Riverchase-1/PP-CS 931228To:
From:
RE:
Taryon Bowman, Planning and Zoning Coordinator
Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E., City Engineer ~
Engineering Comments for 12/28/93 and 1/6/94
Date: December 28, 1993
the north side of Basilwood Drive, at the request of Unzicker
&Associates, Inc.
1.
2.
3.
Why is this being submitted? What has
Minimum finish floor for lot 15R, Block D.
Th~ signature block should be provide.
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Riverehane Club Anartmm~q fplan A) Preliminary Plat, located along lhe north~
corner of Beitllne Road and MacArthur Blvd., at the request of Nathan Maler
Consu#h Inc.
1. Five foot wide sidewalks should be provided on MacArd~ur Blvd.
The following comment pertains to the traffic study for the Riverchase Club
Apartments. These comments apply to both Plan A and B. It is my understanding
that revisions to the study will be submitted to be included with the P&Z packe~.
However, I will not have time to review it prior to my comments being due. Any
changes to these comments will be addressed at the P&Z meeting.
a.. All exact calculations and copies of any publications referenced in this study
should be provided with the study.
b. Please comment why the trip generation for multi-family low rise apartments code
221 was used in lieu of 220.
Please comment on who at city staff provided the trip orientation of the site
generated traffic. The City is very concerned about the projected 20% to go to
the east. This is assumed to go down Riverchase Drive.
d. 1995 should be considered the base year study. There should also be a future
year study provided.
eo
Your comments are that currently Riverchase Dr. experiences Level E service in
the a.m. and Level F service in the p.m. Please respond as to what is the actual
time delay was on the a.m and the p.m. Did you actually perform a delay study
to arrive at those times? As an observation, if the intersections are already
operating at Level E and F why would it be prudent to include an additional 1850
vehicles per day through an intersection which can't handle the current traffic?
Also, the City has already approved final plats for subdivisions along Riverchase
Drive that total 430 lots. As of December, 1993, permits had only been issued
for 87 lots. Of the 87 lots very few are occupied at this time. Even with that
small amount developed, that has already been approved by Council, your report
states that the level of service is already unacceptable getting off of River, has,
onto MacArthur Blvd. What will the level of service be in the future when the
additional 343 building permits are issued and all 430 homes are occupied and
when the proposed 280 units directly across the intersection are eonstmeted?
f. Please respond on how signalization will help the intersection of Riven:base and
MacArthur Blvd.
go
You have a comment in your study that says vehicles will queue on the minor
roadway and will not affect the flow of traffic on the major roadways. This
might be fine for the major roadways but how are the people on the minor
roadways, i.e., Riverchase Dr. and the driveway for this development, going to
get onto the major roadway? Again, your study shows that the level of service
is already at Level E & F.
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Your comments state that the signal timing at MacArthur and Beltline could be
retimed to allow more green lime for southbound MacArthur during the a.m.
peak hours. Please comment on what effect this will have on the Beltline Road
traffic.
Your study states that the actual average speed on MacAxthur Blvd. is 40 mph.
Our speed study shows that the average speed limit is 38 mph and 8$th
percentile speed is 42 mph. This speed survey was performed in August, 1993.
According to our ordinances, the desirable intersection sight distance on this
roadway would be 450 feet, not 275 feet. Both driveways should be evaluated
to see if they can obtain the desirable intersection sight distance. If the northern
driveway is pursued, a sight visibility easement should be shown on the plat that
would restrict or prohibit any encroachments, including heavy landscaping taller
than 2 1/2 feet.
Please comment as to why the traffic distribution has changed from what is
currently existing on MacArthur Blvd. Currently, approximately 89% of the
vehicles are south bound in the a.m. and approximately 11% are north bound.
However, on your site distribution you are showing 35 % north bound and 65 %
south bound. Also, please comment why your p.m. directional split has been
changed.
The City is very concerning about the impact this development will have on an
already congested roadway. Therefore, the City would request that new counts
and turning movements be provided for the Beltline/MacArthur and the
Riv~r~hase/MacArthur intersections so that a level of service for today, i.e.,
January, 1994, when this department comes on line, i.e., 1995, and for future
conditions can be determined. The level of service with and without the
development should be identified at each intersection.
1. The ultimate traffic volume on MacArthur Blvd. should be projected and shown
with the study.
Various solutions to better the level of service should be evaluated. These should
include, but not be limited to: evaluating the traffic light operation at
MacArthur/Belfline; widening MacArthur from four to six lanes between
Riverchase and Beltline; installing a traffic light at RiverchaseffMacArthur and
constructing Fairway Drive. You should also evaluate any addition solutions
which may become apparent during the course of performing the traffic study.
Riverch~ Club A_nartments (ptan BI. pre_llminarv Plat. located along the northwest
corner of Beitline Road and MacArthur Blvd. at the request of Nathan D. Maler
Consulting Enzineers Inc..
Five foot wide sidewalks are required on MacARthur Blvd. Four foot wide
sidewalks are required on Riverchase Drive.
Even though the driveways on Riverchase Drive may be private, the volume they
carry will make them function as streets. Therefore, the centerline should be offset
by 125 feet or the driveways should be lined up. This affects the two middle
driveways.
How much more traffic will the extension of Riverchase Drive put on the intersection
of Riverchase and MacArthur Blvd. Already the intersection is operating at a very
poor level of service.