Hansz to Council/Walmart Traffic ImpactPublic Works Department
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2011"' Avenue East, P.O. Box 1997, Kalispell, MT 59903 Phone (406)758-7720— Fax (406)758-7831
www. kalispeU com
October 2, 2009
To: Jane Howington, City Manager
From: James C. Hansz, P.E., Director of Public Works/City
Subject: Councilman Olson's Inquiry about New WaI Mart
At a recent council meeting Councilman Olson asked for a summary of the traffic situation
at the site of the new Wal Mart at Hutton Ranch Plaza. Paul Burnham, Assistant City Engineer,
has reviewed the traffic impact study, recent traffic counts from MDT, the current road
improvements and those proposed for the near future by MDT. Paul has prepared the attached
summary of information which I believe addresses the concerns expressed by Councilman
Olson.
Please share this information with Councilman Olson and Mayor Kennedy and the rest of
the City Council.
Public Works Department
2011' Avenue East, P.O. Box 1997, Kalispell, MT 59903 —Phone (406) 758- 7720 — Fax (406) 758- 7831
www_kalispell. cant
To: James C. Hansz, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer
Cc:
From: Paul E. Burnham, P.E., Assistant City Engineer
Re: Hutton Ranch Traffic Impact Analysis, Wal-Mart Traffic
Date: October 1, 2009
The Hutton Ranch Plaza Traffic Impact Study (TIS) was submitted to the Tri-City Planning
Office in April 2005. In April 2005 the Hutton Ranch Plaza Phase 2 proposed three major
retail stores and a series of shops and smaller retail buildings. The current Wal-Mart site
replaced 229,000 square feet of the proposed major retail stores and shops with 188,000
square feet of a single major retail store. The attached drawing shows the 2005 proposed
plan with the Wal-Mart building superimposed.
PHASE 1 Hutton Ranch (north side Hutton Ranch Road)
The TIS makes trip projections for Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 includes the movie
theatre, Sportsman Ski Haus, and four smaller retail/office buildings (JD Morrells, AAA,
Sizzler, and Glacier Quilts). The weekday projection for Phase 1 build -out is 10,792 trips
over a 24-hour period. Phase 1 is currently 57% built -out or occupied and generates 3624
average daily trips, or 34% of the projected build -out trips. The current average daily
trips derive from the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) counts taken during
July and August 2009.
The current traffic volumes and patterns are reasonably close to those projected in 2005,
and function well on the existing two-lane roadway
PHASE 2 Hutton Ranch south side Hutton Ranch Road including
Wal-Mart
In 2005, Phase 2 included 229,000 square feet of major retail and other retail as well as
the then -proposed First Interstate Bank, Bajio/Quiznos/Dolce Villa, Flathead Bank and
HuHot. Phase 2 currently includes these existing businesses and the Wal-Mart and one
proposed small retail building. The 2005 weekday trip projection for Phase 2 build -out is
10,608 trips over a 24-hour period. Wal-Mart is currently under construction and is slated
to open in the summer or fall 2010.
The existing roadway has sufficient capacity to handle Phase 2 traffic reasonably well.
There are several improvements slated for 2010 and 2011 that will add significant
capacity to Hutton Ranch Road. These are discussed on the next page.
Proposes! Improvements to Hutton Ranch Road
Hutton Ranch Road is scheduled to be upgraded to a four lane collector road and to have
a traffic signal installed at the intersection of Hutton Ranch Road and the main road
running into the Wal-Mart development. This work will be completed by MDT and is
currently under consideration for a 2010 or 2011 completion date. The current road is a
two-lane divided collector with turn bays.
At full build -out of Phase 1 and 2, the Hutton Ranch development is projected to
generate around 21,400 vehicles trips per day.
The projected access to the Hutton Ranch development is divided as follows: 54% of
vehicles from Highway 93 and Hutton Ranch Road, 31% of vehicles from the right -only off
Highway 93, and 15% of vehicles from West Reserve Drive (future MDT connection). These
numbers correlate well to the existing (July/August 2009) distribution: 62% of vehicles off
Highway 93 and Hutton Ranch Road, and 38% of vehicles from right -only off Highway 93.
The traffic volumes that were projected in 2005, for partial build -out of Phase 1 and 2,
are fairly close to the actual volumes we are seeing in the Hutton Ranch complex this
year. The proximity between projected volumes and actual volumes indicates that the
proposed improvements will adequately serve the build -out volumes on Hutton Ranch
Road.
What does this mean for traffic on Hutton Ranch Road?
A two-lane collector road with turn bays has capacity for 12,000 to 18,000 vehicles per
day. A four -lane collector road (to be completed by MDT in 2010 to 2011) has capacity
for 18,000 to 24,000 vehicles per day.
The projected traffic volumes and the current and projected distribution of vehicles
indicate that Hutton Ranch Road will carry approximately 18,100 vehicles per day at the
heaviest section between the Wal-Mart main entrance and Highway 93.
This is consistent with a well -functioning four -lane collector and is also consistent with an
adequately -functioning two-lane collector with turn bays.
The proposed traffic signal at the intersection of Hutton Ranch Road and the Wal-Mart
main entrance will be time -coordinated with the Highway 93 signal to improve circulation
in the Hutton Ranch complex.
The Montana Department of Transportation is proposing the Hutton Ranch connection to
West Reserve Drive. The timing of this connection is still unclear. However, this
connection will allow even better vehicle movements and will more evenly distribute
traffic in this entire commercial area.
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