Revised Traffic Impact StudyValley Ranch.
Kalispell, MT
REVISED
Traffic Impact Study
Prepared for:
Gateway Properties, Inc.
Brent Card
5229 Highway 93 S
Whitefish, MT 59937
February 2008
WGM Project # 060830
Submitted by:
ANA�i1�l
3021 Palmer Street
P.O. Box 16027
Missoula, MT 59808-6027
MARK DANIE3_
SANCALE
155 'E
eo
CE
NIS-
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 1
Introduction
Gateway Properties, Inc. proposes to construct a mixed -use development, Valley
Ranch, on the east side of US Highway 93 (US 93) near the north end of Kalispell,
Montana (Figure 1). The proposed development will consist of single family homes,
townhomes, apartments, an assisted living center, and independent living units.
Completion of the development is anticipated for the year 2012.
The property on which the proposed subdivision will be built is approximately 80 acres
in size and is undeveloped. Surrounding properties in the vicinity of the site include a
mix of residential and commercial land uses.
This traffic study was prepared using standard traffic engineering techniques to
evaluate the operational characteristics of the proposed site driveways. A traffic
capacity and level -of -service analysis is presented herein.
Glacier Town Center, a large mixed -use commercial/residential development, was
recently approved for the property immediately south of the proposed Valley Ranch
development. When Glacier Town Center develops, Rose Crossing (a county road)
will be extended west from its current terminus at Whitefish Stage Road to a new
intersection with US 93. The future US 93/Rose Crossing intersection will be traffic
signal controlled. Direct vehicle access from Valley Ranch to US 93 is planned via two
%-movement driveways (Figure 2). Roadways within Valley Ranch will be extended
south through the Glacier Town Center development, connecting Valley Ranch with
Rose Crossing. This will result in signalized left -turn egress from Valley Ranch to
southbound US 93 via Rose Crossing. The extension of Rose Crossing from
Whitefish Stage Road to US 93 is anticipated for completion no later than 2009.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 2
Figure 1: Project Vicinity Map
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Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 3
Figure 2: Site Plan
SUBDIVISION
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Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 4
Existing Traffic Volume
To identify existing traffic volumes within the study area, AM and PM peak -period,
manual traffic counts were conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, September 20
and 21, 2006. The AM peak -period counts were conducted between 7:00 and 9:00
AM and the PM peak -period counts were conducted between 4:00 and 6:00 PM. The
count data (in Appendix A) was then analyzed to determine the existing peak -hour
traffic volumes at the study intersections. Figure 3 shows the 2006 existing peak -hour
traffic volumes on US 93 derived from the traffic counts and used for this report.
Valley Ranch Traffic impact Study page 5
Figure 3: 2006 Existing Peak Hour Traffic Volume
US Highway 93
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00
00
+
North
Legend
AM Peak Traffic (PM Peak Traffic)
Site Driveway 1
Site Driveway 2
Site
Driveway
3
1
Glacier
Town
Center
Access F
Rose
Crossing
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 6
Adjacent Development
The Glacier Town Center will be constructed on the property south of Valley Ranch.
This development has been approved by the City of Kalispell and is anticipated to
begin construction this year. Glacier Town Center is a very large, multi -phased project
including retail, residential, and office spaces. A traffic impact study (TIS) was
prepared for Glacier Town Center by Krager and Associates, Inc. (July 2007) in which
site -generated traffic was distributed for both Phase 1 and total development buildout
scenarios.
For the purposes of this study, it is assumed that the Glacier Town Center Phase 1
traffic generation and street improvements are in place prior to the analysis year. The
Phase 1 build traffic volumes developed in the Glacier Town Center TIS for the Rose
Crossing intersections were used as the no -build traffic volumes for this analysis. The
Glacier Town Center Phase 1 generated traffic was also added to US 93 at the Valley
Ranch proposed access locations.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 7
2012 No -Build Traffic Volumes
The 2006 existing traffic volumes on US 93 were projected to the study year 2012
using a four -percent -per -year peak -hour -traffic growth rate. This annual growth rate
was calculated based on data from the MDT publication, Traffic By Sections, for US
93 between Grandview Drive and Reserve Drive. (The subject site is actually located
in the next highway segment to the north, but that segment is almost ten miles long
and extends up to Whitefish. The selected segment is short and located just three-
quarter miles south of the site and therefore seems to better represent traffic growth at
the site.)
