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Home My WebLink AboutTIASTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UNIT Northside Christian School New Hanover County TRAFFIC OPERATIONS STUDY Project Number: SCH-2022-001 Prepared by: Municipal and School Transportation Assistance NOTICE The following report was prepared using information provided by Officials of the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and data by Municipal & School Transportation Assistance. The methodology used to complete the evaluation is believed to be consistent with the current traffic engineering practice and principals. The recommendations presented herein are based on a comprehensive review and analysis of the available data and the application of engineering judgment. Any figures included in this report are Concept Plans and Not For Construction. MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 FAx:919-771-2745 WEBSITE: WWW. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 Northside Christian School Northside Christian School Traffic Operations Study February S, 2022 Prepared For: Northside Christian School and NCDOT Division 3 Office Prepared By: Municipal and School Transportation Assistance Traffic Management Unit Transportation Mobility and Safety Division of Highways North Carolina Department of Transportation Analysis: Tammy A. Germiller MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION FAx: 919-771-2745 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 WEBSITE: VWWV. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA Page 1 LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 Northside Christian School Page 2 PROPOSED CONDITIONS The Northside Christian School is proposed to be located at 2501 N. College Road in Wilmington, NC. This school is planned to serve K through 7' grade starting with an initial 70 students to a full build of 400 students. There is also a maximum proposed 66 students in the pre -K. ANALYSIS Esdimted School Traffic Calculations Local data is always more accurate for determining volumes from an existing school. Accurate field data could not be obtained at the time of this study due to NCDOTs Count system being unavailable. And in an effort to save time historic counts were utilized along with the MSTA Calculator. This calculator was developed by building a database of specific school traffic data and determining averages that can be compared to similar schools across North Carolina. Traffic calculations for the Initial build are shown on Table 1 and for the Full build on Table 2 below. Data indicates that the highest traffic volumes generated by a school are during the AM period. In most cases this high traffic volume will coincide with peak traffic demands on surrounding streets and roads. Traffic will often arrive in a random process across a thirty -minute time period helping to spread out the number of vehicles on campus at one time. This random process will help to reduce the overall traffic queues (back-ups) on the campus; however, during the heaviest peak a platooning MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 - — - _. TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 FAx:919-771-2745 WEBSITE: WWIU. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/MSTA LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 Table I - MSTA School Calculator — Initial Build MSTA School Queue Input MSTA School Queue Input Calculations Type School Student Population Number Staff of Buses Members PM Total Vehicles PM Peak Vehicles Average High Queue Length Demand feet Length feet Total Needed Queue len th Elem 70 0 1 12 28 14 311 93 444 AM Trips Generated PM Trips Generated 513 Parents Buses Staff Trips Parents Buses Staff Trips IN 39 0 12 51 28 224 0 50 28 OUT 39 157 39 28 0 12 40 NOTE: 207 Total AM Tris 90 Total PM Tris 68 Volumes reflect peak traffic for school operations, normally taking lace in approximately 30 minutes. Data indicates that the highest traffic volumes generated by a school are during the AM period. In most cases this high traffic volume will coincide with peak traffic demands on surrounding streets and roads. Traffic will often arrive in a random process across a thirty -minute time period helping to spread out the number of vehicles on campus at one time. This random process will help to reduce the overall traffic queues (back-ups) on the campus; however, during the heaviest peak a platooning MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 - — - _. TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 FAx:919-771-2745 WEBSITE: WWIU. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/MSTA LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 Table 2 - MSTA School Calculator — Full Build MSTA School Queue Input Calculations Type School Student Population Number of Buses Staff Members PM Total Vehicles PM Peak Vehicles Average Queue Length feet High Demand Length feet Total Needed Queue lenoth Elem 400 0 50 154 77 1,709 513 2 221 AM Tri s Generated PM Trips Generated Parents Buses Staff Tris Parents Buses Staff Trips IN 224 0 50 274 157 157 OUT 224 224 157 0 50 207 NOTE: Total AM Tris 498 Total PM Tris Volumes reflect peak traffic for school operations, normally taking place in approximately 30 minutes. 