Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-20 BRAA Memo Re Parking & Traffic AssessmentDate. 02/20/02 Our File No To: Dennis Postler From: Bryant Picek FEB 2 0 2o Subject. Stillwater Area High School Stadium Improvements Review of the Parking and Traffic Assessment This memorandum discusses the Parking and Traffic Assessment of the Stillwater Area High School Stadium Improvement prepared by David Braslau Associates, Inc. and Benshoof and Associates, Inc. Separated into two parts examining the parking analysis and then the traffic analysis of that assessment, potential concerns are noted for each section. Conclusions are then provided at the end of this memorandum. Parking Analysis The parking analysis uses historical data to identify a peak attendance, which is then used to estimate the number of vehicles for that peak event. However, based on information in the conditional use permit, this number includes paid attendance only. Not included in this total are pep band members, cheerleaders, players, and coaches from the competing teams or students and adults with season passes. others that may have also been excluded in the historical totals are personnel needed for emergency services, for security, for parking purposes, or for ticket and concession sales. Parking from these people would further increase the demand and need for off- street parking. In addition, the parking analysis identifies a high -end range of 1,500 vehicles associated with a peak event as compared to an identified capacity of 892 spaces at the on -site lot. This yields a deficiency of 608 spaces, rather than the 532 listed in the report, which affects the number of off- site spaces needed as well as the number of shuttle buses. Using the larger number of 608 vehicles, the two sites owned by the School District (supplying 630 stalls) could still accommodate this estimate, The Recreation Center with Lily Lake School (supplying 580 spaces) would fall slightly short of the number of spaces needed. Using the report assumptions for the shuttle buses, up to 10 buses would be needed to provide adequate transportation from the off-site parking lot(s) to the stadium. 0. II), 2335 West Highway 36 9 St. Paul, MN 55113 @ 557 -636 -4600 o Fax: 651 - 636 -1317 Bonestroo, Rosene, Anderiik and Associates, Inc. Is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer and Employee Owned Bonestroo Principals: Otto G. Bonestroo, P.E. ❑ Marvin L. Sr 'a, P.E. ❑ Glenn R. Cook, P.E. ❑ Robert G. Schunicht, P.E. ❑ Jerry A. Bourdon, P.E. Rosene Senior Consultants: Robert W. Rosene, P.E. ❑ Joseph C. Anderlik, P.E. ❑ Richard E. Turner, MEW P.E. ❑ Susan M. Eberlin, C.P.A. Ande ' lik & Associate Principals: Keith A. Gordon, P.E. ❑ Robert R. Pfeffede, P.E. ❑ Richard W. Foster, P.E. ❑ David D, Loskota, P.E. ❑ Mark A. Hanson, P.E. ❑ Michael T. Rautmann, P.E. ❑ Ted K. Associates Field, P.E. ❑ Kenneth P. Anderson, P.E. ❑ Mark R. Rolfs, P.E. ❑ David A. Bonestroo, M.B.A. ❑ Sidney P. Williamson, P.E., L.S. ❑ Agnes M. Ring, M.B.A. ❑ Allan Rick Schmidt, P.E. ❑ Thomas W. Peterson, P.E. ❑ James R. Maland, P.E. ❑ Miles B. Jensen, P.E. ❑ L. Phillip Gravel iii, P.E. Engineers & Architects ❑ Daniel J. Edgerton, P.E. ❑ Ismael Martinez, P.E. ❑ Thomas A. Syfko, P.E. ❑ Sheldon J. Johnson ❑ Dale A. Grove, P.E. ❑ Thomas A. Roushar, P.E. ❑ Robert J. Devery, P.E. Offices: St. Paul, St, Cloud, Rochester and Willmar, MN ❑ Milwaukee, Wl ❑ Chicago, IL Website: www.bonestroo.com MEMC)RANDUIIII Date. 02/20/02 Our File No To: Dennis Postler From: Bryant Picek FEB 2 0 2o Subject. Stillwater Area High School Stadium Improvements Review of the Parking and Traffic Assessment This memorandum discusses the Parking and Traffic Assessment of the Stillwater Area High School Stadium Improvement prepared by David Braslau Associates, Inc. and Benshoof and Associates, Inc. Separated into two parts examining the parking analysis and then the traffic analysis of that assessment, potential concerns are noted for each section. Conclusions are then provided at the end of this memorandum. Parking Analysis The parking analysis uses historical data to identify a peak attendance, which is then used to estimate the number of vehicles for that peak event. However, based on information in the conditional use permit, this number includes paid attendance only. Not included in this total are pep band members, cheerleaders, players, and coaches from the competing teams or students and adults with season passes. others that may have also been excluded in the historical totals are personnel needed for emergency services, for security, for parking purposes, or for ticket and concession sales. Parking from these people would further increase the demand and need for off- street parking. In addition, the parking