Springfield Downtown Streets Conversion StudyThe Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee (CCSTCC) is conducting a feasibility study to convert several downtown Springfield streets from 1-way to 2-way traffic. The goal of the Springfield Downtown Street Conversion Study is to improve the economic competitiveness and mobility throughout downtown Springfield by recommending a “complete” street system that improves multimodal interaction, way finding, walk ability, and quality of life, while maintaining acceptable parking and traffic operations. The study deliverable will be a document that outlines transportation concerns, impacts and trade offs, livability and walk ability issues, potential economic benefits, costs and a record of public involvement. The study process will include Public participation from residents, property owners, the business community as well as agency coordination is important to the success of this study if the final implementation plan is going to be comprehensive and offer benefits to all types of users.
The Public Involvement Plan for the Springfield Downtown Street Conversion Study offers the Public ways to:
Public Meetings Two public meetings were held throughout the course of the study. The first public meeting solicited input from the public for the purpose and need document and red flag summary for the study. It also introduced the public to the study process and established goals for the study in relation to traffic operations, livability and walk ability downtown. The second meeting presented to the public the alternative solutions and solicit feedback. Survey Results
Data Exhibits For questions regarding the data below, please contact Lamar Daniel.
Did You Know - Facts regarding the Springfield Downtown Streets Conversion Study
Traffic Modeling
Traffic modeling was performed for this study to allow the study team to evaluate the current traffic conditions, expected traffic conditions if no streets are converted to two-way, and expected traffic conditions under three scenarios of street conversions. Current models from the Ohio Department of Transportation were used and refined for this use. These models dynamically estimate new traffic patterns given a set of street changes. The models also account for changes in land use and development (i.e. the proposed hospital). Under current conditions, the downtown area has plenty of capacity during peak hours and does not experience significant delays. In the AM peak hour, the analysis shows that all of the intersections are at 55% capacity or less. The PM peak hour analysis shows the worst intersection, W. North Street at N. Yellow Springs Street, to be at 62.5% capacity. Existing AM Peak Hour Traffic Volume Existing PM Peak Hour Traffic Volume The 2030 Base model (no conversions) incorporates expected changes in land use and the street network by 2030. This included the new hospital north of North Street between N. Plum Street and N. Wittenberg Street and the resulting roadway changes, and other population and employment changes expected in the downtown. The modeling shows that the system would still operate efficiently in the future. However, growth, primarily the proposed hospital, does have a noticeable impact on future traffic operations. In both the AM and PM peak hour, the worst intersection delays are consistently along N. Spring Street. The worst intersection capacity is operating at less than 70%, which is acceptable from a traffic operations perspective. Traffic Volumes and Intersection Capacity Utilization - AM Peak Hour base Traffic Volumes and Intersection Capacity Utilization - PM Peak Hour base Three alternative networks that include conversions of streets from one-way to two-way were then modeled. They are:
For each alternative, traffic redistributed itself to minimize delay in the system. The intersection level analysis for each alternative still shows that the system operates efficiently with only slightly increased delay at certain intersections. For all the three alternatives, the worst intersection capacity is operating at less than 100%, resulting in acceptable traffic operations throughout the modeled area. For comparison purposes, the Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), Vehicle Hours Traveled (VHT), and Vehicle Hours of Delay (VHD) from the traffic models were compared; and statistically there is no significant difference between any of the modeled networks. Overall, each of the alternatives affects the downtown roadway system in a different way but does not cause an overloading of that system. In each case, the intersection delays, vehicle miles traveled, vehicle hours traveled, and vehicle hours of delay remain fairly consistent with the Base model run. Under the alternative configurations, there is still enough intersection capacity. This allows the traffic to re-distribute in the most efficient manner. Any of these alternatives, as well as the Base, will work for the City of Springfield from a traffic operations standpoint.
Study Presentation - shown during the public meeting on February 15, 2011.
Recommended Alternative After reviewing all the public comments submitted, Alternative 1 (convert all one-way streets) was selected as a recommended alternative.
Springfield Downtown Streets Conversion Study Report Executive Summary (138 kb)
The full report can be found in the Reports Library.
For additional information regarding this study, please contact Lamar Daniel at (937) 521-2131.
|