The Glacier Town Center Phase 1 traffic was combined with the projected 2012 traffic
volumes on US 93 north of Rose Crossing, resulting in the 2012 no -build traffic
volumes at Driveways 1 and 2 shown in Figure 4. The Phase 1 build traffic volumes
developed in the Glacier Town Center TIS at the Rose Crossing intersections with US
93 and Access F are assumed as the no -build condition for this analysis of Valley
Ranch, and are shown in Figure 4. These volumes represent the baseline traffic
condition projected to exist in 2012 without development of Valley Ranch.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page &
US Highway 93
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Figure 4: 2012 No -Build Traffic Volume
Site Driveway 1
Site Driveway 2
Site
Driveway
3
i
1,_ LO
30(116)
1
90(259)
�, `17(50) )
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Glacier
Town
Center
Access F
North
Legend
AM Peak Traffic (PM Peak Traffic)
Rose
Crossing
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 9
Site -Generated Traffic
The proposed Valley Ranch subdivision will consist of approximately 85 single family
homes, 33 townhomes, 160 apartments, an 80-bed assisted living center, and a 24-
unit independent living facility. Information contained in the Institute of Transportation
Engineers (ITE) publication Trip Generation (7th Edition) was used to estimate the
number of trips that will be generated by the proposed development. Table 1 shows
the results of the trip -generation calculations.
Table 1: Valley Ranch Estimated Site -Generated Trips
Land Use
Size
ITE Land
Use Code
Weekday
Average
Daily
Traffic
AM Peak Hour
PM Peak Hour
Enter
Exit
Enter
Exit
Single Family Home
85 lots
210
895
17
52
59
34
Townhouse
33 units
230
250
4
17
16
8
Apartment
160 units
220
1,075
16
66
69
37
Assisted Living Center
80 beds
254
213
7
4
8
10
Independent Living Facility
24 units
252
84
1
1
2
1
TOTAL
1
2,517
45
140
154
90
Assignment of Site -Generated Trips
Existing traffic patterns at the intersection of US 93 and Ponderosa Lane were studied
to identify commuter travel patterns in this area. Based on the established patterns at
this intersection, it is estimated that approximately 20% of site -generated peak -hour
trips will be destined to/from US 93 north of the site, and approximately 80% will be
destined to/from areas south of the site. With the planned extension of Rose
Crossing, alternate routes between Valley Ranch and Kalispell will become available
including Whitefish Stage Road and US Highway 2. It is anticipated that 20% of site
traffic will use these routes to/from the south, with the remaining 60% of southbound
traffic using US 93. The arrival/departure distribution pattern developed for this
analysis is illustrated in Figure 5.
The site -generated trips from Table 1 were distributed to the roadway network in
accordance with the assumed trip distribution patterns. This resulted in the AM and
PM peak -hour, site -generated trips shown in Figure 6.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study
Page ) 0
Figure 5: Site Traffic Arrival/Departure Pattern
US Highway 93
20°/
4°/
60%
Glacier
Town
Center
Access F
North
Legend
Arrival Pattern
Departure Pattern
Rose
Crossing
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study
Page 11
Figure 6: Valley Ranch Site -Generated Traffic
US Highway 93
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cp N
N i_-
1 LON.
+—22(14)
t�
1Loll, 84(54)
North
Legend
AM Peak Traffic (PM Peak Traffic)
— — Site Driveway 1
— -- — Site Driveway 2
Site
Driveway
3
1
Glacier
Town
Center
Access F
Rose
Crossing
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study page 92
2012 Build Traffic Volumes
The site -generated traffic was combined with the 2012 nc-build traffic volumes
resulting in the projected 2012 build traffic volumes shown in Figure 7. These are the
traffic volumes projected to exist on the site driveways in 2012 when Valley Ranch is
complete and fully occupied.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 13
US Highway 93
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Figure 7: 2012 Build Traffic Volume
-- — Site Driveway 1
— Site Driveway 2
Site
Driveway
3
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+- 30(116)
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+-9(31)
1
174(313)
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+— 71(102)
17(50)
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f—
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N N
(p r
4 T cc
North
Legend
AM Peak Traffic (PM Peak Traffic)
5(18) --+
63(110)
52(148)--+ c a
V l�
Glacier
Town
Center
Access F
Rose
Crossing
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study,
Page 94
Capacity Analysis
Capacity analysis of the study intersections was conducted using the projected 2012
no -build and build traffic volumes developed in this report. This analysis was
performed in accordance with the procedures presented in the Highway Capacity
Manual, 2000 Edition, published by the Transportation Research Board. The
analyses worksheets are contained in Appendix B.
The analysis procedures result in traffic Level of Service (LOS) rankings from A to F,
with A representing essentially free -flow conditions and F representing undesirable
levels of driver delay. See Appendix C for a description of the various LOS
categories.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study
Page 15
Intersection of US 93 and Site Driveway 1
Existing Conditions
This intersection does not currently exist. US 93 is a north/south arterial
highway that consists of two lanes in each direction plus a center two -way -left -
turn lane. Site Driveway 1 is anticipated as a three-quarter movement
intersection (left -turns exiting the driveway are prohibited, but all other
movements permitted) with stop -sign control on the driveway approach.
Capacity Analysis
A capacity analysis was conducted for this intersection using the 2012 build
traffic volumes developed in this report and the above -described intersection
configuration. The results of this analysis are summarized in Table 2.
Table 2: US 93 and Site Driveway 1 Level of Service Summary
AM Peak
PM Peak
Hour
Hour
2012
2012,
Build
Build
Intersection
Approach
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Southbound
9.2
A
12.9
B
Left
Westbound
10.9
B
14.9
B
Ri ht
Delay is measured in seconds per vehicle.
This proposed intersection is projected to operate at an acceptable LOS during
all hours. No intersection improvements are required.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 16
Intersection of US 93 and Site Driveway 2
Existing Conditions
This intersection does not currently exist. US 93 is a north/south arterial
highway that consists of two lanes in each direction plus a center two -way -left -
turn lane. Site Driveway 2 is anticipated as a three-quarter movement
intersection (left -turns exiting the driveway are prohibited, but all other
movements permitted) with stop -sign control on the driveway approach.
Capacity Analysis
A capacity analysis was conducted for this intersection using the 2012 build
traffic volumes developed in this report and the above -described intersection
configuration. The results of this analysis are summarized in Table 3.
Table 3: US 93 and Site Driveway 2 Level of Service Summary
AM Peak
PM Peak
Hour
Hour
2012
2012
Build
Build
Intersection
Approach
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Southbound
9.2
A
12.9
B
Left
Westbound
10.8
B
15.0+
C
Left/Right
Delay is measured in seconds per vehicle.
This proposed intersection is projected to operate at an acceptable LOS during
all hours. No intersection improvements are required.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 97
Intersection of Rose Crossing and Site Driveway 3/Glacier Town
Center Access F
Existing Conditions
This intersection does not currently exist, but will be constructed soon as part of
the Glacier Town Center project. Glacier Town Center will construct Rose
Crossing with one through lane in each direction, plus a westbound left -turn
lane for traffic entering Access F. The Access F approach will consist of one
entering lane and two exiting lanes. It is suggested, if the necessary distance
between this intersection and the improvements planned at US 93 is available,
that a separate eastbound left -turn lane also be constructed at this intersection,
opposite the planned westbound lane, to accommodate traffic entering Site
Driveway 3. The developer of Valley Ranch should coordinate this effort with
Glacier Town Center. The southbound Driveway 3 approach will also ultimately
serve a substantial number of residential units within Glacier Town Center (to
be constructed in future phases of that development); therefore, consideration
should be given to providing two exiting lanes on the southbound approach to
Rose Crossing.
Capacity Analysis
A capacity analysis was conducted for this intersection using the 2012 no -build
and build traffic volumes developed in this report and the above -described
intersection configuration. The results of this analysis are summarized in Table
4.
Table 4: Rose Crossing and Site Driveway 3/Access F Level of Service Summary
Peak AM Hour
Peak PM Hour
2012 No -build
2012 Build
2012 No -build
2012 Build
Intersection
Approach
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Eastbound Left
n/a
n/a
7.4
A
n/a
n/a
7.5
A
Westbound Left
7.5
A
7.5
A
7.9
A
7.9
A
Northbound Left
9.9
A
11.3
B
14.3
B
19.5
1 C
Northbound Th/Rt
8.8
A
8.8
A
9.6
A
9.6
A
Southbound Left
n/a
n/a
10.3
B
n/a
n/a
14.0
B
Southbound Th/Rt
n/a
n/a
9.0
A
n/a
nla
9.2
A
Delay is measured in seconds per vehicle.
