Commuter Rail Extension Alternatives Analysis - Transportation ...

CALTRAIN EXTENSION TO MONTEREY COUNTYALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS“The State of California has granted important designations to Route 101. First, the route is onthe Freeway and Expressway System (F&E) whose completion has been declared essential tothe future development of the State, with provision for control of access to the extentnecessary to preserve the value and utility of the facilities.“In addition, Route 101 is on the Interregional Road System (IRRS) and is a designated FocusRoute in the Caltrans Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan (ITSP)…”“…The importance of Route 101 for the movement of goods through the State and nation isindicated by additional federal and state designations. The Route is a designated route on theNational Truck Network under the federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA). Thisnetwork is designated for use by larger trucks. Route 101 is also a State Highway Extra LegalLoad (SHELL) Route.“Finally, extensive portions of Route 101 in District 5 are eligible for designation as Scenic Highwaysunder the State Scenic Highway Program….[including] from the Prunedale junction withRoute 156 west in Monterey County to the junction with Route 156 east in San Benito County.”In the Transportation Concept Report, Caltrans divides U.S. 101 from Salinas to San Benito Countyinto segments 8 through 12. Within Monterey County, the agency identifies two specific locationswhere interregional traffic flow is impeded: segments 8 and 10 in Salinas and Prunedale,respectively. Segment 8 suffers from a low existing peak-hour level of service (LOS E) as a result ofcommuter-related traffic. In segment 10, at-grade crossings, lane-crossing left turns, and theintersection with State Route 156 (SR 156) hamper traffic operations. These locations are discussedin greater detail below, as described in Caltrans’ Transportation Concept Report for U.S. Route 101 inCaltrans District 5 (2001). Figure 2-1 summarizes the existing (1998) traffic conditions from theTransportation Concept Report. Estimated 2005 traffic volumes have been included on the graphicfor information.Existing U.S. 101 Conditions and Traffic VolumesU.S. 101’s Segment 8 runs between the north and south city limits of Salinas. It is a four-lane freewaythat serves local, interregional, and commuter traffic. Truck traffic comprises approximately 18 percentof this total due to Salinas’ position in the Salinas Valley as the agricultural and food processingcenter. The 1998 average annual daily traffic count (AADT) for segment 8 was 53,000 and theestimated peak hour volume was 3,150. In 1998, segment 8 operated at an average LOS D duringthe peak-hour and LOS C during the non-peak-hour.Segment 9 runs from the northern city limits of Salinas to the southern portion of Prunedale. It is afour-lane facility, with some portions designated as a freeway and other portions designated as an expressway.Truck traffic comprises approximately 18 percent of the traffic in this segment. The 1998average AADT on segment 9 was 54,300 and the estimated peak-hour volume was 3,312. In 1998,segment 9 operated at an average LOS E during the peak-hour and LOS C during the non-peakhour.Segment 10 runs from the south end of Prunedale to the north end and is designated as a four-laneurban expressway along the entire length. Truck traffic comprises approximately 15 percent of trafficalong this segment. The 1998 average AADT was 55,400 with an estimated peak-hour volume of3,987. In 1998, segment 10 operated at an average LOS F during the peak-hour and LOS C duringthe non-peak-hour.parsons CHAPTER 2: EXISTING AND FORECAST CONDITIONS 22