364 Data indicates that the highest traffic volumes generated by a school are during the AM period. In most cases this high traffic volume will coincide with peak traffic demands on surrounding streets and roads. Traffic will often arrive in a random process across a thirty -minute time period helping to spread out the number of vehicles on campus at one time. This random process will help to reduce the overall traffic queues (back-ups) on the campus; however, during the heaviest peak a platooning MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 - — - _. TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 FAx:919-771-2745 WEBSITE: WWIU. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/MSTA LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 Northside Christian School Page 3 (grouping) of vehicles will occur. This platooning must be accounted for when performing intersection analysis at the school driveways and nearby intersections by implementing timed delays appropriately. In addition, the high number of vehicles can create traffic congestion and related safety concerns with pedestrian/vehicle operations on -campus, at the campus driveways, and at nearby roadway intersections and/or crosswalks. School PM traffic operations will often take place when traffic volumes on neighboring streets are off-peak; however, vehicles will arrive on campus well before the school dismissal. If not prohibited, vehicles will often park in all available spaces and queue along the campus driveway(s). This PM queuing will often result in vehicles being stopped in the roadway or along the shoulder of a major through route resulting in an increase possibility of accidents and similar traffic related safety concerns. These concerns are increased if the student loading operations are not organized and efficient. Additional Uuene considerations • There are no buses proposed for this school, which is typical for an urban charter. And as this school is located in Wilmington the Urban charter tab on the MSTA calculator was utilized. Trip ffeneration methodokltm • Data indicates that the AM traffic will have the largest impact at each intersection; therefore, this report will only provide analysis for that time period. • Due to the effects of Covid on traffic, counts on traffic volumes in 2020 were significantly lower than previous years and 2021 is not published yet. Therefore the 2019 AADTs were utilized for background volumes. • Counts were provided that had been taken in 2019 for the intersection of US 117/NC 132 (N. College Rd,) at SR 1322 (Long Ridge Dr.). This count helped determine background volumes and trip generation split. From this count, trip distribution was determined to be 55% of AM traffic was coming in from the south and 45% of traffic coming from the north. SynchroIMinTrraffic Analysis Note that the driveways on US 117/NC 132 (N. College Rd.) and on SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane) were modeled in Synchro/SimTraffic with the following traffic patterns and trip numbers taken from the calculator. It was determined that these intersections will function acceptably with the following recommendations. The intersection of US 117/NC 132 (N. College Road) at SR 2160 (Long Ridge Drive) was also included with the above model. There will only be a slight increase of mainline traffic as school traffic will not be turning from or to this intersection. Additiontil information • There is a Highway Safety Improvement location (HSIP) near the school. US 117/NC 132 (N. College Road) at SR 2160 (Long Ridge Drive) has PH number 64I0065 for year 2020 intersections. • There are no proposed STIP locations near the school. MAILING ADDRESS TELEPHONE: 919-773.2800 LOCATION: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION FAX: 919-771-2745 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 WEBSITE: VWWV. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA Northside Christian School Page 4 • SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane) at SR 2617 (Red Hawk Road) has an existing right turn lane and a Two- way left turn lane. SR 2616 (Owls Lane) has a median which restricts left turns in from eastbound SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane) and left turns out from SR 2616 (Owls Lane). RECOMMENDATIONS NCDOT's goals are to make our transportation network safer, move people and goods more efficiently and make our infrastructure last longer. Recommendations and comments are described below and shown on Figure I and Figure 2. .Fife Plan specific Access A • Only the staff should enter from this access during loading operations. Staff should turn into the parking lots prior to Internal Intersection B in order to avoid conflicts with the parent queue (for Full Build). • Exit shall be coned off or gated for vehicles exiting onto US 117/NC 132 (N. College Road) so that parents do not utilize this exit to circumvent the loading zone. Access B • All parents to exit right out only onto US 117/NC 132 (N. College Rd). Any parent wanting to travel north on US 117/NC 132 (N. College Rd) should proceed to the signalized intersection of US 117/NC 132 (N. College Rd) at SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane/Murrayville Road). ■ Exit should be channelized and signed to discourage any vehicles from turning left. SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane) at SR 2617 (Red Hawk Road) All parents are to enter here. Existing geometry to remain the same. Parent queue and lauding zone Interim specific (Maximum 140 students) • Parents should turn right at Internal Intersection A following the path in a single line to the loading zone. Note that there are existing double lanes on the northside of the church building. Both lanes can be utilized for the parent queue but a "Stop line" and directions for the Full build specific below will be applicable. Full build specific (Maximum 400 students) • Parents should form a double queue from Internal Intersection A following around the path to Internal Intersection B and then turning left. • Install a "Stop Line" 20 -foot before the first student -loading bay by installing a 6 -inch wide solid white pavement line extending across the driveway. "Stop Here" signs may need to be installed at the stop line, to help indicate that traffic should stop and wait for the next available loading bay. During times that a double queue loading process is used, it will be necessary for a faculty member to direct the double queued parents into the single lane Student Loading Zone. MAILING ADDRESS: TELEPHONE: 919-773-2600 LOCATION: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION FAx: 919-771-2745 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 WEBSITE: WVWV. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA Northside Christian School Page 5 • Provide for a physical barrier for the Full build at Internal Intersection C to prevent parents from dropping children in the parking lot and circumventing the loading zone. Overall • Define the Student Loading Zone by installing five students loading bays using six-inch wide, solid -white pavement markings. Each bay should be a minimum of eight feet wide, from the edge of curb, and the lengths of 20 feet for the end bays and 28 to 30 -feet for the middle bays. The loading bays will define where vehicles are to load students and provide adequate room for exiting vehicles to pass other loading vehicles when necessary. Making the student loading operations organized and more efficient will directly improve pedestrian safety and reduce the delays and queue length of the school related traffic. • The student loading zone should be wide enough to allow for a bypass lane. • Pedestrian safety is addressed by reducing conflicts between the pedestrian and vehicles. This is obtained by installing walking paths away from vehicle movements, placing pedestrian crosswalks in highly visible areas or at intersections where drivers will expect them, installing a fence or barrier to separate pedestrians and vehicles, and most importantly defining and operating an organized student loading process. • Designate 6-8 "Visitor Parking" spaces just past the Student Loading Zone and near the building entrance to help improve the safety and efficiency of the student loading operations. This parking should be identified by installing "Visitor Parking" signs and/or pavement markings at the spaces to be assigned. These parking spaces will provide an area, outside of the Student Loading Zone, for parents requiring extended time to load. If a parent stops in the loading zone and needs additional time to wait to load their student, a loading assistant should direct that parent to the Visitor Parking. Pre K students • Pre -K pickup and drop-off should not be occurring during parent loading/unloading operations and should not be included in the driveway queue. • Pre -K parents should enter from SR 2616 (Owls Lane) and drop off student(s) in the designated Pre -K loading/Unloading area. o Pre -K parents can exit from SR 2616 (Owls Lane) or from SR 2617 (Red Hawk Road). Note that using SR 2617 (Red Hawk Road) would necessitate cutting through where the carpool line for grades K — 7 stack therefore it is imperative that Pre -K pickup/drop-off does not occur during times for grades K — 7 loading operations are occurring. General • At the request by the Division Traffic Engineer the following improvements are recommended on US 117/NC 132 (N. College Road) at SR 1322 (Bavarian Lane/Murrayville Road) prior to the full build out phase. o Reduce the median width to allow southbound left turning and u -turning vehicles a longer turn lane. o Provide for any additional pavement as necessary to accommodate any u -turning vehicles from school traffic not allowed to turn left from the exit driveway. o The signal timing may need to be adjusted to compensate for additional school traffic. • Provide a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) to the parents (See attached) MAILINGADDRESS: TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 LOCATION: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION FAx: 919-771-2745 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 WEBSITE: WWW. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA Northside Christian School FINAL Page 6 The recommendations and findings of this report should not be thought of as mandates for action. It is and will be the responsibility of Northside Christian School to implement and/or construct any of the recommendations located within their property boundaries. Any recommendations or improvements located within the Department of Transportation roadway right-of-way will require the consultation of the Division Engineer. If participation needs to be considered, the following factors will be considered before any action is taken: jurisdictional responsibility, availability of funds, and the priority placed on the improvements by the Department of Transportation relative to all other planned and programmed improvements in the area. MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 LOCATION: FAx: 919-771-2745 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 WEBSITE: WWVV. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOVI-MSTA Northside Christian School Northside School Transportation Management Plan (TMP) Page 7 The Transportation Management Plan (TMP) informs staff, parents, and visitors how to implement school traffic operations efficiently. It may also be shared with neighboring businesses for informational purposes. It can provide a traffic flow design for average and high demand days. • Parents must not arrive earlier than 30 minutes prior to the AM or PM bell schedule. School officials must manage and strictly enforce this. Note that parents cannot park on adjoining roads waiting to be allowed on the campus. • Parents should enter the parent queue only from SR 2617 (Red Hawk Road). Interim specific (Maximum 140 students) • Parents should turn right at Internal Intersection A following the path in a single line to the loading zone. Full build specific (Maximum 400 students) • Parents should form a double queue from Internal Intersection A following around the path to Internal Intersection B and then turning left. Follow path to the Stop bar. ■ From the stop line parents are to wait until the school official directs them to pull forward into one single lane at the loading zone. ■ A school official will direct the first five vehicles in the stacking lane closest to the building to pull up and park in the loading zone. The school official will alternate the lanes. • A school official will supervise loading to ensure the students safety and help make this loading process perform as quick as possible. General • If a student needs extended time to load or.the student is to be picked up early, then the parents are encouraged to use the short term visitor parking spaces. ■ A staff member may need to be positioned at the ingress to the staff driveway (Access A) to prevent parents from circumventing the proposed queue pattern. The exit path should be coned or gated off. • Parents picking up students earlier than the PM bell need to do so at least 45 minutes prior to so that they are not caught in the parent queue line. • Implement an "Advanced Identification" loading process during the PM student loading period. To better organize and speed-up the student loading, this process will require the placement of a loading assistant (staff member, parent volunteer, or identified student patrol) before the student loading zone. It would be the loading assistant's responsibility to determine the name of the next student to be loaded. This can be accomplished by having parents display their student's name on a flash card placed in the windshield of the car or by asking the parent. Once the information is obtained, it is forwarded (typically by walkie-talkie or megaphone) to another loading assistant who has access to the students. By the time the parent reaches the loading zone, the student is waiting next to the curb ready to get into the vehicle. Another loading assistant should be stationed at the loading zone to supervise and insure safe operations. • Pedestrians should use sidewalks and crosswalks where provided. • Parents dropping children off for the Pre -K must utilize the designated Pre -K entrance from SR 2616 (Owls Lane) only. MAILING ADDRESS: MOBILITY AND SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1561 TELEPHONE: 919-773-2800 FAx: 919-771-2745 WEBSITE: WWW. CONNECT. NCDOT.GOV/-MSTA LOCATION: 750 NORTH GREENFIELD PARKWAY GARNER, NORTH CAROLINA 27529 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ROY COOPER J. ERIC BOYETTE GOVERNOR SECRETARY DATE: February 8, 2022 ***NCDOT REQUIRED ROAD IMPROVEMENT FOR SCHOOL*** TO: Benjamin T. Hughes, PE - District Engineer FROM: Tammy A. Germiller - Municipal and School Transportation Project Engineer Tom,' SUBJECT: Northside Christian School, Traffic Operations review, New Hanover County, Division 3, The Municipal and School Transportation Assistance (MSTA) group in conjunction with the Congestion Management Section (CMS) have performed a Traffic Operations review of the site plans submitted to the District. The Northside Christian School is proposed to be located at 2501 N. College Road in Wilmington, NC. This school is planned to serve K through 71 grade starting with an initial 70 students to a full build of 400 students. The following improvements are recommended on US-117/NC-132 (N. College Road) at SR -1322 (Bavarian Lane/Murrayville Road) prior to the full build -out phase: • Extend the southbound left tum lane to at least 450 feet long, and ■ Adjust the signal timing to compensate for the additional school traffic. NCDOT APPROVAL: Transportation Management Unit OR State Traffic Management Engineer Joseph E. Hummer PE, PhD ,.a Signature Date: 2/8/22 Mailing Address: NC DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION MOBILITY & SAFETY DIVISION 1561 MAIL SERVICE CENTER RALEIGH NC 27699-1561 Transportation Mobility and Safety Division State Traffic Engineer J. Kevin Lacy, PE, CPM Signature Date: Telephone: (919) 814-5000 Fax: (919)771-2745 Customer Service: 1-877-368-4968 Website: www.ncdot.gov Location: 750 N. 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