Item 2AAGENDA ITEM #2A
AUGUST 9, 2004
gai consultants
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Mayport Road TraRc Analysis
Report
Prepared for city of Atlantic Beach, Florida
July 2004
Prepared by
GA/ Consultants, Inc.
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AGENDA ITEM #2A
AUGUST 9, 2004
~, ;~ 1.0 Executive Summary
Mayport Road (SR A1A), a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) roadway, is
~, the north-south arterial, north of Atlantic Boulevard, on the peninsula east of the Intra-
coastal Waterway (ICW). Mayport Road is approximately 3.5 miles from Atlantic
Boulevard to the Mayport Naval Station (MNS) and includes City limits to Atlantic Beach
~,,, and Jacksonville. It currently provides the only land access to the MNS. As a result,
average daily traffic is approaching 50,000 between Atlantic Boulevard and 11th Street
and the current 7-lane typical section is needed to handle the peak hour volumes.
This is expected to change in the near future as the Wonderwood Connector, now
under construction, will provide a second, high-speed, access route to the MNS and
~„ may significantly reduce the demand for capacity along Mayport Road. Using the
Jacksonville Urban Area Transportation Study (JUATS) travel demand computer model,
the First Coast Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has estimated the average
~,,, daily traffic (ADT) to drop to 35,900 in 2005 and then increase to about 40,100 by 2025
as a result of the opening of this corridor. The MPO forecast (updated June 2004)
decreases traffic on Mayport Road by close to 30%.
With the anticipated reduction in ADT, the City of Atlantic Beach (COAB) recognizes the
opportunity to enhance the aesthetic appeal of Mayport Road while making it safer for
motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The COAB has authorized GAI Consultants, Inc.
(GAI) to evaluate the concept of reducing the number of through lanes and introducing a
raised, landscaped median between Atlantic Boulevard and Dutton Island Road (COAB
limits). Assessment of traffic impacts north of the COAB limits are also reviewed. The
COAB has been working with community leaders, the Mayport Naval Station, City of
Jacksonville (COJ), FDOT and the MPO to address all corridor issues.
For this report, GAI evaluated three typical sections. The three alternatives all provide
11-foot wide travel lanes and 4-foot wide bicycle lanes with an 11- to 20-foot wide
border (curb & gutter, utility strip and sidewalk) on both sides. Alternative 1 offers two
travel lanes in each direction, separated by a 26-foot wide median, while Alternatives 2
and 3 provide three lanes in one direction and two in the other, separated by a 15-foot
wide median. Alternative 2 has three lanes southbound, while Alternative 3 has three
lanes northbound.
Utilizing both FDOT's ARTPLAN and SYNCRO 6 software programs, GAI determined
that both Alternatives 1 and 2 would provide adequate levels of service (LOS) through
2025. The corridor LOS will be level B to C in both COAB and COJ. The intersection
LOS will range from level A to B at each signalized intersection within the COAB
(Intersection impacts are only addressed in the COAB limits). Calculations of the level
of service obtained above considered the opening of Wonderwood Connector to traffic
with resulting decrease in AADT volume on Mayport Road.
Since either Alternative will provide adequate LOS, we recommend Alternate 1 based
~ on the advantage that this section will maximize median width and can more easily `~
accommodate re-routed traffic that negotiate U-turns. Passenger vehicles can U-turn `~
under Alternative 1, at open intersections, without pavement widening within the
Mayport Road Traffic Analysis
AGENDA ITEM #2A
AUGUST 9, 2004
~„ intersection. Alternatives 2 and 3 will require some pavement widening, at intersections
and this will result in costs associated with utility relocations, other roadway item
reconstructions and potential right-of-way acquisitions.
2.0 Introduction
The City of Atlantic Beach (COAB) has authorized GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI) to
conduct a traffic study for concept development of proposed landscaped medians on
Mayport Road between Atlantic Boulevard and Dutton Island Road (previously Church
Road). This study will evaluate. the Level of Service (LOS) for the entire corridor.
This study was initiated to address concerns by the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) regarding level of service within the corridor and at the
intersections. The District Two Planning Office presented these concerns following their
review of the Mayport Road Access Management Study prepared for the First Coast
Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO's Study proposes to reduce the number
of through lanes within the COAB limits (Atlantic Boulevard to Dutton Island Road).
There are two typical sections within the COAB Limits:
• From Atlantic Blvd to 8th St there are two northbound lanes and two southbound
lanes, bifurcated by the Atlantic Boulevard Flyover. This flyover joins the
~,,, northbound lanes to create a third northbound lane at 8th Street. The right of way
width is 120 feet in this section.
,., From 8th St to Dutton Island Road there is a 7-lane section with six through lanes
and atwo-way left-turn (TWLT) lane. The right of way is 100 feet wide in this
section.
North of Dutton Island Road the typical section transitions to a five-lane section, with
four travel lanes and a TWLT lane between Dutton Island Road and Wonderwood Drive
~, (COJ limits).
The MPO used the Jacksonville Urban Area Transportation Study (JUATS) travel
demand computer model to forecast peak season weekday average ,daily traffic
(PSWADT). These volumes were converted using FDOT factors to estimate average
annual daily traffic (AADT). The key assumption is that the Wonderwood Connector, a
new east/west connector to Mayport Road now under construction, will open in the
~ summer of 2004. Adding this second access to Mayport Naval Station (MNS) will result
in a significant drop in AADT along Mayport Road. GAI preformed our analysis using the
~,,, MPO's Access Management Study Report as a reference (The proposed median
openings are utilized in the analysis and in plan layouts).
_ The MPO Study recommended:
• Imposing a raised, restrictive median, conforming to FDOT Access
Management Class 5, and ..
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