NICHOLS SCHOOLNICHOLS SCHOOL

TRAFFIC OPERATIONS STUDYTRAFFIC OPERATIONS STUDY

Existing Operations ExaminedExisting Operations Examined

Data CollectionData Collection On-site Count Collection of Representative On-site Count Collection of Representative

Traffic ConditionsTraffic Conditions Morning Study Hours (7:00 am – 9:00 am)Morning Study Hours (7:00 am – 9:00 am) Evening Study Hours (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm)Evening Study Hours (2:00 pm – 5:00 pm)

Intersections Intersections Signalized - Colvin/Amherst & Colvin/Tillinghast Signalized - Colvin/Amherst & Colvin/Tillinghast Unsignalized - Nottingham/Amherst & Unsignalized - Nottingham/Amherst &

Crescent/Colvin Crescent/Colvin Driveways Driveways

Main DrivewayMain Driveway Ceremonial Driveway Ceremonial Driveway

ON-CAMPUS VEHICULAR & ON-CAMPUS VEHICULAR & PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATIONPEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

OBSERVATIONSOBSERVATIONS Observed Circulation for All Modes of Travel Observed Circulation for All Modes of Travel

Within the CampusWithin the Campus

Noted Speed of VehiclesNoted Speed of Vehicles

Identified Points of Conflict Between Pedestrians Identified Points of Conflict Between Pedestrians and Vehiclesand Vehicles

Opportunities for Improvement to be Coordinated Opportunities for Improvement to be Coordinated with the Consensus Planwith the Consensus Plan

Level of ServiceLevel of Service

Transportation Research Board’s Highway Capacity Transportation Research Board’s Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) 2000 defines LOS as “a quality Manual (HCM) 2000 defines LOS as “a quality measure describing operational conditions within a measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream”. traffic stream”.

LOS A = Best Operating ConditionsLOS A = Best Operating ConditionsLOS B to E = Sliding Scale of Worsening LOS B to E = Sliding Scale of Worsening

ConditionsConditionsLOS F = Worst Operating ConditionsLOS F = Worst Operating Conditions

Peak Hour InfluencePeak Hour Influence

Coincide (or not) with Adjacent Intersections Coincide (or not) with Adjacent Intersections Shows the Most Impact Evaluated Over a Shows the Most Impact Evaluated Over a

One-Hour Period One-Hour Period Shorter Peak Periods May Have More or Less Shorter Peak Periods May Have More or Less

Severe ImpactsSevere Impacts Used to Evaluate Mitigation for ImprovementUsed to Evaluate Mitigation for Improvement

Intersection Operations Intersection Operations (Morning)(Morning)

Amherst Street at Colvin AvenueAmherst Street at Colvin Avenue Overall LOS = COverall LOS = C

Worst Approach: Colvin SB Worst Approach: Colvin SB Highest Volume: Colvin SB to Amherst WBHighest Volume: Colvin SB to Amherst WB

Issues:Issues: Amherst WB Traffic Queues Back to Colvin/Amherst Amherst WB Traffic Queues Back to Colvin/Amherst Mod. Heavy Traffic Volumes Colvin SB to Amherst Mod. Heavy Traffic Volumes Colvin SB to Amherst

EBEB Mod. Heavy Traffic Volumes Amherst WB from Mod. Heavy Traffic Volumes Amherst WB from

ParksideParkside

Driveway OperationsDriveway Operations(Morning)(Morning)

Ceremonial DrivewayCeremonial Driveway Issues:Issues:

Entering Traffic – Left-TurningEntering Traffic – Left-Turning TWLTL Provides Refuge for Left-Turning TrafficTWLTL Provides Refuge for Left-Turning Traffic Signal at Colvin and Right-Turning Traffic Create Gaps for Signal at Colvin and Right-Turning Traffic Create Gaps for

Entering TrafficEntering Traffic Traffic Monitors Assist When Queues DevelopTraffic Monitors Assist When Queues Develop

Entering Traffic - Right-TurningEntering Traffic - Right-Turning Assist Left-Turning Traffic by Creating GapsAssist Left-Turning Traffic by Creating Gaps Influence Heavy WB Amherst TrafficInfluence Heavy WB Amherst Traffic

