St. Charles County Transportation Plan 2030 - East-West Gateway ...

investment scenarios. Also, more accurate data about traffic flow and safety (volume counts and
accidents) were available from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) and the St.
Charles County Department of Transportation. Council staff collected travel time (speed and delay)
data using new Global Positioning System (GPS) recorders. The Council’s demographers used
newer computers and software programs and were able to more accurately estimate the region’s
future population, employment, and land use.
The latest demographics from the Census and forecasts developed by the Council were assembled.
They consisted of population, number of households, number of employed persons, and amount of
employment in the St. Louis region and in St. Charles County. The type, amount, and location of
existing land use were assembled from many sources including the St. Charles County Department
of Community Development. Estimates of future land use for 2015 and 2030 were made based on
these data and forecasts of future population and employment for these years were then developed.
Of considerable value was the St. Charles County Master Plan, Target 2015: Prosperity Through
Planning report published on December 15, 2003. These data were then used in the Council’s new
travel demand model which was used to assist in forecasting traffic volumes for 2015 and 2030.
Data regarding the existing transportation system was acquired. Emphasis was placed on the major
road network and assessing the efficiency and safety of travel on the system. Other modes of
transportation, railroad, aviation, pipeline, and barge were also reviewed. For the major roadway
system, road classifications (Interstates, Principal Arterials, etc.) and road characteristics (number
of lanes, traffic controls, and geometry) were identified. In addition, special attention was paid to
safety by acquiring the accident ratings of all major roads from MoDOT. Data regarding travel were
assembled including, traffic volumes, number of accidents, and travel times. Measures of
performance were developed for congestion and safety. They included volume to capacity ratios
(v/c), accident ratios (accidents per vehicle miles of travel), and average speeds and delays. Levels
of service (LOS) were developed from the v/c ratios and safety ratings from the accident ratios.
Road speeds and average travel times were compared to the roads efficiency of travel (LOS) and
their safety ratings, and were used for estimating future conditions from the forecasts.
The roadway system expected to be in place by 2030 was developed from the Council’s long range
transportation plan, Legacy 2030, MoDOT’s State Implementation Plan (STIP), and St. Charles
County’s Proposed Ten Year Transportation Improvement Program, dated December 30, 2003.
Forecasted traffic volumes were developed, along with anticipated roadway characteristics, to
determine volume to capacity ratios and safety issues. Travel times on the major roads, based on
forecasted traffic and planned roadway improvements, were estimated to aid in the determination
of future congestion. Deficient locations were identified and suggestions made for improvements.
Future travels on other transportation modes including transit, rail, pipeline, air, and barge were
estimated from earlier reports and information gathered from various sources including some of
these agencies. The St. Charles County Master Plan was used as a reference document. Based on
these data, estimates were made of future needs and recommendations provided for improvements.
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