South College Avenue (US 287)
4.0
PROJECTED CONDITIONS
4.1
Development Plan Recognition
Access Control Plan Update Report
The improvements of the Access Control Plan Update was influenced by known development
that is likely to occur in the immediate future. These plans could include the re-development of
a parcel to a different land use or simply making improvements to a property frontage. The City
and County are aware of the more immediate development plans and the recommendations of
the Access Control Plan Update reflect that knowledge. The updated plan takes into
consideration the long-range land use changes along the South College Avenue corridor.
4.2
South College Avenue Typical Section
The City of Fort Collins has designated South College Avenue as a Major Arterial in their Master
Street Plan (see Appendix C). The cross-section for the typical Major Arterial consists of six
through lanes (three in each direction), a raised and landscaped center median and 8-foot bike
lanes. A 10-foot parkway and 7-foot sidewalk are also included. This section currently exists
between Harmony Road and Swallow Road minus the 8-foot bike lanes. South of Harmony
Road, South College Avenue consists of only four through lanes; however, it is planned to be
consistent with the City’s standard for a Major Arterial between Carpenter Road (LCR 32) and
Harmony Road. The lane and median widths meet or exceed CDOT requirements. The Major
Arterial cross-section is represented on Figure 4-1.
Figure 4-1
Major Arterial Cross-Section
Page 36
South College Avenue (US 287)
4.3
Access Control Plan Update Report
Traffic Control
One new traffic signal is planned along the study corridor, being at Triangle Drive. In addition,
potential new signals could be installed at the Fairway Lane and/or Crestridge Street/Smokey
Street intersections. In contrast to the new or potential installations noted above, one traffic
signal that was identified in the 1989 Access Control Plan has been removed from the current
plan. This location is 600 feet to the north of Trilby Road. This signal has been removed since it
does not meet current traffic signal spacing criteria of the Code for a NR-A roadway. Alternative
access to other traffic signals at Trilby Road and Skyway Drive is intended to provide access for
adjacent properties. Traffic control at unsignalized public intersections will be controlled by stop
signs. Restricted access at other locations will be achieved with raised medians.
4.4
Parallel Roadways
Several parallel street connections, with both local and collector street classifications, are
proposed along the corridor. Some of these connections are consistent with the 1989 plan;
however, some are new. One of the parallel streets proposed in 1989 can no longer be
achieved. Land between Crestridge and Cameron Drives on the west side of South College
Avenue has been purchased by the City as a natural area, thereby precluding the construction
of a new street through this area.
New public parallel streets are planned:
►
Between Trilby Road and Skyway Drive on both the east and west sides of South
College Avenue (Collector streets). This street was included in the 1989 Access Control
Plan.
►
Between Skyway and Bueno Drives on the east side of South College Avenue (Collector
street).
►
Between Fossil Creek Parkway and Fairway Lane on the east side of South College
Avenue (Local street standard).
Page 37
South College Avenue (US 287)
4.5
Access Control Plan Update Report
Traffic Volume Forecasts
Daily and peak hour traffic forecasts, shown on Figures 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4, were developed from
the following resources:
►
►
►
►
►
Existing daily traffic volumes
North Front Range traffic model projections
Daily traffic volume projections based on CDOT’s 20-year growth factors
City of Fort Collins estimates at a 3 percent per year compounded growth rate
Calculated estimates from adjacent traffic studies with PM peak hour projections being
10% of daily traffic volumes.
This information predicts that the annual growth rate of average daily traffic along South College
Avenue and the intersecting cross streets is approximately 2.22%. As can be seen in these
figures, daily traffic volume projections range from 44,300 to over 70,000 vehicles per day (vpd).
Refer to the South College Avenue (US 287) Access Control Plan Update Traffic Analysis
Report for additional information.
At most public road intersections, forecasted peak hour turning movements were estimated
using a methodology presented in the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Report
255 (NCHRP 255) titled Highway Traffic Data for Urbanized Area Project Planning and Design,
TRB 1982. This methodology uses existing turning movements and forecasted peak hour
approach and departure volumes to estimate future turning movements. At minor public roads
such as Pavillion Lane, Cregar Drive and Colboard Drive, turning movements were based on
the average growth rate for the corridor. At the Carpenter Road and Triangle Drive
intersections, turning movements to/from the west approach were based on long range
projections presented in traffic studies conducted along the corridor. Figures 4-2, 4-3 and 4-4
also illustrate future peak hour turning movements.
