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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationIn 2025, the intersection would operate at LOS E during the morning peak hours and LOS F during eveningpeak hours under the No-Action Alternative, and would improve to LOS C during both periods under theAlternative B2. These improvements are a result of geometric and signal timing and phasing improvementsthat would be completed (as part of Fully Relocated Airport Road construction) to add capacity, reducedelays and vehicle queuing, and to assist turning maneuvers. 361• Main Avenue at Groveland Avenue – The 2025 morning peak hour operations would improve from LOS Bunder the No-Action Alternative to LOS A under Alternative B2. During the evening peak hour, operationswould improve from LOS C under the No-Action Alternative to LOS B under Alternative B2 in 2020 andfrom LOS D under the No-Action Alternative to LOS B under Alternative B2 in 2025. The improvementswould result primarily from minor traffic signal timing changes.• Main Avenue at Industrial Drive – The 2020 evening peak hour operations would improve from LOS Dunder the No-Action Alternative to LOS B under Alternative B2. In 2025, the No-Action Alternative isexpected to result in LOS E operation of this intersection during the evening peak hour. Alternative B2would improve intersection operations to LOS C. The improvement would result primarily from minortraffic signal timing changes.• Main Avenue at Jefferson Boulevard – The 2020 morning peak hour operations would improve from LOS Dunder the No-Action Alternative to LOS C under Alternative B2. The 2020 evening peak hour operationswould improve from LOS E under the No-Action Alternative to LOS D under Alternative B2. Theimprovement would result primarily from minor traffic signal timing. However in the 2025 morning andevening peak hours, this intersection is projected to continue to operate at LOS E under Alternative B2, asdiscussed in more detail in the next section.• Jefferson Boulevard at Coronado Road and Kilvert Street – In 2025, evening peak hour operations wouldimprove from LOS E under the No-Action Alternative to LOS D under Alternative B2. The improvement wouldresult primarily from minor traffic signal timing changes.In addition to improving operations at these seven locations, the termination of the existing Airport Road westof Harmony Court could allow for the removal of the traffic signal at the intersection of Airport Road and HadeCourt and Etta Street. Due to the decreased traffic volume on Airport Road (where the road is effectively adead-end to general traffic), this location would no longer meet the warrants for traffic signal operation.However, as part of the full design of this intersection, a formal approval process for removing a traffic signalwould have to be completed by RIAC and approved by RIDOT.One location with LOS E or LOS F capacity constraints under the No-Action Alternative would continue tooperate at LOS E or LOS F levels under Alternative B2:361 From 2002 to 2004, a total of 89 crashes occurred at this intersection, which is the second highest crash frequency of all the Study Area intersections (referto Table I.2-6 of Chapter I.2, Affected Environment, for the crash data from RIDOT records). This frequency likely results from long queues and the difficultyof making left turns at this intersection under existing conditions.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-130 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc