GRAND AVENUE

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GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
MARICOPA ASSOCIATION of GOVERNMENTS
Agency/ Community Forum City of Surprise Council
Chambers February 26, 2001
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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
AGENDA

• Introductions
• Working Papers
• Traffic Projections and Corridor Long Term
  Needs
• Potential Major Infrastructure Improvements
• Open Discussion
• Call to the Public
• Next Steps

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 1
• RELATED STUDIES AND PLANS
• Documents reviewed include
• Previous Grand Avenue Studies and Plans
• Multimodal and Transportation System Documents
• Land Use and Community Plans
• Cultural Resource Documents

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 2
• SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Reviewed existing and projected population and
  employment forecasts including
• MAG Adopted Projections for 2000, 2010, 2020
  and 2025
• MAG 303 Alignment Alternative Projections
  for 2020, 2040 and buildout
• Northwest Valley Transportation Study 2020
  Sensitivity Analysis Projections
• Selected two socioeconomic projections for input
  into MAG traffic forecast model
• 2025 MAG Adopted Projections and
• 2025 Grand Avenue Northwest Corridor
  Alternative Projections
• 2025 Grand Avenue Northwest Corridor Alternative
  Projections
• Sensitivity test a higher growth scenario
  than MAG Adopted Projections
• Based on an interpolation between the 2020
  and 2040 MAG 303 Alignment Alternative
  Projections

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 2
• SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS
• Model influence area was 400 square miles
  bounded by
• 67th Avenue on the east
• Rooks Road on the west
• SR 74 on the north
• Northern Avenue on the south
• Socioeconomic conditions for influence area
• Year Population Employment
• 2000 MAG Adopted 223,000 45,000
• 2025 MAG Adopted 437,000 120,000
• 2025 Alternative Higher Growth 526,000 122,000

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 3
• TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND CONDITIONS
• Inventory
• Grand Avenue
• - 4 lanes
• - 17 signalized intersections (3 more planned)
• - 8 additional median breaks
• Parallel BNSF Railroad Tracks / Ennis Spur
  Track Crossing
• Few continuous streets within influence area
• Limited Transit Service
• - one fixed bus route
• - dial-a-ride service
• Few bike lanes or bike routes

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 3
• TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND CONDITIONS
• Exiting Traffic Conditions
• Average Daily Traffic
• - Loop 101 to Agua Fria River 25,000 37,000
  vehicles
• - Agua Fria River to Loop 303 13,500 36,000
  vehicles
• 2 intersections at LOS E or F
• - Bell Road
• - 107th Avenue

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 3
• TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND CONDITIONS
• 2025 Forecast Average Daily Traffic Volumes
• No Build
• 30,000 - 43,000 vehicles
• Concept 1 Enhanced Arterial
• 40,000 - 60,000 vehicles
• Concept 2 Limited Expressway
• 45,000 - 60,000 vehicles
• Concept 3 Full Expressway
• 50,000 - 150,000 vehicles

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 4
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TITLE VI
• Physical constraints
• Hospitals (Boswell Memorial and Del E. Webb
  Memorial)
• Fire Stations
• Potential hazardous material sites
• New and Agua Fria Rivers
• BNSF Railroad
• Sensitive (threatened or endangered) plant and
  animal species
• None identified
• Cultural resources (including historical)
• Railroad bridge over the Fria River (potentially
  eligible)

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 4
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TITLE VI
• Section 4(f) considerations (parkland and other
  public lands or facilities)
• 5 public parks
• 2 schools
• Golf courses and community parks associated with
  Sun City Communities.
• Floodplains
• Agua Fria River
• New River (boundary contained within the
  abutments of existing structures)
• Air Quality
• Study corridor is in a regional non-attainment
  area for ozone, carbon monoxide, and PM-10.
• Noise receptors
• Section 4(f) properties listed above
• Residential neighborhoods adjacent to Grand Avenue

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 4
• ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND TITLE VI
• Title VI and Environmental Justice
• Parts of the Grand Avenue Northwest Corridor have
  higher than county averages for the following
  populations protected under Title VI.
• Minority
• Elderly
• Disabled
• Low Income
• Female Head of Household
• Recommended transportation improvements for the
  corridor would benefit and not disproportionately
  discriminate or impact these populations

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 5
• MAJOR ISSUES, GOALS AND POLICIES
• Discussed at November 2, 2000 Agency/ Community
  Forum
• Identified 13 Objectives
• Improve crossings of Grand Avenue and the
  railroad
• Improve emergency vehicle access within the
  corridor
• Improve traffic operations at intersections
• Expedite travel along Grand Avenue
• Minimize environmental impacts including noise,
  visual and air pollution
• Improve aesthetics of the corridor
• Identify opportunities to enhance street
  network continuity to improve regional mobility
• Maintain and enhance system continuity on Grand
• Improve safety within the corridor
• Address access control policies for Grand
  Avenue
• Enhance elderly mobility
• Enhance alternative mode travel within the
  corridor
• Develop strategies that seek to improve both
  rail and vehicular traffic within the corridor

