Item B: West 11th Transportation Corridor Study

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CHAPTER 3: EXISTING CONDITIONS th This chapter summarizes existing transportation conditions for the West 11 Avenue corridor. Information includes current roadway network characteristics, traffic volume, speed, and classification data, intersection operation performance levels, intersection collision data, corridor travel time data, pedestrian and bicycle activity, and transit service. Roadway Network The transportation characteristics of key study area roadways are shown in Table 3-1 and include functional classification, approximate street width, number and direction of travel lanes, posted speeds, and the presence of sidewalks and/or bike lanes. The functional classification is a key characteristic because it 2 specifies the purpose of the roadway and is a determining factor of applicable cross-section, access spacing, and intersection performance standards. ththththth The main east-west roadways in the study area network are West 6, 7, 11, and 13 Avenues. West 6 th Avenue is one-way westbound (OR-99), and West 7 Avenue is one-way eastbound (OR-99). Both of th these roadways are a few blocks north of the West 11 Avenue corridor and are major arterials that each 3 carry approximately 25,000 to 30,000 vehicles per day. th West 11 Avenue is a two-way street for all but the three easternmost blocks of the corridor (i.e. between Garfield Street and Chambers Street), along which it is a one-way street in the westbound direction and thth 4 forms a couplet with West 13 Avenue. Traffic volumes are heavier on West 11 Avenue closer to the downtown area (ADT of approximately 28,000 west of Garfield Street) and dissipate toward the west end th 5 of the study area (ADT of approximately 22,000 west of Beltline Road). West 11 Avenue is designated a Statewide Highway (OR 126) starting at Beltline Road and heading west. This highway is also designated th an ODOT freight route. The speed limit on West 11 Avenue is 55 mph west of Terry Street, 45 mph between Terry Street and Beltline Road, and 35 mph east of Beltline Road. 2 The primary purpose of an arterial is to provide mobility, whereas at the opposite end of the spectrum, a local road is primarily concerned with site access. Collector roadways provide a transition between arterials and local roads. 3 City of Eugene 2007 Traffic Flow Map, downloaded from City website (www.eugene-or.gov) 4 th As eastbound vehicles on West 11 Avenue approach Garfield Street, to use the couplet they must turn right on Garfield street thth and then left on West 13 Avenue. To accommodate the left-turn couplet movement, the West 13 Avenue and Garfield Street intersection is unsignalized and the couplet left-turn vehicles do not have to stop. Vehicles on other legs must yield the right-of- way. 5 All Traffic Data 24-Hour Tube counts taken on Wednesday, December 12, 2007. Processed by DKS Associates. th West 11 Avenue Corridor Study September 4, 2009 City of Eugene P07265-003-000 8