Exiting Traffic - Right-Turns Only Prescribed By Exiting Traffic - Right-Turns Only Prescribed By SchoolSchool Advisory Signing at GateAdvisory Signing at Gate Assisted by Traffic Monitors When Internal Circulation DelayedAssisted by Traffic Monitors When Internal Circulation Delayed

Driveway OperationsDriveway Operations(Morning)(Morning)

Main DrivewayMain Driveway Issues:Issues:

Gaps Created by Right-Turning Traffic and From the Gaps Created by Right-Turning Traffic and From the Ceremonial Driveway Entering/Exiting TrafficCeremonial Driveway Entering/Exiting Traffic

TWLTL Allows Safe Refuge Until Sufficient Gap is TWLTL Allows Safe Refuge Until Sufficient Gap is Developed for MovementDeveloped for Movement

Intersection OperationsIntersection Operations(Morning)(Morning)

Nottingham Place at Amherst StreetNottingham Place at Amherst Street Overall LOS = EOverall LOS = E

Worst Approach: Nottingham NB to Amherst EBWorst Approach: Nottingham NB to Amherst EB Highest Volume: Amherst WB to Nottingham SBHighest Volume: Amherst WB to Nottingham SB

Issues:Issues: Heavy Rt-Turning Volume (Nottingham NB to Amherst EB) Heavy Rt-Turning Volume (Nottingham NB to Amherst EB)

Stop-Controlled on Nottingham Stop-Controlled on Nottingham

Heavy Lt-Turning Volume (Amherst WB to Nottingham SB)Heavy Lt-Turning Volume (Amherst WB to Nottingham SB) Refuge on Amherst Street (WB) while opposing Amherst EB Refuge on Amherst Street (WB) while opposing Amherst EB

Traffic Traffic

Intersection OperationsIntersection Operations(Morning)(Morning)

Tillinghast Place at Colvin AvenueTillinghast Place at Colvin Avenue Overall LOS = BOverall LOS = B

Worst Approach: Tillinghast WBWorst Approach: Tillinghast WB Highest Volume: Colvin SB Highest Volume: Colvin SB

Issues:Issues: Lengthy Colvin SB Queues Block IntersectionLengthy Colvin SB Queues Block Intersection

Traffic Monitors Keep the Tillinghast/Nichols Exit ClearTraffic Monitors Keep the Tillinghast/Nichols Exit Clear Tillinghast WB to Colvin SB Higher Volumes Add to Heavy Tillinghast WB to Colvin SB Higher Volumes Add to Heavy

Volume on Colvin SBVolume on Colvin SB Nichols Rt-Turning Traffic Opposes Tillinghast WB to Nichols Rt-Turning Traffic Opposes Tillinghast WB to

Access Colvin SBAccess Colvin SB

Intersection OperationsIntersection Operations(Morning)(Morning)

Crescent Avenue at Colvin AvenueCrescent Avenue at Colvin Avenue Overall LOS =Overall LOS = CC

Worst Approach: Crescent WBWorst Approach: Crescent WB Highest Volume: Colvin SBHighest Volume: Colvin SB

Issues:Issues: Queues on Colvin Backup to Crescent at Peak Queues on Colvin Backup to Crescent at Peak

Flows Flows Due to Colvin/Amherst Operation and Tillinghast/Nichols Due to Colvin/Amherst Operation and Tillinghast/Nichols

Exiting TrafficExiting Traffic Gaps on Colvin SB are Shorter and Less Frequent Gaps on Colvin SB are Shorter and Less Frequent Gaps on Colvin NB are Available Gaps on Colvin NB are Available

SYNCHRO SIMULATIONSYNCHRO SIMULATION(Morning)(Morning)

Colvin Avenue at Amherst StreetColvin Avenue at Amherst Street• Frequent and Lengthy Queues on Colvin SB Frequent and Lengthy Queues on Colvin SB • Heavy Amherst WB Traffic Conflicts with Left-Turning Vehicles at Heavy Amherst WB Traffic Conflicts with Left-Turning Vehicles at

