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74 <br />Roadway Capacity - Traffic Forecasting <br />To determine future roadway capacity needs, year 2040 traffic forecasts were prepared using the <br />Metropolitan Council travel demand model. The 2040 projections were compared against the <br />assumed 2040 roadway network to see where roadway segment capacity deficiencies may result. <br />The 2040 roadway network assumed for this analysis is the same as the current roadway network, <br />as the City and County Capital Improvement Plans (CIPs) do not include any projects that add <br />significant capacity to the roadway network. <br />While the travel demand model is a valuable tool for identifying future traffic based on the <br />proposed land use impacts, it is not meant for use in detailed traffic operations studies. For a more <br />accurate representation of the transportation impacts from specific developments, detailed traffic <br />studies should be conducted to determine the operational impacts on adjacent roadways and <br />intersections. <br />A central concept of travel demand forecasting is the use of Transportation Analysis Zones (TAZs). <br />Each forecast study area, in this case, the City of Ramsey, is divided into a series of TAZs. Each TAZ <br />has population, employment, and household data that is used by the model to assign trips to the <br />various network roadways. Figure 19 displays Metropolitan Council TAZs within Ramsey. <br />The results of the Ramsey modeling process are summarized in Figure 20, which displays <br />Metropolitan Council 2040 projected average daily traffic volumes compared to the existing (2012- <br />2015) traffic volumes. <br />Tables 43 provides a summary of existing and forecasted demographic growth by TAZ for Ramsey <br />through the year 2040. The Ramsey population is forecasted to reach 39,150 by the year 2040, with <br />households and employment increasing by approximately 5,500 and 3,600 respectively. Allocated <br />demographic growth and associated land use was located throughout the community. Higher <br />density residential was generally allocated to the southern portion of the city, with commercial and <br />multi -optional development areas also generally identified within the southern portion of the city, <br />consistent with the Center of Ramsey (COR) land use plan. For more information about the <br />demographic allocation and associated land use forecast, please refer to the Ramsey Land Use Plan <br />in Chapter 2 of the Ramsey Comprehensive Plan. <br />city of RAMSEY <br />Comprehensive Plan 2040 <br />