 4.1.1 Typical Section ............................................................................................................................ 18 1.5 Operational Data Collection .............................................................................................................. 3 4.1.2 Drainage ........................................................................................................................................ 18 1.5.1 Existing Roadway Geometry .................................................................................................... 3 4.1.3 Medians with Strategically Placed Median Openings .................................................. 19 1.5.2 Historical Traffic Data ................................................................................................................ 3 4.1.4 Access Management ................................................................................................................. 19 1.5.3 Existing Traffic Counts ............................................................................................................... 4 4.1.5 Intersections ................................................................................................................................ 19 1.6 Demographic Trends ........................................................................................................................... 4 4.2 I-35 to Cadet Way ............................................................................................................................... 20 1.7 Land Use Characteristics .................................................................................................................... 4 4.3 Cadet Way to Crest Drive ................................................................................................................. 22 1.7.1 Commercial Corridor .................................................................................................................. 4 4.4 Crest Drive to Avenue C .................................................................................................................... 24 1.7.2 Rural Edge ....................................................................................................................................... 4 4.5 Avenue C to South of Craven Avenue .......................................................................................... 26 1.7.3 Community Nodes and Neighborhood Centers ................................................................ 5 4.6 South of Craven Avenue to UPRR Crossing ............................................................................... 28 1.7.4 Neighborhood Edge and Town Commerce ........................................................................ 5 4.7 UPRR Crossing to South of Loop 340 .......................................................................................... 30 1.8 Drainage .................................................................................................................................................... 5 4.8 South of Loop 340 to Behrens Circle ........................................................................................... 32 4.9 Behrens Circle to South of Parrish Street .................................................................................. 34 2.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .......................................................................................................................... 6 4.10 South of Parrish Street to US 84/Waco Drive .......................................................................... 36 2.1 Public Workshop ................................................................................................................................... 6 4.11 US 84/Waco Drive to South of I-35 Interchange .................................................................... 38 2.1.1 Public Workshop Kick-off Meeting: Day 1 .......................................................................... 6 4.12 South of I-35 Interchange to Orchard Lane .............................................................................. 40 2.1.2 Stakeholder Interviews: Day 2 through 4 ........................................................................... 8 4.13 Orchard Lane to Marlin Highway ................................................................................................. 42 2.1.3 Public Open House: Day 2 and 3 ............................................................................................. 8 4.14 Marlin Highway South of BUS 77 .................................................................................................. 44 2.1.4 Public Workshop: Day 4 ............................................................................................................ 8 4.15 BUS 77 at MLK Jr. Boulevard .......................................................................................................... 46 2.2 Steering Committee Meetings .......................................................................................................... 8 5.0 IMPLEMENTATION ................................................................................................................................ 48 2.3 Additional Stakeholder Meetings .................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Final Public Meetings ........................................................................................................................... 9 5.1 Safety Improvements ........................................................................................................................ 48 2.5 Project Website ................................................................................................................................... 10 5.1.1 BUS 77 @ Crest Drive ............................................................................................................... 48 5.1.2 BUS 77 @ Craven Avenue ....................................................................................................... 48 3.0 INITIAL CONCEPTS FROM WORKSHOP ........................................................................................ 11 5.2 Operational Improvements............................................................................................................. 49 3.1 Boulevard Design ............................................................................................................................... 11 5.2.1 MLK Jr. Boulevard Extension to Marlin Highway .........................................................