Ceremonial & Main DrivewayCeremonial & Main Driveway

Amherst Street At Nottingham PlaceAmherst Street At Nottingham Place• Frequent Backup on Nottingham Place & Amherst Street WBFrequent Backup on Nottingham Place & Amherst Street WB

Colvin Avenue and Tillinghast PlaceColvin Avenue and Tillinghast Place• Colvin Avenue SB Queues can Block the IntersectionColvin Avenue SB Queues can Block the Intersection

Colvin Avenue and Crescent AvenueColvin Avenue and Crescent Avenue• Crescent Avenue Operates Under Acceptable LOS Despite Crescent Avenue Operates Under Acceptable LOS Despite

Opposing Colvin Avenue VolumesOpposing Colvin Avenue Volumes

SYNCHRO SIMULATIONSYNCHRO SIMULATION(Evening)(Evening)

Colvin Avenue at Amherst StreetColvin Avenue at Amherst Street Frequent Queue Development on Amherst EB Frequent Queue Development on Amherst EB Mod. Heavy Amherst WB Traffic Conflicts with Left-Turning Mod. Heavy Amherst WB Traffic Conflicts with Left-Turning

Vehicles at Ceremonial & Main DrivewayVehicles at Ceremonial & Main Driveway

Amherst Street At Nottingham PlaceAmherst Street At Nottingham Place• Frequent Queue Development on Nottingham Place & Amherst Frequent Queue Development on Nottingham Place & Amherst

StreetStreet

Colvin Avenue and Tillinghast PlaceColvin Avenue and Tillinghast Place• Volumes from Tillinghast and Nichols are Higher than Morning Volumes from Tillinghast and Nichols are Higher than Morning

Colvin Avenue and Crescent AvenueColvin Avenue and Crescent Avenue• Crescent Avenue Operates Under Acceptable LOS Despite Crescent Avenue Operates Under Acceptable LOS Despite

Opposing Colvin Avenue VolumesOpposing Colvin Avenue Volumes

Summary Summary Results of Initial InvestigationsResults of Initial Investigations

Nichols School Morning Peak Hour: 7:30 - 8:30 amNichols School Morning Peak Hour: 7:30 - 8:30 am

Approximately Same Peak Hour as Adjacent Streets Approximately Same Peak Hour as Adjacent Streets

Adjacent Street Traffic Volumes are Moderate to HeavyAdjacent Street Traffic Volumes are Moderate to Heavy Commuter Patterns Are Noted (Predominant SB & WB)Commuter Patterns Are Noted (Predominant SB & WB) Turning Movements and Opposing Volumes Lower the Turning Movements and Opposing Volumes Lower the

Intersection LOS Intersection LOS Gaps for Turning Movements are Short/Less FrequentGaps for Turning Movements are Short/Less Frequent

Driveway Egress/Ingress Activities Influence Adjacent Driveway Egress/Ingress Activities Influence Adjacent IntersectionIntersection

Summary Summary Results of Initial InvestigationsResults of Initial Investigations

Nichols School Evening Peak Hour: 3:00 - 4:00 pmNichols School Evening Peak Hour: 3:00 - 4:00 pm

Offset from Adjacent Streets Peak Hour Offset from Adjacent Streets Peak Hour Heavy Adjacent Street Volumes Occur Later than School Peak Heavy Adjacent Street Volumes Occur Later than School Peak

HourHour

Adjacent Street Traffic Volumes are Moderate to HeavyAdjacent Street Traffic Volumes are Moderate to Heavy Commuter Patterns Are Noted (Predominant NB & EB)Commuter Patterns Are Noted (Predominant NB & EB) Turning Movements and Opposing Volumes Lower the Intersection Turning Movements and Opposing Volumes Lower the Intersection

LOS LOS Gaps for Turning Movements are Short/Less FrequentGaps for Turning Movements are Short/Less Frequent

Driveway Egress/Ingress Activities Influence Adjacent Driveway Egress/Ingress Activities Influence Adjacent IntersectionIntersection

Thank You For Your Kind AttentionThank You For Your Kind Attention

Kelly M. Thompson, P.E.Kelly M. Thompson, P.E.

Kashyap RevalliKashyap Revalli