T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationEffects on VMT and VHT - 2015Compared to the No-Action Alternative, Alternative B2 would result in only a minor decrease in VMT in 2015(from 1,147,700 to 1,147,200 – a decrease of less than 0.1 percent). There would be no change in VHT forAlternative B2.Effects on Peak Hour Traffic Flow (Level of Service) - 2015Because Partially Relocated Airport Road is necessary only to provide sufficient land area to improve theRunway 16-34 RSAs, there would be no additional vehicle trips expected in 2015 under Alternative B2.Therefore, only two intersections show operational changes in 2015 under Alternative B2:• Post Road (U.S. Route 1) at Partially Relocated Airport Road and Fire Station driveway – This relocatedintersection would operate at LOS D in both the morning and evening peak hours in 2015, with slightlylower overall delay when compared to the No-Action Alternative. The relocated intersection would bedesigned to accommodate all movements at the intersection, including the fire station driveway, asmovements regularly occur throughout the day. In addition, the traffic signal would be equipped withhard-wire preemption, allowing the fire station staff to control the signal from inside the firehouse or a firetruck at times when they are dispatched for an emergency.• Post Road (U.S. Route 1) at Relocated Delivery Drive – Relocating Delivery Drive would create a newunsignalized driveway along Post Road. The only vehicles using Delivery Drive would be Airport deliveryvehicles (approximately 35 vehicles per hour during the morning and evening peak hours). General trafficwould be prohibited from entering or exiting the Airport at this location. Because traffic volumes onDelivery Drive are low, a traffic signal is not warranted or recommended at this driveway. Without a signal,vehicles exiting Delivery Drive would operate at LOS F during the evening peak hour in 2015. However, theLOS F only applies to the 35 vehicles exiting Delivery Drive, not to the vehicles on Post Road (an average ofone vehicle every two minutes). General traffic on Post Road would not be affected. 360Effects on Freeway Segments and Ramps - 2015Since traffic volumes along all freeway segments, ramp merge and diverge areas, and freeway weave segments are notimpacted by Alternative B2 in 2015, capacity analysis results at these locations are identical to the No-Action Alternative.There would be no freeway segment, ramp merge and diverge area, or freeway weave segment capacity constraints onthe Airport Connector or Route 37. Further, there would be no locations that degrade to LOS E or LOS F.Parking Impacts - 2015In 2015, Alternative B2 would not impact the parking supply on the Airport. Alternative B2 would requireacquisition of property privately owned by Airport Valet (at 717 Airport Road) that is currently used for valetparking and holds approximately 180 vehicles. This property would be acquired for construction of the Runway16 RSA. Alternative B2 would also impact the facilities and operations in the rental car maintenance area, whichwould be bisected by the proposed alignment of Partially Relocated Airport Road. Rental car companies would360 Of the 35 vehicles, approximately 5 vehicles are expected to turn left and the remaining 30 vehicles are expected to turn right, based on observed trafficmovements. The 35 vehicles per hour average to about one vehicle every two minutes.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-126 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc