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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-00500195- 00076918 ci The City of College Station, Texas Embracing the Past, Exploring the Future P.O. Box 9960 • 1101 Texas Avenue • College Station, TX 77842 • (979) 764 -3570 MEMORANDUM TO: Planning and Zoning Commission FROM: Ken Fogle, Transportation Planner DATE: September 13, 2002 RE: Comprehensive Plan Amendment - Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane The Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane thoroughfare is located east of Texas Avenue between Holleman Drive and Southwest Parkway. Currently, the roadway exists in three segments with gaps between Sterling Street and Manuel Drive, and between Manuel Drive and Brentwood Drive. The Autumn Chase residential development has been proposed in this vicinity and would construct the gap of Cornell Drive that would connect Manuel Drive to Brentwood Drive. The Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane corridor is included on the Thoroughfare Plan as a ,major collector. Prior to submitting the Autumn Chase preliminary plat for approval, the developer requested that the City consider downgrading the classification of the thoroughfare from a major collector to a minor collector. The typical cross section of a major collector includes a pavement width of 48 feet and is planned to accommodate between 5,000 and 10,000 vehicles per day (vpd). The minor collector typical section includes a pavement width of 38 feet and is planned to accommodate between 1,000 and 5,000 vpd. The section of Cornell Drive near Manuel Drive was constructed as a local street with a pavement width of 28 feet while the section near Brentwood Drive has a pavement width of 39 feet, consistent with that of a minor collector. Staffs primary concern regarding the downgrading of this collector is whether the proposed classification will provide the capacity necessary to accommodate the expected traffic upon buildout of the area. Jeff Milburn Engineering conducted a traffic impact assessment (TIA) to address this issue. After considering the maximum buildout and anticipated traffic patterns in the area, the engineer anticipates that approximately 1,200 vpd will utilize the Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane thoroughfare. Based on this, staff recommends that the Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane thoroughfare be reclassified as a minor collector on the Thoroughfare Plan. The TIA also recommends that the thoroughfare be amended to remove the Lassie Lane portion of the collector from the Thoroughfare Plan. The primary reason for the proposed Home of Texas A &M University discontinuation is to minimize the amount of "cut- through" traffic between George Bush East and Southwest Parkway. After closely reviewing this issue, staff recommends that the Lassie Lane segment of the thoroughfare remain as a portion of the collector in question. This recommendation is based on three primary reasons. First, although some "cut- through" traffic is likely to exist on any connection between arterials, the additional traffic is expected to be minimal, and the overall projected volume is expected to be in the range of 1,200 vpd, which is relatively low for a minor collector. Second, the connection provides a significant benefit to the residents of the area that either work or attend school at Texas A &M University (TAMU). Currently, residents of this area must travel along Texas Avenue to get to TAMU. If the Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane thoroughfare were completed, residents could travel the more direct route to TAMU along the collector, Holleman Drive, and George Bush East. Lastly, the connection provides an important pedestrian and bicycle link to the Wolf Pen Creek recreational and retail areas. Currently, these pedestrian and bicycle trips must be made along Texas Avenue or along Dartmouth Street to the east. If you have questions or comments that you would like addressed before the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, please feel free to contact me by telephone (764 -3570) or e- mail (kfoglea,ci.college- station.tx.us). Home of Texas A &M University Ken Fogle - Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane Connection Page 1 From: Ken Fogle To: Picha, Dale Date: 9/11/02 9:17AM Subject: Cornell Drive /Lassie Lane Connection Dale, I am in the process of preparing the staff recommendation for the Cornell Drive thoroughfare amendment. At this point, I am only recommending that we reclassify the thoroughfare as a minor collector. In Jeff Milburn's TIA, he makes the recommendation that Lassie Lane and Cornell Drive not be connected in the future. You've read the TIA, but his primary argument is that SB George Bush East traffic will use this as a "cut- through" route to Southwest Parkway. I can see that argument when looking at these two thoroughfares alone, but when I look at the larger area, I wonder why someone would choose this route rather than use Texas Avenue (when it's rebuilt and operating at LOS A ;) ) or even better Dartmouth. I am sure that there will be some "cut- through" traffic, but I don't see it as being a major problem. Shoot, traffic projections are in the range of 1,200 vpd with the connection (minor collectors are planned to handle between 1,000 and 5,000 vpd). On the other hand, I think the effectiveness of George Bush East would be maximized by this connection. Currently, residents of this area use Texas Avenue as their N -S route because it is the only option between them and TAMU. Additionally, it provides a direct connection between this residential area and the Wolf Pen Creek recreational and retail area for pedestrians and cyclists; if this corridor did not exist, they would have to travel to Texas Avenue or back to Dartmouth Street. Let me know what your thoughts are on this. I understand that in some cases, it is necessary to cut down on connectivity where an evident cut - through route will exist, but in this case, I see the positives of the connection far outweighing the negatives. Thanks, Ken P.S. Jane - I thought I would include you on this since we spoke about it earlier this morning. Since we talked, I took a better look at the area and, as you can see, I am leaning heavily on the connectivity side. Let me know what your thoughts are in response to this, and if the connectivity issue should be addressed in the staff report regardless of my recommendation. Ken Fogle Transportation Planner City of College Station Phone: 979.764.3570 E -mail: kfogle @ci.college - station.tx.us CC: Kee, Jane