Appendix D Traffic Impact Analysis - westplainseis.com

3. EXISTING CONDITIONS
3.1 Street Network
The arterial transportation network in close proximity to the project site consists of US 2 as the primary
access carrier of traffic on the West Plains. Additional key arterials include Craig Rd., Hayford Rd., 6 th
Ave. and State Route 902. A description of the primary roadways within the study area is included
below.
Highway 2 is an urban principal arterial under the jurisdiction of the Washington State Department of
Transportation. SR-2 is the primary east-west route between Spokane and Fairchild Air Force Base,
Airway Heights, as well as many rural communities to the west. The existing roadway is a five-lane
facility with a two-way center left-turn lane and dedicated left turn lanes at key intersections and
arterials. The posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour west of Craig and 35 miles per hour east of Craig.
Craig Road is a two lane County road north and south of State Route 2. The roadway is functionally
classified as a rural local access road. Craig Road serves as the western boundary of the City of Airway
Heights. Craig Rd. would fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Airway Heights if the subject site is
annexed and Craig is designated as an Urban Minor Arterial in the Airway Heights Streets Plan.
Sixth Avenue is designated as an urban minor arterial. It exists in the central and eastern parts of the
City but does not currently connect to Craig Rd. Extension and connection to Craig Rd. is planned by
the City or through adjacent development projects. For the purposes of this study it was assumed that 6 th
Ave. is in place and extended to connect to Craig Rd. by 2012.
Hayford Road is a rural minor arterial serving as a connection between I-90 and northwest Spokane
County. The north-south roadway is primarily a two-lane, shouldered facility, south of SR-2. Hayford
Rd. is a five-lane facility with a two way center left-turn lane north of SR-2 to just north of Sprague Ave.
It provides a connection to Trails Rd. which serves as an alternative to Hwy 2 in providing access to the
West Plains to/from areas in northwest Spokane. The existing speed limit on this roadway varies from
35 mph to 50 mph.
State Route 902 (SR 902) is a rural minor arterial in the vicinity of the study intersection (SR 902/Craig).
It serves as an east-west route and connection between Medical Lake and I-90. SR 902 is a two lane
facility. The existing posted speed limit is 55 mph near the study area.
3.2 Intersection Geometry and Control
The existing intersection geometrics were compiled from field reviews. The study area was reviewed to
determine the existing number and type of lanes and the traffic control along the roadway. Four of the
eleven study intersections are signalized. Descriptions of the study intersections and their controls are
discussed below. The existing lane geometries and traffic control are illustrated in Figure 3.
Craig Road / Hwy 2 is a two-way unsignalized intersection with stop control on the Craig Road
approaches. The eastbound approach includes a left turn lane, two through lanes and a right turn lane.
The westbound approach has a left turn lane, a through lane, and a shared through/right lane. The
northbound and southbound approaches have a shared left/through/right lane. The posted speed limit is
45 miles per hour along Craig Road. The posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour west of Craig and 35
miles per hour east of Craig along US 2.
Lundstrom Street / Hwy 2 is a two-way unsignalized intersection with stop control on the Lundstrom
Street approaches. The eastbound and westbound approaches have a left turn lane, a through lane and a
shared through/right lane. The northbound and southbound approaches have a shared left/through/right
lane. The posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour along Lundstrom Street. The posted speed limit is 35
miles per hour along US 2.
Lawson Street / Hwy 2 is a signalized intersection. The eastbound and westbound approaches have a left
turn lane, a through lane, and a shared through/right lane. The northbound and southbound approaches
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Traffic Impact Analysis April 28, 2011