analysis identifies a high -end range of 1,500 vehicles associated with a peak event as compared to an identified capacity of 892 spaces at the on -site lot. This yields a deficiency of 608 spaces, rather than the 532 listed in the report, which affects the number of off- site spaces needed as well as the number of shuttle buses. Using the larger number of 608 vehicles, the two sites owned by the School District (supplying 630 stalls) could still accommodate this estimate, The Recreation Center with Lily Lake School (supplying 580 spaces) would fall slightly short of the number of spaces needed. Using the report assumptions for the shuttle buses, up to 10 buses would be needed to provide adequate transportation from the off-site parking lot(s) to the stadium. 0. II), 2335 West Highway 36 9 St. Paul, MN 55113 @ 557 -636 -4600 o Fax: 651 - 636 -1317 It is also important to note that attendance for other football games may also exceed capacity of on -site parking and require the need for off -site parking. Based on the existing capacity of 992, the on -site parking lot could expect to accommodate an attendance of between 2 (assuming 3.0 people per vehicle) and 3,472 (assuming 3.5 people per vehicle). For attendance levels at or above these levels, off-site parking would likely be needed. From the historical attendance, identified in the analysis, three out of 15 other football games, excludin the yearly peak event, reached this level, about 20 percent. If the attendance of others (such as players, etc., noted above) were included and if the on -site parking lot had spaces occupied by vehicles not associated with the stadium event, such as a conflicting event at the school, the capacity would be further reduced, suggesting off-street parking could be needed for more than just the p eak football game each year. Also noted in the analysis, attendance at the football games may be affected more by team performance than school enrollment. hi Therefore, a competitive team could expect her g attendance and greater need for off-site parking at games than a non-competitive team. However, it is never certain whether a team will be competitive. Based upon this and the data mentioned above, a contingency parking plan to acco high attendance outside the peak event should be available for all football games. This should include items identified in the study, such as avoiding conflicts with other school events to maximize the capacity of the on -site parking lot and encouraging ride sharing for all games to increase the occupancy per vehicle. In addition, it may be necessary to have off-site parking and shuttles available on a 'stand-by' basis to be used if and when a parking deficiency is identified. The need for this could be determined with a garne -by -game approach examining how well the team is doing, how well the visitor is doing, and attendance at previous games in the year. To minimize disruption to the adjacent neighborhoods, on -going communication with the residents should be a part of any management plan in conjunction with this development. This p would allow residents to discuss any future problems associated with the project and facilitate solutions. For example, the parking analysis identifies on- street parking in the neighborhoods is a potential problem that should be minimized with parking management. If the residents are allowed an outlet to communicate with the school, either through the School District or the City, the success or failure of this aspect of the management plan could be identified. In addition, future discussions could identify other unseen problems and help to determine solutions. 2335 Vest Highway 36 a St. Paul, MN 55113 w 672 -636 -4600 ® Pax: 612.636 -7377 Traffic Analysis In the traffic analysis, the volumes for the intersections of 5 8 " Street/Neal Avenue and Trunk Highway 5/58 th Street are presented after the stadium g enerated traffic is included without separate tables for existing and/or generated traffic volumes alone. This prevents a quick review of the existing conditions at the intersections as well as the opportunity to ex the generated traffic in the intersections separately from other traffic. The traffic analysis identifies several assumptions to ensure a worst -case scenario, such as an event start time coinciding with the busiest background traffic period and use of all parking spaces. Some other items to consider for the worst --case traffic analysis are: 0 Shuttle bus maneuvers to drop off /pick up patrons before and after games, 0 Parents who drop off children before games and pick them up afterwards, e vehicles that enter and exit the parking lot after all spaces are full, and * Potential slowdowns from parking maneuvers inside the parking lot. As noted earlier in this memorandum, up to ten buses could be running to and from off -site lots. With the traffic analysis' assumption of 5 roundtrips per hour, this could increase the traffic by 50 vehicles entering the lot and 50 vehicles leaving the lot in one hour. Similarly, each parent who drops a child off at the game and picks then/ up afterward would increase the traffic. Although difficult to quantify, if only one percent of the assumed peak paid attendance is dropped off and picked up, an additional 45 vehicles would be entering and exiting the parking lot before and after the game. Once the parking lot is full, vehicles may still enter the lot and search for a space, only to leave a few minutes later. Also difficult to quantify, an assumption of five percent of on --site capacity would translate into an additional 5 o vehicles entering and exiting the parking lot, increasing traffic volumes at the intersections. As the parking lot fills and/or large platoons of vehicles arrive at the parking lot, the potential for internal slowdowns increase. Should the internal maneuvers in the parking lot slow, it could start a chain reaction that would in turn slow vehicles turning into the parking lot and then other vehicles at the intersections of 58 th Street/Neal Avenue and Trunk Highway 515 8th Street as turn g y lane queues increase. This slowing would reduce the levels of service of the intersections regardless of how efficient the signal is operating. The possibility of internal problems during the entry of vehicles is of greatest concern due to its potential to cause traffic problems on the nearby intersections, negating any efficiency of signal operation. Despite these additional concerns, a traffic and parking management plan in place for all football games could provide adequate traffic operations. This traffic and parking management plan should provides, at a minimum, a set area for drop -offs and pick -ups, a set route for shuttle buses, signs to advise motorists on both Trunk Highway 5 and 5 8 1h Street of a full lot and where to proceed to additional off-site parking, and parking attendants to direct internal traffic. In addition, the use of police officers to direct traffic at the two intersections during at least the half hour before kick -off and the half hour after the game could improve intersection operations. Police officers would be better able to handle the large platoons of vehicles during these peak times as well as better able to react to any back -ups within the parking lot. 2335 West Highway 35 ® St. Paul, NON 55713 ® 572 -536 -4640 ® Fax: 612.636-1371 Conclusions With the inclusion of parking from players, coaches, cheerleaders, and other nonpaying event attendees, over boo off-site parking spaces could be needed for the peak stadium event (historically identified as the Homecoming game). The Parking and Traffic Assessment identifies sites to accommodate this overflow and notes the need for shuttle buses for this peak event. However, depending upon other factors, most notably how the teanz is performing, other football games also have the potential to use the capacity of the on -site parking and require additional off-site parking. Additional traffic concerns, not noted in the Parking and Traffic Assessment, would likely increase the expected vehicles at the intersections of 58 Street/Neal Avenue and Trunk Highway 5158 Street and could potentially slow traffic. of greatest concern is the potential for back-ups within the parking lot creating congestion in the Intersections. A parking and traffic management plan for all football games would decrease the likelihood of unexpected parking deficiencies and traffic slowdowns at the maj or intersections. This plan should include, at a minimum, the items identified in the Parking and Traffic Assessment (such as a program to encourage alternate modes of travel to the games), as well as a plan for communication with the surrounding neighborhoods to help recognize and prevent future problems. It would also be beneficial to be prepared to use police officers to effectively direct traffic at the intersections during the peak entry and exit times. Police officers would be better able to handle the large platoons of vehicles during these times as well as react appropriately to back-ups within the parking lot than would the traffic signals at the intersections. with a parking and traffic management plan ready for all football gauzes, the decisions on which aspects to implement could be determined on a game -by -gauze basis depending on factors such as how well the team is doing, how well the visiting team is doing, and attendance at previous gauzes in the year. 2335 West Highway 36 a St. Paul,, MN 55113 ® 612 - 636 -4600 ® Fax: 612- 636 -1311