This intersection is projected to operate at an acceptable LOS during all hours.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study . Page 98
Intersection of Rose Crossing and US 93
Existing Conditions
This intersection does not currently exist, but will be constructed soon as part of
the Glacier Town Center project. The westbound Rose Crossing approach will
be constructed with one left -turn lane and one right -turn lane. The northbound
approach will have two through lanes and a separate right -turn lane. The
southbound approach will have one left -turn lane and two through lanes. The
intersection will be controlled by a traffic signal operating with three vehicle
phases.
Capacity Analysis
A capacity analysis was conducted for this intersection using the 2012 no -build
and build traffic volumes developed in this report and the above -described
intersection configuration. The results of this analysis are summarized in Table
5.
Table 5: Rose Crossing and US 93 Level of Service Summary
Peak AM
Hour
Peak PM
Hour
2012 No -build
2012 Build
2012 No -build
2012 Build
Intersection
Approach
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Delay
LOS
Westbound Left
34.4
c
36.8
D
34.3
C
37.0
D
Westbound Right
20.3
C
20.3
C
18.7
B
18.7
B
Northbound Through
18.6
B
18.8
B
31.5
C
34.1
C
Northbound Right
16.1
B
16.1
B
21.9
C
22.4
C
Southbound Left
48.0
D
48.0
D
55.5
E
55.5
E
Southbound Through
9.2
A
9.2
A
13.1
B
13.1
B
Delay is measured in seconds per vehicle.
The traffic generated by the proposed Valley Ranch Subdivision will have no
appreciable effect on vehicle delay at this intersection. No intersection improvements
are required.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study Page 19
Crash Analysis
Traffic crash data for US 93 was obtained from MDT for the five-year period between
January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005. Crash data for one -quarter mile in both
directions from the proposed site were reviewed for this report. Five traffic incidents
occurred within this area during the identified five-year time period.
Of the five incidents, one resulted from loss of control in icy conditions, one involved a
collision with a wild animal, one resulted from an improper right -turn (apparently from
the wrong lane), one was a rear -end accident resulting from following too closely, and
one resulted in cargo from one vehicle causing damage to a second vehicle. None of
these accidents occurred as a result of correctable deficiencies in the highway.
The proposed driveway locations for the Valley Ranch subdivision are located at
points on US 93 with excellent intersection sight distance in both directions and a
center two-way left -turn lane, both of which should help to minimize the risk to traffic
crashes at these locations.
Valley Ranch Traffic Impact Study
Page 20
Report Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
The discussion and analyses contained in this report can be summarized as follows:
• Gateway Properties, Inc. proposes to construct a mixed -use residential
development on the east side of US 93 near the north end of Kalispell. The
proposed development will consist of single family homes, townhomes,
apartments, an assisted living center, and independent living units.
An adjacent development, Glacier Town Center, will be constructed on the
property immediately south of this site. As part of the construction of Glacier
Town Center, Rose Crossing will be extended west from its current terminus at
Whitefish Stage Road to a new signalized intersection with US 93. This
roadway construction will be complete no later than 2009.
Access to the proposed Valley Ranch development will include two driveways
onto US 93, as well as one driveway onto the new segment of Rose Crossing.
Left -turn egress from Driveways 1 and 2 onto US 93 is not recommended,
resulting in all southbound exiting traffic using Rose Crossing. The road
connection between Valley Ranch and Rose Crossing will be constructed as
part of the initial stage of Valley Ranch, even though the portion of Glacier
Town Center through which it will pass will not be developed until a later phase
of that project.
If space permits between Driveway 3 and the improvements planned at the
intersection of Rose Crossing and US 93, a left -turn lane on Rose Crossing for
eastbound turns into Driveway 3 should be considered. This should be
coordinated with the developer of Glacier Town Center and their roadway
design engineer:
• All of the proposed driveway intersections are projected to operate at very good
LOS under the forecasted 2012 build traffic volumes.
3 T he Valley Ranch, cite-ger aerated traffic will have no appreciable effect on
vehicle delay at the intersection of Rose Crossing and US 93, contributing less
than three seconds of delay on each movement.
• No identifiable traffic crash patterns on US 93 are noted in the vicinity of the
proposed site driveways. Sight distance is very good in both directions at the
proposed US 93 site driveways.
• The Valley Ranch development will have no negative affect on traffic at the
study intersections. No intersection mitigation is required with the possible
exception of a left -turn lane eastbound on Rose Crossing at Driveway 3.