GREAT FALLS AREA TRANSPORTATION PLAN — 2009

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TABLE OF CONTENTS i - vi
DEFINITIONS / ACRONYMS vii - x
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND  
1.1 Project Background 1-1
1.2 Study Area 1-2
1.3 Trans. Planning Vision, Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Strategies & Actions 1-2
  Vision 1-3
  Goals 1-5
  Objectives 1-5
  Polices 1-6
  Strategies & Action 1-10
1.4 Previous Transportation Planning Efforts 1-15
1.5 SAFTEA-LU Transportation Planning Guidance 1-15
CHAPTER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS  
2.1 Existing Street System 2-1
2.2 Existing Traffic Volumes and Corridor Facility Size 2-4
2.3 Corridor Facility Size versus Traffic Volume 2-4
2.4 Pavement Survey 2-7
2.5 Existing Traffic Signal System 2-7
2.6 Intersection Levels of Service 2-10
2.7 Travel Time and Delay (Corridor Travel Speed) 2-14
2.8 Truck Traffic 2-14
2.9 Bicycle/Pedestrian Traffic 2-25
2.10 Existing ADA Facilities 2-27
2.11 Lighted Corridors 2-27
2.12 Existing/Proposed Trail System 2-27
CHAPTER 3: TRAVEL DEMAND FORECASTING  
3.1 Socioeconomic Trends 3-1
3.2 Population and Employment Projections 3-5
3.3 Allocation of Growth within the Study Area 3-7
3.4 Committed Transportation Improvements 3-9
3.5 Traffic Model Development 3-10
3.6 Traffic Volume Projections 3-12
3.7 Network Alternative Test Runs Analysis 3-16
CHAPTER 4: PROJECTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS (2030)  
4.1 Projected Intersection Level of Service Calculations (2030) 4-1
4.2 Projected Corridor Facility Size versus Traffic Volume (2030) 4-5
CHAPTER 5: PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND TRANSIT ANALYSIS  
5.1 Introduction 5-1
5.2 Pedestrian Analysis 5-2
  Existing Sidewalk Network 5-2
  ADA Access 5-2
  Transition Plans 5-3
  Committed Project 5-4
  Proposed Improvements to Benefit Pedestrians 5-4
5.3 Bicycle Analysis 5-5
  Background/Existing Bikeway Network 5-5
  Committed Bikeway Network Projects 5-5
  Proposed Bikeway Network and System Improvements 5-6
  Fiscal Constraint 5-13
5.4 Transit Analysis 5-15
  History of Existing Transit System 5-15
  Existing Transit System 5-15
  Existing Transit Goals 5-17
  Planned, Committed Route Improvements 5-18
  Paratransit Operations 5-18
  Inter-City Transit 5-18
  Identified Transit Needs 5-21
  Committed Transit Projects 5-23
CHAPTER 6: SECURITY  
6.1 Definition 6-1
6.2 Coordination and Consultation 6-1
6.3 Terrorism Attacks on the Transportation System 6-1
6.4 Emergency Evacuation Plans and Routes 6-3
6.5 Transit, Rail and Air Transportation Security 6-4
6.6 Recommendations 6-4
6.7 Conclusions 6-5
6.8 On-Line Transportation Security Resources 6-5
CHAPTER 7: SAFETY  
7.1 Intersection Levels of Service 7-1
  Signalized 7-2
  Unsignalized 7-5
7.2 Signal Warrant Analysis 7-7
7.3 Corridor Volumes, Capacity and Levels of Service 7-11
7.4 Crash Analysis 7-16
7.5 Truck Traffic 7-23
7.6 Safety Programs 7-25
CHAPTER 8: TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT  
8.1 Role of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) 8-1
8.2 TDM Strategies and Their Effectiveness 8-2
8.3 Event Specific TDM Strategies 8-13
8.4 Conclusions 8-14
8.5 Recommended TDM Strategies 8-15
CHAPTER 9: TRAFFIC CALMING  
9.1 Purpose of Traffic Calming 9-2
9.2 History of Traffic Calming 9-3
9.3 Types of Traffic Calming Measures 9-4
9.4 Traffic Calming Program Summary 9-6
9.5 Traffic Calming Program for Existing Streets 9-7
9.6 Incorporating Traffic Calming Measures in New Street Designs 9-11
9.7 Traffic Calming Techniques Applicable to Collectors and Minor Arterials 9-12
CHAPTER 10: RECOMMENDED SHORT RANGE (SR) IMPROVEMENTS  
10.1 Status and Applicability of Previously Identified SR Projects 10-1
10.2 Committed SR Improvements 10-1
10.3 Recommended SR Improvements 10-3
