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Home My WebLink About2019-06-14 ITD Acceptance LetterlSlAflp * Your Safety • Your Mobility Your Economic Opportunity IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 8028 • Boise, ID 83707-2028 (208) 334-8300 • itd.idaho.gov June 14, 2019 Sonya Allen City of Meridian 33 E. Broadway Ave. Meridian, Idaho 83642 VIA EMAIL RE: Idaho Central Credit Union Plaza — ITD Traffic Impact Study Acceptance Letter Dear Ms. Allen, The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has reviewed the findings presented in the Idaho Central Credit Union (ICCU) Plaza Traffic Impact Study (TIS) dated October 2018. The development is located on the northeast corner of Eagle Road and Overland Road. The development is not taking direct access off of the state highway system, but does have impacts to Eagle Road Interchange (Exit 46) due to the volume of vehicles generated by the development at full buildout in 2030. Improvements in 201�C not identified. Irit€�rchange study needed to 7_WBMPS LE RE1 determine long-term mitigati€�n for Eagle Road/l-84 interciange..0 iE r I EB RAMPS& EAt L ## r Exis#ing (2018) Mitigation - Background 2020 Miti;a-,ion Total (2020) Mitigation Tatal (2022) Mitigation 4� Dackground (2030) Mitigation Total (2010) Mitigation Off -Site Improvement Summary Figu"e Meridian, Idaho ES -1 1-84's Exit 46 is a heavily used interchange with approximately 55,000 vehicles traveling through it every day. The ICCU TIS identifies that the interchange's westbound ramp intersection is nearing capacity for existing operations and has failing movements for the northbound left and westbound right turning movements. Congestion at Exit 46 increases over time. The TIS analysis finds the westbound ramp intersection to fail by 2030. Figure ES -1 of the ICCU TIS illustrates when additional lanes at Exit 46 is recommended. ICCU Plaza's traffic accelerates failure and increases delay to several movements at Exit 46. Phase 2 adds approximately 300 vehicle trips through the interchange which results in an additional 35 second delay for the northbound left turn on the WB Ramp and an additional 25 second delay to vehicles traveling southbound through the EB Ramp signal. Phase 3 adds approximately 400 vehicle trips through the interchange which results in an additional 80 second delay for Page 1 of 2 lSlAflp * Your Safety • Your Mobility IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 8028 • Boise, ID 83707-2028 Your Economic Opportunity (208) 334-8300 • itd.idaho.gov 4T)ON the northbound left turn on the WB Ramp, an extra 30 second delay to northbound thru traffic at the WB Ramp signal and an additional 40 second delay to vehicles traveling southbound through the EB Ramp signal. ITD agrees with the ICCU TIS that there is not a simple cost effective solution to mitigate for the development's impacts. The TIS suggests adding a third right turn lane at the westbound off -ramp regardless of the fact that the ICCU Plaza does not contribute to any trips on this movement. This improvement does not improve the interchange's operations. However, the development does contribute movements to the right turn lane at the eastbound off - ramp. This lane nears its storage capacity limits by 2030. A second right turn lane does show benefits to the overall operation of the interchange to mitigate for additional traffic that is generated by this development. ITD recommends to the city of Meridian that the developer construct a second right turn lane at the eastbound off -ramp prior to commencing Phase 3 of the ICCU Plaza or exceeding 668 PM Peak hour trips. This mitigation improvement is constructible and is in lieu of the more critical need for the developer to mitigate for impacts to the northbound left turning movement at the WB Ramp, which is not feasible or reasonable. ITD does not have any projects currently programmed to rebuild the Eagle Road Interchange. This mitigation will provide some relief to the overall operations of this interchange and is a reasonable improvement to offset the developer's impacts. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has oversight for the interstate system including interchange ramps. Construction on the ramps will require FHWA involvement. ITD would take lead in working with FHWA on this improvement. This letter acknowledges ITD's acceptance of the ICCU Plaza TIS. Maintaining safety and mobility for Idaho's motorists is of the utmost importance to ITD. ITD would appreciate the city of Meridian requiring ICCU Plaza to construct the needed roadway improvements as outline above. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at erika.bowen@itd.idaho.gov or 208-265-4312 extension #7. Sincerely, f�/ K Erika R. Bowen, P.E. ITD — District 3 Traffic Technical Engineer CC. Mindy Wallace — ACHD John Ringert — Kittelson & Associates Page 2 of 2