Roadway Infrastructure Master Planning Study Merrimack, New Hampshire Prepared For: Town of Merrimack, New Hampshire Community Development Department Prepared By: Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) Fay, Spofford & Thorndike April 2010 Acknowledgements Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) Acknowledgements The completion of this study would not have been possible without the direct active involvement of many individuals. Town of Merrimack, New Hampshire Walter Warren, Community Development Director Rick Seymour, Jr., Director Department of Public Works David Lent, Deputy Director, Department of Public Works Kyle Fox, PE, Operations Manager, Department of Public Works Nancy Larson, Planning and Zoning Administrator New Hampshire Department of Transportation, William Lambert, NHDOT Traffic Engineer/Administrator Subramanian Sharma, NHDOT Traffic Engineer Nashua Regional Planning Commission Ryan Friedmann, GIS Planner, Transportation Stephen Williams, former Director NRPC Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Peter. Howe, PE, Principal-in-Charge Gary Hebert, PE, PTOE, Project Manager David P. McNamara, PE, Project Civil Engineer Heather N. Ostertog, PE, Traffic Engineer Kevin Gagne, Senior Civil Engineer I-2 Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................................................................................ES-1 I. INTRODUCTION The Setting .....................................................................................................................................................................................................I-1 Study Scope ..................................................................................................................................................................................................I-1 A. Identifying the range of projected development quantities in the development zones by the Town..............................I-3 B. Identifying the streets and intersections to be included in the traffic analysis areas ............................................................I-3 C. Assumptions regarding programmed roadway improvement projects Prior to 2017 and 2027.........................................I-5 II. EXISTING CONDITIONS I. 2007 Traffic Operations Analysis Criteria ....................................................................................................................................... II-1 II. 2007 Traffic Operations Findings ..................................................................................................................................................... II-3 III. Characteristics of Existing Key Intersections and Facilities ......................................................................................................... II-6 III. TRAFFIC MODEL TECHNICAL REPORT I. Background ...................................................................................................................................................................................... III-1 II. Model Structure................................................................................................................................................................................ III-1 A. Zones ....................................................................................................................................................................................... III-1 B. Roads....................................................................................................................................................................................... III-2 C. Model Inputs........................................................................................................................................................................... III-4 i. Population Data ............................................................................................................................................................. III-4 ii. Employment Data .......................................................................................................................................................... III-4 iii. Externals ........................................................................................................................................................................... III-7 III. Model Calibration............................................................................................................................................................................ III-7 A. Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................................... III-7 B. Calibration Targets .............................................................................................................................................................. III-11 Contents - i Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) IV. TRAFFIC FORECASTS I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................................................ IV-1 II. FOCUS PARCELS .............................................................................................................................................................................. IV-1 A. LOCATIONS............................................................................................................................................................................ IV-1 B. PHASING................................................................................................................................................................................. IV-2 C. MODEL DATA......................................................................................................................................................................... IV-2 PARCEL A – SOUTHWOOD................................................................................................................................................... IV-3 PARCEL B – EDGEBROOK HEIGHTS ..................................................................................................................................... IV-4 PARCEL D – BAE SYSTEMS..................................................................................................................................................... IV-4 PARCEL E – NASHUA CORP. ................................................................................................................................................ IV-5 PARCEL F – ANHEUSER-BUSCH ............................................................................................................................................ IV-6 PARCEL G – KOLLSMAN ....................................................................................................................................................... IV-6 PARCEL H – FLATLEY.............................................................................................................................................................. IV-7 D. MERRIMACK PREMIUM OUTLETS.......................................................................................................................................... IV-7 III. TOWNWIDE TRAFFIC VOLUMES...................................................................................................................................................... IV-8 A. 2017 SCENARIO..................................................................................................................................................................... IV-8 B. 2027 SCENARIO................................................................................................................................................................... IV-11 IV. INTERSECTION TRAFFIC SHARES ................................................................................................................................................... IV-19 DANIEL WEBSTER HIGHWAY @ MANCHESTER STREET ..................................................................................................... IV-20 DANIEL WEBSTER HIGHWAY @ INDUSTRIAL DRIVE........................................................................................................... IV-21 DANIEL WEBSTER HIGHWAY @ GREELEY STREET .............................................................................................................. IV-22 DANIEL WEBSTER HIGHWAY @ BABOOSIC LAKE ROAD ................................................................................................. IV-23 CONTINENTAL BOULEVARD @ AMHERST STREET/CAMP SARGENT ROAD................................................................... IV-24 V. SHORT AND LONG RANGE INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS I. Infrastructure Analysis Approach 2017 and 2027 ....................................................................................................................... V-1 II. Projected Merrimack 2017 and 2027 Conditions........................................................................................................................ V-2 Contents - ii Fay, Spofford & Thorndike Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC)