2003 - GREAT FALLS AREA TRANSPORTATION PLAN

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COVER  
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY i - iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS iv - ix
DEFINITIONS / ACRONYMS x - xiii
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Page
1.1 Project Background 1-1
1.2 Study Area 1-2
1.3 Transportation Planning Vision, Goals, Objectives, Policies, and Strategies & Actions 1-2
Figure 1.1 Study Area Boundary 1-4
1.4 Previous Transportation Planning Efforts 1-14
1.5 Public Involvement 1-15
1.6 TEA – 21 Planning Factors 1-19
CHAPTER 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS  
2.1 Existing Street System 2-1
Figure 2-1 Major Street Network Entire Study Area 2-2
Figure 2-2 Major Street Network City Area Enlargement 2-3
2.2 Existing Traffic Volumes and Corridor Facility Size 2-4
2.3 Corridor Facility Size versus Traffic Volume 2-4
Table 2-1 Optimal Traffic Volume for Number of Lanes 2-4
Figure 2-3 Estimated Existing (2001) Traffic Volumes 2-5
Figure 2-4 Corridor Size 2-6
2.4 Pavement Survey 2-7
2.5 Existing Traffic Signal System 2-7
Figure 2-5 Pavement Conditions 2-8
Figure 2-6 Traffic Signal System 2-9
2.6 Existing Intersection Levels of Service 2-10
Table 2-2 Level of Service Criteria – Signalized Intersections 2-10
Table 2-3 Level of Service Criteria – Two Way Stop Controlled Intersections 2-11
Table 2-4 Level of Service Criteria – All-Way Stop Controlled Intersections 2-11
Table 2-5 Intersections Experiencing LOS D, LOS E or LOS F 2-12
Figure 2-7 Level of Service Analysis (A.M. & P.M. Peak Hours) 2-13
2.7 Travel Time and Delay (Corridor Travel Speed) 2-14
2.8 Truck Traffic 2-14
Table 2-6 Percentage of Trucks Compared to Total Peak Hour Volumes 2-15
Figure 2-8 Travel Time and Delay Study 2-17
Figure 2-9 A.M. Peak Hour Running Speed & Delay 2-18
Figure 2-10 Mid-Day Travel Speed 2-19
Figure 2-11 P.M. Peak Hour Running Speed & Delay 2-20
Figure 2-12 A.M. Peak Travel Speed 2-21
Figure 2-13 Mid-Day Travel Speed 2-22
Figure 2-14 P.M. Peak Travel Speed 2-23
Figure 2-15 Truck Routes 2-24
2.9 Bicycle / Pedestrian Traffic 2-25
Figure 2-16 Sidewalk Inventory 2-26
Figure 2-17 Sidewalk Condition 2-27
2.10 Existing ADA Facilities 2-28
2.11 Lighted Corridors 2-28
2.12 Existing / Proposed Trail System 2-28
Figure 2-18 Wheelchair Access Ramp Inventory 2-29
Figure 2-19 Lighted Corridors 2-30
Figure 2-20 Existing / Proposed Trails Network 2-31
CHAPTER 3: TRAVEL DEMAND FORECASTING  
3.1 Socioeconomic Trends 3-1
Table 3-1 Cascade County Population and Employment Trends 1970-2000 3-1
Figure 3-1 Cascade County Population and Employment Trends 1970-2000 3-2
Table 3-2 Comparison of Resident Age Distribution Cascade County 1970-2000 3-3
Table 3-3 Comparison of Labor Force Participation by Males & Females Cascade County 1970-2000 3-3
Table 3-4 Occupied Housing Units and Household Size Cascade County 1970-2000 3-4
Table 3-5 Employment Trends by Economic Sector Cascade County 1970-2000 3-5
3.2 Population and Employment Projections 3-5
Table 3-6 Population and Employment Projections Cascade County 2000-2025 3-6
Figure 3-2 Cascade County Population and Employment Trends 1970-2000 3-6
Table 3-7 Employment Projections by Economic Sector Cascade County 2000-2025 3-7
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
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
3.7 Network Alternative Test Runs Analysis 3-16
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
CHAPTER 4: PROJECTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS (2025)  
4.1 Projected Intersection Level of Service Calculations (2025) 4-1
Figure 4-1 Projected 2025 Level of Service (A.M. & P.M. Peak Hours) 4-3
4.2 Projected Corridor Facility Size versus Traffic Volume (2025) 4-4
Table 4-1 V/C Ratios & LOS Designations 4-4
Figure 4-2 Existing Traffic (Year 2005) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-6
Figure 4-3 Projected Traffic (Year 2015) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-7
Figure 4-4 Projected Traffic (Year 2025) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 4-8
CHAPTER 5: PEDESTRIAN, BICYCLE AND TRANSIT ANALYSIS  
5.1 Introduction 5-1
5.2 Pedestrian Analysis 5-2
Figure 5-1 Committed New Sidewalk Improvements 5-5
5.3 Bicycle Analysis 5-6
Figure 5-2 Existing Bikeway Network 5-8
Figure 5-3 Proposed Bikeway Network & System Improvements 5-9
5.4 Transit Analysis 5-14
Table 5-1 Transit Rate Schedule (2003) 5-16
Figure 5-4 Existing Bus Routes 5-18
Figure 5-5 Modified Bus Routes 5-19
CHAPTER 6: DOWNTOWN PARKING, ACCESS AND CIRCULATION  
6.1 Downtown Access and Circulation 6-1
6.2 Existing Parking Supply 6-2
Table 6-1 CDB Parking Rate Schedule (2003) 6-2
6.3 Existing Parking Demand 6-3
Table 6-2 Utilization of City-Operated Lots 6-3
Table 6-3 Summary of Off-Street Parking Use in Downtown Great Falls 6-4
Table 6-4 Summary of On-Street Parking Use in Downtown Great Falls 6-4
6.4 ADA Parking Supply 6-4
6.5 Summary of CBD Access, Circulation and Parking Analysis 6-5
Figure 6-1 Average Weekday Parking Utilization 6-6
Figure 6-2 Average Weekday Evening Parking Utilization 6-7
Figure 6-3 Average Weekday (Fair Week) Parking Utilization 6-8
Figure 6-4 Handicap Accessible Parking Inventory 6-9
CHAPTER 7: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION  
7.1 Intersection Levels of Service 7-1
Table 7-1 Level of Service Criteria – Signalized Intersections 7-2
Table 7-2 2002 A.M. Peak LOS – Signalized Intersections 7-3
Table 7-3 2002 P.M. Peak LOS – Signalized Intersections 7-4
Table 7-4 Level of Service Criteria – Stop Controlled Intersections 7-5
Table 7-5 LOS – Stop Controlled Intersections 7-6
Table 7-6 Existing Intersections Functioning at LOS D or Lower 7-6
7.2 Signal Warrant Analysis 7-7
Table 7-7 Signal Warrant Summary of Existing Conditions 7-8
7.3 Corridor Volumes, Capacity and Levels of Service 7-11
Table 7-8 Appropriate Volumes for Planning Future Roadway Improvements 7-10
Figure 7-1 Existing Traffic (Year 2002) V/C Ratios Entire Study Area 7-11
Table 7-9 V/C Ratios & LOS Designations 7-13
7.4 Crash Analysis 7-15
Table 7-10 Intersections with 12 or More Crashes in the Three-Year Period (1999-2001) 7-14
Table 7-11 Intersections Crash Analysis – Severity Rating 7-15
Table 7-12 Intersections Crash Analysis – Crash Rate 7-16
Table 7-13 Intersections Crash Analysis – Composite Rating 7-17
Table 7-14 Additional Intersection Crash Analysis – Composite Rating 7-18
7.5 Pedestrian and Bicycle System 7-20
7.6 Truck Traffic 7-20
Figure 7-2 Crash Locations Deserving Additional Study 7-19
7.7 Transit System 7-22
7.8 Central Business District 7-23
Figure 7-3 Proposed Truck Routes 7-22
CHAPTER 8: TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT  
8.1 Role of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) 8-1
8.2 TDM Strategies and Their Effectiveness 8-2
Table 8-1 TDM Measures Ranked by Anticipated Usability 8-10
Table 8-2 TDM Strategies and Their Cost Effectiveness 8-11
8.3 Event Specific TDM Strategies 8-13
8.4 Conclusions 8-14
8.5 Recommended TDM Strategies 8-14
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
Table 9-1 Types of Traffic Calming Measures (7 pages) 9-20
CHAPTER 10: RECOMMENDED SHORT RANGE (SR) IMPROVEMENTS  
10.1 Status and Applicability of Previously Identified SR Projects 10-1
10.2 Committed Short Range (SR) Improvements 10-1
10.3 Recommended SR Improvements 10-2
Figure 10-1 Recommended Short Range Improvements Entire Study Area 10-9
Figure 10-2 Recommended Short Range Improvements City Area Enlargement 10-10
CHAPTER 11: RECOMMENDED MAJOR STREET NETWORK (MSN) IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS  
11.1 Status and Applicability of Previously Identified Major Street Network (MSN) Improvement Projects 11-1
11.2 Committed MSN Improvement Projects 11-1
11.3 Recommended MSN Improvement Projects 11-3
Figure 11-1 Recommended Major Street Network Improvements Entire Study Area 11-8
Figure 11-2 Recommended Major Street Network Improvements City Area Enlargement 11-9
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
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
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
Table 12-1 Earth Cut / Fill Slopes Under Normal Conditions 12-16
CHAPTER 13: FINANCIAL ANALYSIS  
13.1 Background 13-1
13.2 Overview of Traditional Funding Sources 13-1
13.3 Federal Funding Sources 13-2
13.4 State Funding Sources 13-9
13.5 Local Funding Sources 13-10
13.6 Summary of Current Financial Status 13-17
Table 13-1 Projected Funding Available for Transportation Projects 13-18
CHAPTER 14: IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY  
14.1 Initial Considerations 14-1
14.2 Evaluation of Projects and Programs 14-1
14.3 Financial Planning Summary 14-3
Table 14-1 Recommended Major Street Network (MSN) Projects 14-4
Table 14-2 Recommended Short Range (SR) Projects 14-6
CHAPTER 15: CONFORMITY DETERMINATION  
15.1 Introduction 15-1
15.2 Background 15-1
15.3 Conformity Determination 15-2
15.4 Conclusion 15-4

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