Page 38
4100
2020(2010)
10(15)
125
0
Triangle Dr.
10(10)
9700
4
6
135(85)
15(15)
35(25)
2215(1925)
55(160)
S. College Ave. (US 287)
105(80)
1875(1890)
1335(1800)
15(10)
2
280(375)
1005(1930)
525(430)
7
44,300
12,600
3
3
2
250
1
23,000
Victoria Dr.
410(755)
70(40)
420(650)
195(155)
1685(1525)
475(500)
1
245(555)
40(95)
80(250)
Skyway Dr.
15(35)
1215(2360)
45(100)
120(70)
1320(1765)
Trilby Rd.
195(300)
60(120)
5600
5
40(70)
125(75)
1840(1930)
105(185)
190(155)
205(220)
260(190)
3550
6
115(175)
135(195)
125(105)
4
20(35)
8
45,500
125(605)
1165(1540)
85(240)
950
Saturn Dr.
55(55)
2015(1895)
85(115)
130(145)
95(45)
40(65)
Smokey St.
7 2350
10(10)
2270(1970)
60(45)
5
1100
Crestridge St.
2300(2030)
10(10)
70(95)
25(75)
135(185)
40(65)
1400(2260)
60(65)
30(70)
1260(2190)
115(150)
8
1500(2390)
Bueno Dr.
45,000
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
Proposed
Avondale Rd.
9350
Figure 4-2
LEGEND
XXX(XXX) = AM(PM) Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
XXXX
Carpenter Road (LCR 32)
= Daily Traffic Volumes
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 3/12/02
Projected Traffic Volumes Carpenter Road (LCR 32) to Bueno Dr.
7400 12
52,400
40(20)
2310(2165)
20(20)
1440(2720)
110(90)
25(15)
2300(2070)
50(15)
65(30)
1430(2300)
285(445)
17
75(125)
2240(2255)
95(100)
1860(2840)
45(160)
.
Dr
Cameron Dr.
er
11
10
120
14
60(80)
25(25)
25(65)
lm
1250
25(75)
5(5)
10(30)
10
25(40)
10(10)
25(35)
Local Access
3650
Pa
11
25(45)
1550
50(135)
30(20)
70(90)
Fairway Ln.
00
10
9
,0
45,000
15(10)
2070(2030)
70(75)
00
380(360)
10(20)
55(75)
9
30(70)
15(25)
15(15)
13 51,200
Harmony Rd.
(SH 68)
Hogan Dr.
41,600
S. College Ave.
(US 287)
50(30)
1545(2785)
85(130)
2385(2485)
30(10)
225(355)
15(105)
15
2695(2455)
10(40)
3800
50(45)
2595(2280)
20(70)
12
14
2800
Pavillion Ln .
3750
60(75)
1460(2785)
110(110)
15
Kensington Dr.
130(125)
175(250)
125(255)
16
135(205)
335(255)
50(115)
J.F.K. Pkwy.
235(465)
1830(1665)
375(540)
55(170)
1535(2350)
145(45)
55(185)
.
Pkwy
54,850
13
320(320)
1655(1165)
190(220)
12,800
16
12,500
an
Troutm
220(300)
1730(2630)
150(300)
415(535)
740(1555)
400(565)
58,200
175(430)
1145(1780)
475(750)
Mason St.
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
Fossil Creek Pkwy.
Figure 4-3
LEGEND
Projected Traffic Volumes -
XXX(XXX) = AM(PM) Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
XXXX
= Daily Traffic Volumes
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 3/12/02
Cameron Drive / Fossil Creek Parkway
to Troutman Parkway
Mason St.
18
3045(3425)
15(20)
Colboard Dr.
595(530)
105(190)
30(80)
1500
500
20
19
39,800
60(145)
300(160)
55(200)
Horsetooth Rd.
