Agenda - Council - 04/23/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Ramsey Town Center Traffic Analysis INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of a traffic impact analysis of the proposed Ramsey Town Center in Ramsey, MN, which has been conducted in support of an Alternative Urban Areawide Review (AUAR) process for the development site. The proposed development has a varied mix of residential, retail, entertainment, institutional, office and civic uses. Currently, the site is vacant and is being used for agriculture. The site is adjacent to the BNSF Railroad tracks north of Trunk Highway (TH) 10/169 near Ramsey Boulevard. The proposed development site straddles Industry Avenue to the north and is bordered by Ramsey Boulevard to the east, TH 10 to the south, and Armstrong Boulevard to the west. Scope A detailed traffic study was conducted for the proposed development, as per the Environmental Quality Board (EQB) requirements for an AUAR. After discussions with the City of Ramsey (the Responsible Government Unit for the AUAR), the influence area for this traffic study was defined to include the following roadways: • Industry Avenue, County Road (CR) 116, is the northern boundary for the analysis • TH 10 is the southern boundary of the analysis area • Sunfish Lake Boulevard, County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 57, is the eastern boundary • Armstrong Boulevard (CSAH 83) is the western boundary of the analysis area. Intersections within this study area were then identified for traffic analysis purposes. The intersections were chosen after careful review and understanding of the proposed development magnitude, and its potential to influence traffic conditions at various nearby intersections. Figure 1 shows the intersections that were analyzed for traffic impacts. Approach EQB requirements dictate that the traffic study conducted for an AUAR include an analysis of the proposed maximum development scenario. The proposed Ramsey Town Center has a development plan with a mix of residential, retail, civic, recreational, office and employment land uses. Appendix A contains a table of uses by block and a land use diagram for the site. This development plan was analyzed as the maximum development scenario. The traffic study analyzed three scenarios for two peak hour conditions. Analyzed scenarios include the existing, future base, and future with proposed project. These three scenarios were analyzed for the AM and PM peak hours of a typical weekday. The future base scenario is an analysis of the year when full build out of the development is estimated to occur, which was assumed to be the year 2007. A factor for regional growth was included in the future base scenario. Regional growth is the growth that will occur in the study area, irrespective of the proposed development. The future base scenario also included other approved development projects near the study area that are expected to occur within the same timeframe as the project. This future base scenario was used as a base to delineate the impacts of the proposed development. The future with proposed project scenario includes the new trips generated by the proposed development. New trips generated by the proposed development were calculated using standard practices, assigned to study area intersections on the basis of the directional approach of trips in the study area, and analyzed for impacts. Mitigation of potential impacts was developed for the future with project conditions. March 2003 Meyer. Mohaddes Associates. Inc. 1