Grigsby Chapel Road Smith Road Traffic Operational Study

1
Grigsby Chapel Road / Smith RoadTraffic
Operational Study

• Farragut Municipal Planning Commission
• February 21, 2008

2
Overview of Presentation

• Study Process Description
• Results of Analysis
• Traffic Calming
• Improvement Recommendations

3
Outline of Study Process

• Data Collection
• Volume
• Speed
• Crash
• Field Observations
• Intersection Analyses
• Improvement Recommendations

4
Grigsby Chapel Road
5
Smith Road
6
Study Intersections
Fretz Rd
St. John Ct.

• Study Intersections
• Fretz Road
• Woodchase Dr./ Weatherly Hills Blvd.
• St. John Court
• Smith Road

7
Speed Assessment
Fretz Rd
EB 43.5 mph WB 44 mph
EB 45 mph WB 44 mph
St. John Ct.
8
Crash Analysis
Fretz Rd

• Summary of Crash Analysis
• The highest area for crashes along the study
  sections of roadway was the portion of Grigsby
  Chapel Road approaching Campbell Station Road.
• Grigsby Chapel Road in the Fox Chase and St. John
  Court area, including the curve to the west,
  appears to possess an elevated crash history.
• Traffic speeds do appear to be a factor in a
  significant portion of crashes along the study
  roadways.
• Right-angle type crashes do not appear to be a
  major crash issue.

St. John Ct.
Crash data provided by Knox County Sheriffs
Dept. and Knox County Dept. of Engineering and
Public Works.
9
Signal Warrant Summary
Fretz Rd
St. John Ct.
10
Capacity Analyses Summary
Fretz Rd
St. John Ct.
11
Conclusions and Recommendations

• Conclusions
• Increasing traffic volumes are resulting in a
  gradual decline in the quality of traffic flow
  and are negatively impacting roadway safety.
• Grigsby Chapel Road/Smith Road, Grigsby Chapel
  Road/St. John Court, and Grigsby Chapel
  Road/Fretz Road satisfy at least one traffic
  signal warrant as outlined in the Manual on
  Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
• Intersection capacity analyses indicate that
  Grigsby Chapel Road/St. John Court and Grigsby
  Chapel Road/Smith Road will be expected to have
  at least one hour that operates with poor
  levels-of-service under existing traffic control.
  The other two study intersections are expected to
  operate at LOS C or better.
• Eighty-fifth percentile speeds were measured in
  the 43 to 45 mph range. Although such speeds are
  considered higher than desirable on this roadway,
  these values are not considered extreme to the
  point of constituting a major concern.
• Crash data indicate that traffic speeds are a
  factor in a significant number of crashes, and
  right-angle type crashes do not appear to be a
  major issue.

12
Conclusions and Recommendations

• Recommendations
• Narrow the through traffic lanes on Grigsby
  Chapel Road to 11 feet in width and install
  strategically placed raised median islands along
  the three-lane roadway sections. In addition to
  helping accomplish the primary project goals of
  reducing traffic speeds and discouraging
  cut-through traffic, the narrowed through lanes
  will yield a wider center turn lane. This wider
  lane will improve safety and ease of movement for
  vehicles turning left from side streets onto
  Grigsby Chapel Road. Also consider textured
  center lane pavement.
• Signalization of any of the warranted study
  intersections should not be considered until the
  traffic calming measures are fully implemented
  and their full impact can be evaluated.
• All-way stop traffic control would cause
  intolerable delay at the intersections of Grigsby
  Chapel Road with Fretz Road and St. John Court,
  and therefore are not a viable option at these
  locations.
• The anticipated future installation of a traffic
  signal at the intersection of Kingston Pike and
  Everett Road might have an impact on study
  intersection traffic. Such impact should be
  ascertained prior to making major traffic control
  changes at any of the study intersections.
• A roundabout intersection might be appropriate
  for the Grigsby Chapel Road and Smith Road
  intersection in the future, as opposed to a
  traffic signal. Such a design should be
  considered in the future if a traffic control
  change is being contemplated.

13
Median Islands
St. Pete Beach, Florida
Short sections of raised medians located in
continuous two-way left-turn lane.
14
Median Islands / Pavement Texture
Morristown, Tennessee
Short sections of raised medians located in
center lane. Stamped asphalt between islands
creates a visual island but maintains access to
adjacent properties.
15
Grigsby Chapel Road Typical Section (8)
Figure 8
16
Smith Road at N. Fox Den Drive (9A)
Figure 9A
17
Grigsby Chapel Road (9B)
Figure 9B
18
Grigsby Chapel Road (9C)
Figure 9C
19
Grigsby Chapel Road (9D)
Figure 9D
20
Grigsby Chapel Road (9E)
Figure 9E
21
Grigsby Chapel Road (9F)
Figure 9F
22
QUESTIONS?

• Thank you for your attention!