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 6
• LONG-TERM ROADWAY NEEDS
• Preliminary List
• Additional capacity on Grand Avenue
• Grade separations over the railroad at
  hospitals
• Additional continuous routes across Grand
  Avenue
• Grade separation at Bell Road
• Access control guidelines for Grand Avenue
  including consolidation or elimination of
  existing access
• Intelligent Transportation System applications
  including signal coordination

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 7
• ALTERNATIVE MODE NEEDS
• Develop 10- and 25-year scenarios for future
  transit service in the corridor
• With or without dedicated funding source
• Elements may include
• - Local bus
• - Express bus
• - Paratransit improvements
• - Transit centers
• - Park-and-ride lot (The MAG Park-and-Ride
  Study recommended a site at southwest corner
  of Bell/ Dysart which has been added to the
  draft MAG Long Range Transportation Plan)

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• DRAFT WORKING PAPER NO. 7
• ASSESS ALTERNATIVE MODE NEEDS
• Identify barriers to transit service and use of
  non-motorized modes along or across Grand Avenue.
• Evaluate the feasibility of HOV facilities in
  the corridor utilizing the MAG HOV Study.
• Identify pedestrian needs
• Identify needed bike routes and bikeways
• Evaluate golf cart issues and needs
• Assess the potential for intelligent
  transportation systems (ITS) applications

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
POTENTIAL MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT OPTIONS

• Based on consultation from local jurisdictions,
  input from the public and 2 agency/ community
  forums
• Concept 1 Enhanced Arterial Chosen for
  further evaluation
• Concept 2 Limited Expressway Chosen for
  further evaluation and refinement
• Concept 3 Full Expressway Eliminated from
  further consideration

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 1 ENHANCED ARTERIAL

• Widen Grand Avenue to three lanes each direction
  includes
• Exclusive turn lanes at signalized intersection
• Widen or reconstruction existing bridge over New
  River
• Extend the ITS Smart Corridor along Grand from
  Bell to Loop 303
• Provide a conduit along Grand for fiber-optic
  communications
• Implement additional ITS applications (signal
  coordination)

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• In addition to Concept 1 Improvements, construct
  six grade separations along Grand Avenue
• 1. Traffic interchange at 107th Avenue
• 107th Avenue would pass under Grand and RR
• Unblocked access to Boswell Memorial Hospital
• 91 feet of new right-of-way
• Impact shopping centers on both sides of 107th
  Avenue
• 1a. Alternative is a 103rd Avenue Grade
  Separation
• 103rd would pass under Grand and RR with or
  without ramps
• Disconnect access to 103rd Avenue from
  adjacent businesses
• 1b. Second alternative is an underpass under
  Grand and RR with off ramps only
• Direct access into Boswell Memorial Hospital
  for emergencies only

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• 2. Traffic interchange for El Mirage extension
• El Mirage Road would be extended past Thompson
  Ranch Road and pass over Grand and the RR
• Roadway would extend to Olive or Northern avenues
• Provide half diamond connection to Grand Avenue
• Would utilize existing signal at Thompson Ranch
  Road/ Grand
• 3. Grand Avenue underpass below the BNSF Railroad
  Spur Track
• Require removal of Primrose/ Grand intersection

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• 4. Traffic interchange at Greenway Road
• Greenway would pass under Grand and railroad
• Provide attractive alternative for Bell Road
• Require 29 feet of new right-of-way
• Impact building at Floral Lake Memorial Gardens
  Cemetery
• Impact three to four businesses
• Require realignment of two-way frontage road

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• 5. Traffic interchange at Bell Road
• Bell Road would pass under Grand and railroad
• Require 23 feet of new right-of-way
• Require removal of two traffic signals on Grand
  Avenue
• Impact two shopping centers east of Bell Road
  and south of Grand

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• 6. Traffic interchange at Reems Road/ Meeker
  Boulevard
• Reems Road would pass under Grand and RR
• Unblocked access to Del E. Webb Memorial
  Hospital
• 74 feet of new right-of-way
• Impact shopping centers on both sides of Reems
  Road
• 6a. Second alternative is an underpass under
  Grand and RR with off ramps only
• Direct access into Del E. Webb Memorial
  Hospital for emergencies only

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• Elimination of nine traffic signals along Grand
  Avenue.
• 4 at proposed traffic interchanges
• Parkview Place (too close to Reems/Meeker
  interchange)
• Primrose Street (within Grand Avenue depressed
  section)
• Home Depot (too close to Bell Road interchange)
• Planned signal to shopping center (too close to
  Bell Road interchange)
• 113th Avenue (too close to 111th Avenue)

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
CONCEPT 2 LIMITED EXPRESSWAY

• Look for opportunities to eliminate access along
  Grand Avenue including eliminating median breaks
  at the following unsignalized intersections
• Beardsley Road
• Sunny Lane
• Shopping Center, east of Greenway Road
• 108th Avenue
• 106th Avenue
• 105th Avenue
• 101st Avenue
• Median break, east of 99th Avenue

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY

• COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS

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MAG GRAND AVENUE NORTHWEST CORRIDOR STUDY
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAG Website www.mag.mari
copa.gov under News and Events Please provide
comments by March 16, 2001