4500
135(225)
2905(2915)
95(105)
55(70)
3025(3020)
50(155)
15(170)
10(30)
10(200)
190(405)
100(175)
135(395)
Bockman Dr.
18
17
7600
18,00
0
65(100)
2385(2540)
45(70)
Bo
ard
wa
lk D
r.
Figure 4-4
LEGEND
XXX(XXX) = AM(PM) Peak Hour Traffic Volumes
XXXX
22
S. College Ave. (US 287)
1750
90(135)
2110(2870)
340(660)
21
69,900
20(10)
2445(3510)
20(10)
2940(3330)
85(85)
38,850
Creger Dr.
17
22
68,600
8400
300
135(55)
1870(3075)
215(330)
17,
190(240)
185(405)
125(150)
90(115)
2895(2850)
405(275)
McClelland Dr.
50(70)
2950(3390)
30(55)
2385(3380)
125(145)
25(45)
20(10)
10(20)
23
90(60)
25(50)
40(100)
Monroe Dr.
35(85)
20(10)
70(120)
19
9550
23
20
30(90)
145(105)
340(355)
175(195)
80(95)
2350(3325)
65(365)
3
0
65
24
Foothills Pkwy.
68,150
10(15)
2510(3490)
205(465)
2765(2505)
145(245)
70,150
21
375(355)
1350(1005)
230(280)
35(115)
225(275)
40(30)
Swallow Rd.
11,500
11,500 24
435(370)
710(1455)
210(565)
65(145)
2120(3415)
105(175)
205(345)
1765(2955)
280(355)
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
= Average Daily Traffic Volumes
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 3/12/02
Projected Traffic Volumes Boardwalk Drive to Swallow Road
South College Avenue (US 287)
4.6
Access Control Plan Update Report
Traffic Operations
Intersection Geometry
Figures 4-5, 4-6 and 4-7 depict anticipated future intersection geometry. At each intersection
the number of through lanes on each approach is consistent with the number of travel lanes as
identified by the City’s Master Street Plan. For example, the Master Street Plan identifies South
College Avenue as a six-lane facility. Therefore, at each intersection, South College Avenue is
assumed to consist of three through lanes in each direction. Auxiliary lanes (i.e., left and right
turn lanes) were provided on intersection approaches where there is an anticipated high level of
future left and right turns. The locations where projected traffic volumes indicate the need for
additional auxiliary lanes include:
►
Carpenter Road (LCR 32)/ Avondale Road – Dual left turn lanes on the southbound,
eastbound and westbound approaches. Exclusive right turn lanes on the eastbound and
westbound approaches. Exclusive northbound and southbound right turn lanes.
►
Skyway Drive – Exclusive left turn lanes on the eastbound and westbound approaches
and an exclusive right turn lane on the westbound approach.
►
Fossil Creek Parkway / Cameron Drive – Exclusive right turn lane and a shared
through/left lane for the westbound approach.
►
Fairway Lane – Exclusive left turn lane on the westbound approach.
►
Harmony Road (SH 68) – Exclusive right turn lanes on the northbound, southbound and
eastbound approaches.
►
Boardwalk Drive – Dual southbound left turn lanes.
►
Horsetooth Road – Dual northbound and southbound left turn lanes and exclusive right
turn lane on the eastbound approach.
►
Monroe Drive – Dual southbound and westbound left turn lanes. Exclusive northbound
and eastbound right turn lanes.
►
Swallow Road – Exclusive southbound right turn lane.
Page 42
8
B/B
5
Crestridge St.
7
Saturn Dr.
6
5
Bueno Dr.
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
Smokey St.
c/c
8
Skyway Dr.
d/c
C/C
d/d
7
4
A/B
f/e
b/b
6
b/d
b/d
3
2
4
S. College Ave. (US 287)
Trilby Rd.
d/d
c/d
3
Triangle Dr.
2
Victoria Dr.
C/D
1
1
Figure 4-5
LEGEND
X/X
x/x
Carpenter Road (LCR 32)
= AM/PM Peak Hour Signalized Level of Service
= AM/PM Peak Hour Unsignalized Level of Service
= Stop Sign
= Traffic Signal
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 11/5/01
Projected Intersection Geometry
and Levels of Service -
Carpenter Road (LCR 32) to Bueno Drive
Mason St.
