05-11-1999 Public Hearing - Woodhill CC

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"I I I I 100riAXS Fulure traffic volumes on CR 15 east of Orono Orchard Road are predicted in Hennepin County ’ s long-range Tran$:portation System Plan (TSP) to be approximately 24,500 vehicles by the year 2010, and approximately 27,000 vehicles in the year 2020. The 20 year projection constitutes a 30% increase in traffic over existing volumes. Using Mn/DOT State Aid Design Criteria guidelines, roadway between 15,000 to 30,0000 vehicles per day are typically built with four travel lanes To reflect the limited access nature of CR 15 east of Orono Orchard Road, and the environmental constraints, the roadway has been redesigned as a single through lane in each direction, with a center left-turn lane, for a three lane cross-section. intpraection with Orono Orchard Road The intersection of Orono Orchard Road is difficult for vehicles on Orono Orchard Road and dangerous for through traffic on CR 15 because of (1) sight lines, (2) speed of traffic and (3) traffic volumes. The intersection of Orono Orchard Road and County Road 15 has safety limitations because tne sight distance between the north on Orono Orchard Road and the west on County Highway 15 is reduced by the curve on County Road 15. Hennepin County has recognized the situation by planning to sign CR 15 for 35 mph in this area (source: Hennepin County DPW). However, absent constant enforcement, traffic is likely to exceed the limit, based on the 50 mph limit between the 1-394 exit and Woodhill Avenue on the similar CR 15 roadway cross-section, the improved paving of CR 15, and CR 15's proximity to a freeway exit ramp. In addition to sight distance restrictions and traffic speed, the 60% increase in traffic along County Road 15 over the past 20 years has resulted in extensive delays for vehicles entering or exiting County Road 15 at Orono Orchard Road, and created a difficult left turn situation. The increasing traffic following reconstruction of CR 15 will increase vehicle delay between Orono Orchard Road and CR 15. Levels of Service (LOS) for Orono Orchard Road left-turning vehicles are presently at LOS F during the weekday AM and PM peak hour periods and summer weekends. LOS F indicates there are insufficient gaps of suitable size to allow a side street maneuver to safely cross through the CR \ 5 traffic stream. In this case, Orono Orchard Road traffic on average waits over a minute for a gap in CR 15 traffic to turn left. As traffic continues to increase, and gaps in traffic decrease, drivers will tend to make crossing maneuvers of CR 15 that may compromise the "critical gap " safety amount, resulting in CR 15 traffic unexpectedly slowing down by applying their brakes and increasing the chances of accidents. Unsignalized intersection LOS grades are established by Highway Capacity Manual, produced by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program and the Federal Highway Administration. Grades run from “A" (little or no delay) to "F" ( very long delays - demand exceeding capacity) Woodhill Country Club members who live west and north of the Country Club must now use the Woodhill Road access. Under the existing access structure, these members currently take Orono Orchard Road to County Road 15. They then make a left-hand turn on to County Road 15 and another left-hand turn from County Road 15 onto Woodhill Road. In exiting the Club, they make a right-hand turn onto County Road 15 followed by another right-hand turn onto Orono Orchard Road The approximately 30 turning maneuvers per day per direction at this intersection resulting from Woodhill members Ovor a Century of engineering Sxoellenee t k