Indian Trail Project Update Meeting Widening of East John Street-Old - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Indian Trail Project Update Meeting

Widening of East John Street-Old Monroe Road NCDOT STIP Project No. U-4714

Scott Cole, PE, Division Ten Engineer

September 21, 2017

Purpose of this Meeting

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• Provide an update on the project
• Meeting Format:
• 6:00-6:30 – Open House
• 6:30-7:30 – Presentation followed by Q&A
• 7:30-8:00 – Open House

You may submit comments tonight on the forms provided or submit comments by mail or email by October 20, 2017

Today’s Presentation

• Superstreet Primer

– Safe – Efficient and Effective – Pedestrian Friendly

• Project Update
• Upcoming milestones

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Superstreets

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• A type of intersection in which minor cross-street traffic going straight through or left at a divided

highway intersection is redirected. *

• Minor cross street traffic is redirected to turn right, but can then access a U-turn to proceed in the

desired direction.

FHWA uses the term RCUT (Restricted Crossing U-Turn) Some states use the term “J-Turn” or “Reduced Conflict Intersection” For signalized corridors, some use the term “Synchronized Streets” *Other configurations possible based on site specific conditions.

Why Superstreets Work

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SUPERSTREET ADVANTAGES:

• Reduce Crashes
• 15 to 46 percent crash reduction
• 22 to 63 percent injury and fatal crash reduction
• Reduce delay
• Superior progression through signals
• Control Speed
• Enhance pedestrian service

Left Turns are Unsafe

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Safety - Vehicular Conflict Points Superstreet Intersection Conflict Points = 14

FHWA-SA-14-070

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Safety – Reduction in Crashes

Safety impact by collision type for unsignalized superstreets

Collision Type Crash Reduction % Total

• 46

Fatal and injury

• 63

Angle and right turns

• 75

Rear ends

• 1

Sideswipes

• 13

Left turns

• 59

Other

• 15

Left Turns are Inefficient

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Efficient – Less Travel Time

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• Recapturing roadway capacity lost by

multi-phase signals

• Reduced “wait time” or delay
• Superior Signal Coordination

Main Street Green Time

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Signal Timing - Two Phase Signal Timing - Three Phase Signal Timing - Eight Phase

Superstreet Phasing Conventional Phasing

Superior Signal Progression

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• Signals only affect one direction of main street travel
• One-Way Street – “Perfect” progression in both directions
• Maximized efficiency
• Effective at any speed or any signal spacing
• Can control speeds using progression – the progression speed

can be adjusted by location, direction, time, day – drivers will adjust quickly

• No special signal equipment is needed

Left Turns are Not Pedestrian Friendly

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Pedestrian Refuge

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Would you rather walk across…This? Or this with a Pedestrian Refuge?

Pedestrian and Bicycle Access

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Conventional Intersection 24 Conflict Points Superstreet Intersection 8 Conflict Points

Superstreet Pedestrian Movements

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Superstreet Ped Crossing – Street View

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Superstreets in North Carolina

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• Superstreet design is not new or experimental and is smarter when compared to

conventional intersections

• It has evolved as roadway planners and engineers look for better ways to improve

safety and quality of life

• Superstreet elements are already in use on Trade Street between Weddington

Road and Fullwood Lane, at NC 51 and Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, and over 300 locations throughout the state

• Superstreets are becoming the default arterial design in North Carolina

Why Choose a Superstreet?

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Project Location and Purpose

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STIP Project No. U-4714

• Project traverses Matthews, Stallings,

and Indian Trail

• Purpose is to improve pedestrian and

bicycle accommodations along corridor, reduce congestion and improve traffic safety

• 6.5 mile widening
• Estimated cost $87.5 million

Project History

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The project is needed because congestion is getting worse, the roadway exceeds capacity, turning vehicles block traffic flow, and sidewalks lack connectivity.

• Extensive public involvement and collaboration with local officials over a 4 year period
• Various alternatives examined with a 4-lane Superstreet as the recommended alternative
• Public input considered at each stage of the planning process
• Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared to evaluate the environmental effects of the

project

• EA approved by NCDOT and FHWA in July of 2016
• A Public Hearing on the preliminary design and EA was held October 11, 2016

Comments on the Environmental Assessment

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• Approximately 100 comments were received
• Majority favor roadway widening
• Concerns about the Superstreet; primarily in Town of Matthews
• Officials from the Town of Matthews also expressed concern over

preliminary design and its impacts to the community character

• NCDOT worked with the Town of Matthews on design changes with a

narrower cross section to help preserve character of downtown area and reduce impacts to properties, homes, and businesses

Superstreet Intersections

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Take Out the Superstreet in Indian Trail?

Traditional Intersections:

• Less Safe (50% more injury crashes)
• Not able to handle traffic over time (30% less efficient)
• More Delay and Congestion

Like Matthews?

• Lower Traffic Volumes
• Through Historic Downtown
• Development Complete
• Railroad on the North side

Design Through Indian Trail

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• The current design provides:
• Four (4) 12’ travel lanes with curb and gutter
• Turn lanes at intersections and U-turn bulbs
• Closed drainage system (Curb & Gutter, which

helps reduce impacts to property owners)

• Grassed Median (width varies from 23’ to 30’

depending on number of turn lanes)

• Opportunity for landscaping within the median
• 5’ sidewalks on the north side
• 10’ multi-use path on the south side

Cross Sections in Indian Trail

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23’ median for single left turns 30’ median for dual left turns

Some Design Elements Through Indian Trail

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Next Steps

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• Evaluate comments from this meeting
• Publish final environmental document

(Fall/Winter 2017)

• Final design and permits

(2017-2019)

• Right of Way acquisition/Utility relocations

(2019-2021)

• Construction of all sections

(2021-2023)

Public Comments

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Comment form provided at sign-in

Drop comments in box before you leave tonight OR Submit to Elmo Vance, NCDOT Project Engineer or Robert Boot, NCDOT Consultant Project Manager (mailing address, email and phone number are provided on the form)

Comments accepted until October 20, 2017

Comment Box Mail E-mail

Questions & Answers

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Information including the project maps are available on project website www.ncdot.gov/projects/EastJohnOldMonroe