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
F/F
an
Troutm
.
Pkwy
C/D
16
16
13
Pavillion Ln .
e/f
12
Kensington Dr.
14
13
Harmony Rd.
(SH 68)
c/e
10
.
Dr
A/A
er
11
14
lm
Local Access
B/B
Pa
11
S. College Ave. (US 287)
12
b/c
c/d
15
Hogan Dr.
c/f
e/f
e/f
J.F.K. Pkwy.
f/e
15
10
Fairway Ln.
Cameron Dr.
B/B
9
Fossil Creek Pkwy.
9
Figure 4-6
LEGEND
X/X
x/x
= AM/PM Peak Hour Signalized Level of Service
= AM/PM Peak Hour Unsignalized Level of Service
= Stop Sign
= Traffic Signal
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 3/12/02
Projected Intersection Geometry
and Levels of Service -
Cameron Drive / Fossil Creek Parkway
to Troutman Parkway
FELSBURG
H O LT &
ULLE VI G
E/F
F/F
Swallow Rd.
24
21
Foothills Pkwy.
24
23
S. College Ave.
(US 287)
C/D
e/f
McClelland Dr.
20
c/f
B/C
23
Monroe Dr.
22
C/D
19
22
Horsetooth Rd.
c/d
18
C/D
Creger Dr.
20
Mason St.
21
19
Colboard Dr.
18
17
17
Bockman Dr.
Bo
LEGEND
X/X
x/x
ard
wa
lk D
r.
Figure 4-7
= AM/PM Peak Hour Signalized Level of Service
= AM/PM Peak Hour Unsignalized Level of Service
= Stop Sign
= Traffic Signal
North
South College Avenue ACP 01-022 3/12/02
Projected Intersection Geometry
and Levels of Service Boardwalk Drive to Swallow Road
South College Avenue (US 287)
Access Control Plan Update Report
Signalized Intersections
The projected AM and PM peak hour turning movements, along with the intersection geometry
discussed in the previous section, were used to evaluate the traffic flow characteristics along the
South College Avenue corridor. The software package Synchro was used to optimize signal
timing (keeping existing cycle lengths constant) and to evaluate traffic operations at the
signalized intersections. The results of these analyses are also depicted on Figures 4-5, 4-6
and 4-7.
According to information provided in the City of Fort Collins Multimodal Level of Service Manual,
LOS D is the guideline acceptable for peak period conditions. LOS D is also the accepted
standard for Larimer County and CDOT. As can be seen, peak hour traffic operations at the
following signalized intersections are projected to be less than LOS D.
►
Harmony Road (SH 68) – LOS F during both the AM and PM peak hours.
►
Horsetooth Road – LOS F during the AM and PM peak hours.
►
Swallow Road – LOS E during the AM peak hour and LOS F during the PM peak hour.
In most cases the primary reason these intersections operate at LOS E or F is due to the high
level of through traffic volumes on South College Avenue. The following information describes
the geometric improvements needed at the above signalized intersections, in addition to the
geometry of Figures 4-5 to 4-7, to improve traffic operations to LOS D or better. These
improvements do not take into account right-of-way constraints, construction cost or the
functional classification of the roadway as described in the City’s Master Street Plan. It is
recognized that these improvements may be considered impractical from a community and/or
cost-benefit perspective, particularly triple left turn lanes; however, they are listed, nonetheless,
to show the potential impacts at these locations.
►
Harmony Road (SH 68) – Three through lanes on the eastbound and westbound
approaches. Triple southbound left turn lanes.
►
Horsetooth Road – Triple eastbound and westbound left turn lanes. Four through lanes
in each direction on South College Avenue and three through lanes in each direction on
Horsetooth Road.
►
Swallow Road – Four southbound through lanes.
Unsignalized Intersections
The construction of a raised median in the future will prohibit outbound left turns and through
movements from stop controlled approaches. Unsignalized public road intersections along the
South College Avenue corridor will either be ¾ access or RIRO. Due to the forecasted peak
hour traffic volumes on South College Avenue, some minor street movements at the
unsignalized intersections are anticipated to operate at LOS E or F:
Page 46
South College Avenue (US 287)
Access Control Plan Update Report
►
Saturn Drive – Westbound right turns from Saturn Drive during the AM (LOS F) and PM
(LOS E) peak hours.
