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

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) EvaluationUnder Alternative B2 in 2015, the only roadway segment that would experience a change in AADT would be PostRoad between Pell Avenue and Connecticut Avenue. The largest increases in traffic volume in 2020 and 2025would occur on Route 37 and Fully Relocated Airport Road under Alternative B2. This is a result of a regional shiftin traffic patterns that is made possible by the improved east-west connection Fully Relocated Airport Road wouldprovide. On three roadway segments, traffic is expected to decrease in both 2020 and 2025. One segment (PostRoad between Airport Connector and Coronado Road) would result in decreased traffic demand in 2020.Table 5-70Alternatives B2 and B4 Compared to the No-Action Alternative: 2015, 2020, and2025 AADT SummaryAverage Annual Daily Traffic2015 2020 2025B2 B4B2 B4B2No-Action Change Change No-Action Change Change No-Action ChangeLocation(vpd) (vpd) (vpd) (vpd) (vpd) (vpd) (vpd) (vpd)Route 37 between I-95 and Post Road56,7000 +100 57,500 +12,700 +4,900 58,500 +12,600Ai rport Road between Post Road and Commerce Dri ve 135,4000 +100 36,000 +5,000 +2,900 36,600 +4,700Post Road between Pell Avenue and Connecti cut Avenue 40,500 -1,400 +100 41,000 -13,600 +3,500 41,500 -14,100Post Road between Coronado Road and Haverford Road 33,5000 +900 34,100 +300 +3,700 34,400 +400Post Road between Ai rport Connector and Coronado Road 33,8000 +300 35,000 -100 +2,900 35,800 +400Jefferson Boulevard between Ai rport Connector and Coronado Road 13,2000 0 13,4000 +1,100 13,600 +400Ai rport Connector between Jefferson Boulevard and Post Road 38,0000 +1,100 40,300 -1,000 +3,400 42,300 -1,800Ai rport Connector between I-95 and Jefferson Boulevard 50,6000 +1,100 53,200 -1,100 +4,600 55,700 -2,000Main Avenue between Post Road and Industri al Drive29,8000 +100 30,200 +500 +2,600 30,700 +200Source: VHB, Inc. using the Rhode Island Statewide Travel Demand Model.Note: Bold cells denote a decrease in daily traffic.AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic, expressed in vehicles per day.vpd vehicles per day.1 For Alternative B2, Airport Road refers to Fully Relocated Airport Road, not Existing Airport Road. For Alternative B4, Airport Road refers to Partially RelocatedAirport Road.B4Change(vpd)+4,700+2,700+3,300+3,700+2,800+1,100+3,300+4,500+2,500Alternative B4 would result in increased traffic on all roadway segments studied in 2015, 2020, and 2025, as compared tothe No-Action Alternative. The increases would result from additional Airport-related trips to and from the Study Area.Effects on VMT and VHTTable 5-71 summarizes how Alternatives B2 and B4 would affect VMT and VHT for the Study Area whencompared to the No-Action Alternative in 2015, 2020, and 2025. Alternative B2 would result in a minor decreasein VMT and no change in VHT in 2015 since none of the proposed safety changes increase traffic to the Airport.Under Alternative B4, both VMT and VHT would increase in 2015 because of the increase in vehicular tripsattributable to construction of the runway extension.In 2020 and 2025, both VMT and VHT would decrease for Alternatives B2 and B4 because the off-Airport roadwayalignment modifications would offset the increase in vehicular trips from Airport-related traffic. The off-Airportroadway modifications would result in shorter trip lengths over less congested roadways. The reductions in VMTand VHT are greater under Alternative B2, because this alternative would include more substantive roadwayimprovements than Alternative B4. The number of trips would be the same under Alternatives B2 and B4,although mobility is improved under Alternative B2 due to Fully Relocated Airport Road.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-143 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc