TRAFFIC IMPACT REVIEW
WISCONSIN APARTMENTS
7th & Wisconsin
1. Identify the specific development plan under study and any existing development on and/or approved plans for the site (land use types and intensities and the arrangement of buildings, parking and access). Also, identify land uses (including types and the arrangement of buildings, parking and access) on property abutting the proposed development site, including property across public streets.
The Wisconsin Apartments development plan proposes a 25-unit multi-family apartment building to be located at the northwest corner of 7th St. and Wisconsin St. The development plan depicts the apartment building to be sited at the northern portion of the property and oriented east-west, with parking on the south side of the building. Access to the site would be off of Wisconsin St. with the primary site access just north of the intersection of 7th St. and Wisconsin St. and a trash/service access approximately 98’ further north also on Wisconsin St. The site, along with properties adjacent to the east and west is zoned RM-2. The site is bordered on the west by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge and to the east across Wisconsin St. by multi-family apartments. The site is bordered on the north by the College Motel, zoned C-5. Across 7th St. to the south, the area is zoned RS-2 and consists of single-family dwellings.
2. Identify the land uses shown in Horizon 2020 for the proposed development site under study, as well as the ultimate arterial and collector street network in the vicinity of the site (at least the first arterial or collector street in each direction around the site).
The Future Land Use Map from Horizon 2020 identifies the area containing the development site as Medium-Density Residential. Per the adopted Major Thoroughfares Map, the ultimate collector and arterial street system in the vicinity will be: to the north 6th St., a principal arterial, to the west Iowa St., a principal arterial, to the east Maine St., a collector, to the south 9th St., a minor arterial.
3. Identify the functional classification of the public street(s) bordering the site and those streets on which access for the development is proposed. The functional classification is shown on the Major Thoroughfares Plan, adopted as a part of Transportation 2025 and Figure 14 in Horizon 2020.
The site is bordered to the east by Wisconsin Street and to the south by 7th Street. Both streets are classified as local streets per the adopted Major Thoroughfares Map. Primary site access and service access will be onto Wisconsin Street.
4. Identify allowable access to the development site as defined by criteria included in the adopted Access Management Plans for arterial and collector streets in Lawrence. [Currently, this list includes W. 6th Street, 31st Street, and a draft 23rd Street Corridor study.]
Not applicable. This site is not within the limits of any adopted Access Management Plans in Lawrence.
5. Document current public street characteristics adjacent to the site, including the nearest arterial and collector streets [number and type of lanes, speed limits or 85th percentile speeds, and sight distances along the public street(s) from the proposed access(es)].
Both Wisconsin and 7th Streets are two-lane local streets with no on-street parking permitted along 7th Street.. The nearest arterial and collector streets are: to the north 6th St., a principal arterial, to the west Iowa St., a principal arterial, to the east Maine St., a collector, to the south 9th St., a minor arterial. The posted speed limit on both Wisconsin and 7th Streets is 30 miles per hour. Observed sight distance is unobstructed from the site access to the next major intersections north and south of the site at 7th & Wisconsin to the south and 6th and Wisconsin to the north.
6. Compare proposed access with AASHTO established design criteria (driveway spacing, alignment with other streets and driveways, city driveway standards, and minimum sight distances.) Assess the feasibility of access connections to abutting properties, including shared access with the public street system.
The proposed site access provides for a single lane in and a single lane out. The site access driveway onto Wisconsin St. is approximately 76’6” from the front of curb on 7th St. No cross access is proposed between this site and adjacent properties north or west due to both grade considerations and differences in land use. The distances to the next driveways to the north on Wisconsin are approximately 95’ to w. 6th Terrace opposite to the north and approximately 260’ to the driveway on the west side. Observed sight distance is unobstructed from the proposed site access drive to the next major intersections at 7th & Wisconsin to the south of the site, a distance of approximately 80’, and 6th and Wisconsin to the north, a distance of approximately 500’.
7. Estimate the number of trips generated by existing and proposed development on the site for a typical weekday and weekday peak hours using the latest edition of Trip Generation published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. Local trip generation characteristics may be used if deemed to be properly collected and consistent with the subject development application. The Public Works Director shall make such determination. Calculate the net difference in trips between existing and proposed uses. If the development site already has an approved plan, also estimate the number of trips that would be generated by the approved land uses. If the development application is proposing a land use DIFFERENT THAN indicated in Horizon 2020 and Transportation 2025, also estimate the number of trips that would be generated by the land use indicated in Horizon 2020 or Transportation 2025.
The estimated traffic generated by the site is based on the Apartment land use code (220) found in the 7th Edition of ITE Trip Generation. The daily average rate is 6.72 per unit, or 168 daily trips, half entering and half exiting. The rate for the A.M. peak hour is 0.51 per unit, or 13 trips, 3 entering and 10 exiting. The rate for the P.M. peak hour is 0.62 per unit or 16 trips, 10 entering and 6 exiting.