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PREIT Traffic Engineering Review, February 8, 2007

Click here to see June 15, 2007 Update or scroll down

Mr. Carmen Raddi

Township Manager

New Garden Township

299 Starr Road

Landenberg , PA   19350

 

RE:       Traffic Engineering Review - New Garden Town Center

            New Garden Township, Chester County, PA

            McMahon Project No. 802045.01

 

Dear Mr. Raddi:

 

McMahon Associates, Inc. has prepared this letter, which summarizes our traffic engineering review of the New Garden Town Center development.   Our review is based on the traffic impact study entitled New Garden Town Center Traffic Impact Study, prepared by Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) and dated December 11, 2006.   In addition, our office reviewed the New Garden Town Center Concept Plan For Road Improvements, also prepared by TPD and dated December 4, 2006.   Based on our review of the traffic impact study and the road improvements concept plan, we offer the following comments.

 

  1. As previously agreed to by the applicant, a separate analysis of the PA Route 41 intersections with Starr Road and Newark Road, as well as the Limestone Road/Kaolin Road/Ewart Road intersection must be completed.   Based on this analysis, additional improvements may be necessary at these intersections.

 

  1. In conjunction with this development, comprehensive traffic improvements are proposed, which consist of widening PA Route 41 to provide two through lanes in each direction between the Limestone Road interchange ramps to the south and through the intersection of Sunny Dell Road to the north, and with auxiliary turn lanes at intersections.   In addition it is proposed to eliminate the existing Sharp Road/Sheehan Road intersection with PA Route 41, relocate Sharp Road (opposite the site access), as well as install new traffic signals at the PA Route 41 intersections with Sunny Dell Road and relocated Sharp Road (opposite the site access), as well as at the PA Route 41 southbound off ramp intersection with Limestone Road.   As part of the proposed traffic signals, it is also proposed to interconnect these signals with fiber optic through underground conduit.   With installation of the proposed improvements, the study area intersections will operate at improved levels of service and nearly all movements at all intersections will function with acceptable level-of-service (LOS) D or better during all three peak hours.    The Township and the applicant should agree to the phasing of the proposed traffic improvements, unless it is proposed to construct all of the improvements with the initial opening of the development.   This should be confirmed.

 

  1. It is proposed to provide a widened shoulder area along the east side of Limestone Road at the PA Route 41 northbound ramps intersection; however, if feasible, it is recommended to provide a separate left-turn lane along Limestone Road due to the heavy left-turn movement for traffic oriented northbound along PA Route 41.   Furthermore, the proposed development will add between 80 and 231 vehicles to this movement during the study peak hours.   Any improvements at this intersection should verify the availability of adequate sight distance for traffic exiting the off-ramp.

 

  1. In order to mitigate the impact of the development, the traffic study recommends installation of a traffic signal at the Limestone Road/PA Route 41 southbound ramps intersection.   Based on the signal warrant analysis contained in the study, the traffic signal is only warranted during the Saturday midday peak hour.   PennDOT may not approve the installation of a traffic signal, since it is based on the projected traffic volumes for only one peak hour.   The applicant may need to monitor the intersection traffic volumes after the development is opened to determine when the traffic signal is warranted.   Funds should be escrowed for the future installation of a traffic signal.   Since it is questionable as to whether a traffic signal will be warranted at the Limestone Road/PA Route 41 southbound ramps intersection, in lieu of a traffic signal, it could also be considered to investigate the feasibility of a roundabout at this location.

 

  1. The northbound PA Route 41 off ramp left-turn movement at its intersection with Limestone Road operates with delay (LOS F) during the peak hours under current conditions, and in the future, both without and with the proposed development.   In order to improve conditions at this intersection, it would be necessary to install a traffic signal at this intersection; however, according to the traffic impact study a traffic signal is not warranted based on the peak hour traffic volumes.   This should be explored further with PennDOT in the context of any discussions regarding the proposed traffic signal at the Limestone Road/PA Route 41 southbound ramps intersection.

 

  1. During the design phase, any road improvements along PA Route 41 through the interchange with Limestone Road, as well as at the Limestone Road intersections should consider radii improvements at the intersections.

 

  1. During the 2019 Saturday midday peak hour, at the PA Route 41/Sharp Road/Site Access intersection, the northbound site access left-turn movement, the northbound site access shared left-turn/through movement, and the southbound Sharp Road shared through/right-turn movement will operate with delay (LOS E).   If feasible, additional improvements should be identified so that the intersection will operate at acceptable LOS D or better during all three peak hours.

 

  1. The northbound site access left-turn queue at the PA Route 41/Sharp Road/Site Access intersection will extend beyond the available storage lane and into the adjacent through lane.   This may cause the queue to extend through the first internal intersection.   As such, we recommend modifying the intersection design and/or traffic signal operations in order to accommodate this queue.  

 

  1. The southbound Sharp Road shared through/right-turn movement queue will extend through the new Sharp Road/Sheehan Road intersection during the weekday afternoon and Saturday midday peak hours.   As such, we recommend modifying the intersection design and/or traffic signal operations in order to accommodate this queue.  

 

  1. Based on the concept plan, the first internal intersection along the main access (opposite the relocated Sharp Road) provides an awkward/skewed alignment.   The intersection should be realigned so that the side street approaches to the intersection align opposite each other and closer to 90 degrees to the main access.

 

  1. As previously indicated by the Township, it is desired to close the eastern Sheehan Road intersection with PA Route 41 as part of this project.   It is recommended that the Township and the applicant work together with PennDOT during the HOP review process to close this portion of Sheehan Road.

 

  1. Sharp Road, Sheehan Road, and Sunny Dell Road are narrow two-lane roads along the site frontages.   In conjunction with the proposed improvements, it is recommended to widen these roads and provide full width overlay along the site frontages and within the limits of work to provide two 12-foot travel lanes and shoulders (per PennDOT 3R criteria).

 

  1. The relocated portion of Sharp Road should be designed according to PennDOT or AASHTO criteria with regard to the horizontal and vertical alignments.

 

  1. Additional widening should be provided along Sunny Dell Road in order to provide a continuous center left-turn lane and to eliminate the hour-glass effect between Reynolds Road and the southern Town Center driveway.

 

  1. If feasible, it is recommended to relocate the southern Sunny Dell Road Town Center access slightly to the north so that it is fully within the frontage of the vacant parcel on the opposite side of Sunny Dell Road in order to coordinate future access to development of this vacant parcel.

 

  1. A separate right-turn deceleration lane should be provided along northbound Sunny Dell Road at the northern access intersection.   At minimum, a right-turn deceleration taper should be provided at the southern access intersection.

 

  1. We recommend an ultimate right-of-way of 60 feet (or a 30-foot half width right-of-way where the site is located on one side of the road only) along Sharp Road, Sheehan Road, and Sunny Dell Road.  

 

  1. The available sight distances at each of the site access intersections should be evaluated in detail during the land development process.   Speed studies may be necessary in order to verify the 85 th percentile speed of traffic.   Based on preliminary sight distance observations conducted by our office, it appears there may be sight distance limitations at the northern Sunny Dell Road access, and at the Reynolds Road access.

 

  1. Since access is provided to two State Roads (PA Route 41 and Sunny Dell Road), a Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP) will be required from PennDOT.   The applicant should coordinate with the Township during the PennDOT process as the improvements are confirmed.  

 

If you have any questions, or require clarification regarding any of the above comments, please contact Jeff Gehman, E.I.T. or me at your convenience.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Christopher J. Williams, P.E.

Associate/Senior Project Manager

 

CJW/JDG/ab

 

cc:         Spencer J. Andress, Government Specialists, Inc.

            Lisa D’Andrea, P.E., Medveczky Associates, Ltd.

            David H. Bailey, P.E., GTS Technologies Inc.

Marc Kaplin, Esquire, Kaplin Stewart

John Mahoney, Esquire, Kaplin Stewart

Chris Mrozinski, PREIT Services, LLC

Don Jacobs, P.E., PTOE, Traffic Planning and Design, Inc.

 

Traffic Engineering Review June 15, 2007 Update

 

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