10.4 Short Range Improvement Projects with No Identified Funding 10-7
CHAPTER 11: RECOMMENDED MAJOR STREET NETWORK (MSN) IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS  
11.1 Status and Applicability of Previously Identified (MSN) Improvement Projects 11-1
11.2 Committed MSN Improvement Projects 11-1
11.3 Recommended MSN Improvement Projects 11-3
11.4 Long Range MSN Improvement Projects 11-4
CHAPTER 12: RECOMMENDED STREET STANDARDS AND RIGHT-OF-WAY NEEDS  
12.1 Corridor Preservation 12-1
12.2 Context Sensitive Design 12-4
12.3 Street Classifications & Definitions 12-6
  12.3.1 Functional Highway Systems in Urbanized Areas 12-6
  12.3.2 Interstate Highways 12-6
  12.3.3 Principal Arterial System 12-6
  12.3.4 Minor Arterial Street System 12-7
  12.3.5 Collector Street System 12-7
  12.3.6 Local Street System 12-8
12.4 Recommended Street Standards 12-8
12.5 Right-of-Way Requirements 12-15
12.6 Roadway Design Standards 12-15
  12.6.1 Pavement Design 12-15
  12.6.2 Geotechnical Considerations 12-16
CHAPTER 13: ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION  
13.1 Definition 13-1
13.2 Coordination and Consultation 13-1
13.3 Types of Environmental Impacts 13-2
  13.3.1 Functional Highway Systems in Urbanized Areas 13-2
  13.3.2 Interstate Highways 13-3
  13.3.3 Principal Arterial System 13-3
  13.3.4 Minor Arterial Street System 13-4
  13.3.5 Collector Street System 13-4
  13.3.6 Functional Highway Systems in Urbanized Areas 13-4
  13.3.7 Interstate Highways 13-5
  13.3.8 Principal Arterial System 13-5
  13.3.9 Minor Arterial Street System 13-5
  13.3.10 Collector Street System 13-6
  13.3.11 Local Street System 13-6
13.4 Potential Areas for Mitigation 13-6
13.5 Conclusion 13-8
CHAPTER 14: FINANCIAL ANALYSIS  
14.1 Background 14-1
14.2 Overview of Traditional Funding Sources 14-1
  14.2.1 Federal Funding Sources 14-1
  14.2.2 State Funding Sources 14-2
  14.2.3 Local Funding Sources 14-2
14.3 Federal Funding Sources 14-2
14.4 State Funding Sources 14-9
14.5 Local Funding Sources 14-10
  14.5.1 City of Great Falls 14-11
  14.5.2 Cascade County 14-12
  14.5.3 Private Funding Sources 14-14
  14.5.4 Future Potential Funding Sources 14-16
14.6 Summary of Current Financial Status 14-17
CHAPTER 15: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY  
15.1 Initial Considerations 15-1
15.2 Evaluation of Projects and Programs 15-1
15.3 Financial Planning Summary 15-3
CHAPTER 16: CONFORMITY DETERMINATION  
16.1 Introduction 16-1
16.2 Background 16-1
16.3 Conformity Determination 16-2
16.4 Conclusion 16-5
LIST OF TABLES  
Table 2-1Optimal Traffic Volume for Number of Lanes2-4
Table 2-2Level of Service Criteria- Signalized Intersections2-11
Table 2-3Level of Service Criteria- Two Way Stop Controlled Intersections2-11
Table 2-4Level of Service Criteria- All-Way Stop Controlled Intersections2-12
Table 2-5Intersections Experiencing LOS D, LOS E or LOS F2-12
Table 2-6Percentages of Trucks Compared to Total Peak Hour Volumes2-16
Table 3-1Cascade County Population and Employment Trends 1970-20003-1
Table 3-2Comparison of Resident Age Distribution Cascade County 1970-20003-3
Table 3-3Comparison of Labor Force Participation by Males & Females3-3
Table 3-4Occupied Housing Units and Household Size Cascade County 1970-20003-4
Table 3-5Employment Trends by Economic Sector Cascade County 1970-20003-5
Table 3-6Population and Employment Projections Cascade County 2000-20303-6
Table 3-7Employment Projections by Economic Sector Cascade County 2000-20303-7
Table 4-1V/C Ratios & LOS Designations4-6
Table 5-1Transit Rate Schedule (2003)5-17
Table 7-1Level of Service Criteria- Signalized Intersections7-2
Table 7-22002 A.M. Peak LOS- Signalized Intersections7-3
Table 7-32002 P.M. Peak LOS- Signalized Intersections7-4
Table 7-4Level of Service Criteria- Stop Controlled Intersections7-5
Table 7-5LOS- Stop Controlled Intersections7-6
Table 7-6Existing Intersections Functioning at LOS D or Lower7-6
Table 7-7Signal Warrant Summary of Existing Conditions7-8
Table 7-8Approximate Volumes for Planning of Future Roadway Improvements7-13
Table 7-9V/C Ratios & LOS Designations7-16
Table 7-10Intersections with 12 or More Crashes in the Three-Year Period (1999-2001)7-17
Table 7-11Intersection Crash Analysis – Severity Rating7-18
Table 7-12Intersection Crash Analysis Crash Rate7-19
Table 7-13Intersection Crash Analysis – Composite Rating7-20
Table 7-14Additional Intersection Crash Analysis – Composite Rating7-21
Table 8-1TDM Measures Ranked by Anticipated Usability8-10
Table 8-2TDM Strategies and Their Cost Effectiveness8-11
Table 9-1 Types of Traffic Calming Measures 9-14
Table 12-1Earth Cut/Fill Slopes Under Normal Conditions12-16
Table 14-1Projected Funding Available for Transportation Projects14-18
Table 15-1Recommended Major Street Network (MSN) Projects15-4
Table 15-2Recommended Short Range (SR) Projects15-6
LIST OF FIGURES  
Figure 1-1 Study Area Boundary 1-4
Figure 2-1 Major Street Network Entire Study Area 2-2
Figure 2-2 Major Street Network City Area Enlargement 2-3
Figure 2-3 Estimated Existing (2007) Traffic Volumes 2-5
Figure 2-4 Corridor Size 2-6
Figure 2-5 Traffic Signal System 2-8
Figure 2-6 Level of Service Analysis (A.M. & P.M. Peak Hours) 2-9
Figure 2-7 Travel Time and Delay Study 2-13
Figure 2-8 A.M. Peak Hour Running Speed & Delay 2-17
Figure 2-9 Mid-Day Running Speed & Delay 2-18
Figure 2-10 P.M. Peak Hour Running Speed & Delay 2-19
Figure 2-11 A.M. Peak Travel Speed 2-20
Figure 2-12 Mid-Day Travel Speed 2-21
Figure 2-13 P.M. Peak Travel Speed 2-22
Figure 2-14 Truck Routes 2-23
Figure 2-15 Sidewalk Inventory 2-24
Figure 2-16 Wheelchair Access Ramp Inventory 2-26
Figure 2-17 Lighted Corridors 2-29
Figure 2-18 Existing Proposed Trails Network 2-30
Figure 3-1 Cascade County Population and Employment Trends 1970-2000 3-2
Figure 3-2 Cascade County Population and Employment Projections 2000-2025 3-6
Figure 3-3 2005 Annual Average Daily Traffic (ADT) - Baseline 3-13
Figure 3-4 2015 Annual Average Daily Traffic (ADT) 3-14
Figure 3-5 2025 Annual Average Daily Traffic (ADT) 3-15
Figure 3-6 Traffic Model Alternative Test Runs 3-30
Figure 3-7 Traffic Model Alternative Test Runs 3-31
Figure 3-8 Traffic Model Alternative Test Runs 3-32
Figure 3-9 Transportation Analysis Zones 3-33
Figure 4-1 Projected 2030 Level of Service (A.M. & P.M. Peak Hours) 4-4
Figure 4-2 Existing Traffic (Year 2010) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-8
Figure 4-3 Projected Traffic (Year 2020) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-9
Figure 4-4 Projected Traffic (Year 2030) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-10
Figure 5-1 Existing Bikeway Network 5-9
Figure 5-2 Proposed Bikeway Network & System Improvements 5-10
Figure 5-3 Existing Bus Routes 5-19
Figure 5-4 Modified Bus Routes 5-20
Figure 7-1 Existing Traffic (Year 2002) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 7-14
Figure 7-2 Crash Locations Deserving Additional Study 7-22
Figure 7-3 Proposed Truck Routes 7-24
Figure 10-1 Recommended Short Range Projects Entire Study Area 10-10
Figure 10-2 Recommended Short Range Projects City Area Enlargement 10-11
Figure 11-1 Recommended Major Street Network Improvements Entire Study Area 11-9
Figure 11-2 Recommended Major Street Network Imp. City Area Enlargement 11-10
Figure 12-1 Suggested Local Street Standards 12-10
Figure 12-2 Suggested Collector Street Standards 12-11
Figure 12-3 Suggested Minor Arterial Street Standards 12-12
Figure 12-4 Suggested Principal Arterial Street Standards 12-13
Figure 12-5 Suggested Rural Street Standards 12-14

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