►
Local Access – Northbound left turns during the PM peak hour (LOS E).
►
Mason Street/Palmer Drive – Eastbound and westbound right turns during the AM (LOS
E) and PM (LOS F) peak hours. Southbound left turns during the AM (LOS F) and PM
(LOS E) peak hours. Northbound left turns during the PM peak hour (LOS F).
►
Pavillion Lane – Southbound left turns from South College Avenue during the AM (LOS
E) and PM (LOS F) peak hours.
►
Cregar Drive – Eastbound right turns to South College Avenue during the PM peak hour
(LOS F). Northbound left turns during the AM (LOS E) and PM (LOS F) peak hours.
4.7
Progression Analyses
In addition to the intersection capacity analyses, vehicle progression was evaluated along the
South College Avenue corridor. Progression analyses were conducted for two segments of the
corridor with Harmony Road (SH 68) as the dividing point. The following table summarizes the
results of the progression analyses.
Table 4-1
Progression Analyses – Future Conditions (Year 2020)
AM Peak Hour
Direction
Cycle
Bandwidth Efficiency
Cycle
Carpenter Road (LCR 32) to Harmony Road (SH 68) NR-A
Northbound
115 s
33 s
130 s
27.4%
Southbound
115 s
30 s
130 s
Harmony Road (SH 68) to Swallow Road NR-B
Northbound
115 s
24 s
130 s
20.9%
Southbound
115 s
24 s
130 s
PM Peak Hour
Bandwidth
Efficiency
20 s
38 s
22.3%
24 s
30 s
20.8%
As can be seen in Table 4-1, the future efficiency for South College Avenue between Carpenter
Road and Harmony Road (SH 68) ranges between 22% and 28%. This is less than the
desirable bandwidth efficiency (35%) noted in the Code for a highway with a NR-A classification.
The efficiency between Harmony Road (SH 68) and Swallow Road is almost 21% in both peak
hours, which is less than the desirable bandwidth future efficiency (30%) for a highway with a
NR-B classification. This represents an increase in efficiency between Harmony Road (SH 68)
and Swallow Road during the AM peak hour from 17.4% to 20.9% and a slight decrease in the
PM peak hour from 21.9% to 20.8%.
Page 47
South College Avenue (US 287)
4.8
Access Control Plan Update Report
Arterial Street Analysis
While the qualitative analyses of signalized intersections offer insight to the operation of specific
locations along the corridor, it is important to quantify the effectiveness of an access control plan
for the corridor as a whole. The Highway Capacity Manual documents a procedure that
evaluates operational conditions of sections of an arterial street, thereby providing indices of
relative operational changes if traffic signals are added or removed. The results of the analyses
are provided in a level of service assessment based on the average travel speed along a
corridor segment. Since the segment of South College Avenue between Harmony Road and
Swallow Road is already constructed to the Major Arterial Street cross-section and access
changes in this area will be relatively minor, only the segment between Carpenter Road and
Harmony Road was evaluated in this analysis.
Without access control measures along South College Avenue, the City’s Land Use Code would
allow for traffic signal spacing every ¼ mile. The comparison of level of service and average
travel speed was conducted between the number of traffic signals proposed with the Access
Control Plan Update and what the Land Use Code would allow. The analyses of these two
scenarios is contained in Table 4-2.
Table 4-2
Arterial Street Analysis- Carpenter Road (LCR 32) to Harmony Road (SH 68)
Level of Service
AM
PM
Access Control Plan
- Northbound
- Southbound
Land Use Code
- Northbound
- Southbound
Average Travel Speed (mph)
AM
PM
D
C
D
C
25.5
33.4
24.5
31.3
D
C
D
C
18.8
24.0
18.8
22.3
As can be seen in this table, the level of service is the same under both scenarios; however,
there is a reduction in average travel speed of approximately 25-30% if the Access Control Plan
Update improvements are not implemented.
Page 48