Intersection Improvements
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US Route 2/302 Intersection Improvements subsection links Main Page | Conceptual Design and Project Plans | Evaluation of Alternatives |
Evaluation of Alternatives
After holding both local and regional concerns meetings, an exhaustive list of alternatives was developed and examined by a study committee comprised of the City, CVRPC and adjacent landowner representatives. Due to the large number of commercial and residential driveways in close proximity to the intersection, special consideration was taken as part of the design improvement alternatives. Once a list of alternatives was created the committee then decided on the three most feasible alternatives.
| DO-NOTHING 3-WAY (Optimized Signal Timings) |
SIGNALIZED 4-WAY (Protected + Permitted Phasing) |
ROUNDABOUT 5-WAY (One Lane) |
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| Preliminary Cost Estimate | $0 | $845,000 | $825,000 |
| Maintenance and Operational Costs | $1,150 / year (signal related) | $2,500 / year (signal related) Slightly higher than existing plowing costs due to additional turning lanes. | $0 per year (signal related) Moderately higher than existing snow plowing costs, use of loader may be required to remove snow. |
| Accident Costs | $316,300 per year | $241,700 per year | $178,200 per year |
| User Delay (2015 PM Peak Hour) | 4,976 vehicle minutes per hour (Signal 97) | 11,857 vehicle minutes per hour (Signal 97) | 1,428 vehicle minutes per hour (SIDRA) 1,222 vehicle minutes per hour (RODEL) |
| Energy Consumption | 26.4 gallons per hour* (signalized movements only) | 142.3 gallons per hour | 49.4 gallons per hour |
| Air Pollution (2015 PM Peak Hour) | 26.7 kg CO Em per hour (signalized movements only) | 301.2 kg CO Em per hour | 34.2 kg CO Em per hour |
| Lighting | No intersection lighting exists | Two new pole mounted metal halide fixtures | Three new metal halide fixtures mounted on free standing poles |
| Hydraulics | Existing pavement area = 73,400 square feet | New pavement area = 68,000 square feet | New pavement area = 64,250 square feet |
| Total Disturbance | 0 Acres | 2.27 Acres | 2.23 Acres |
| * Energy Consumption and Air Pollution estimates for the do-nothing alternative include signalized movments only. Vehicles using the eastbound right-turn lane on US Route 2 and using the crossover area between US Route 2 and US 302 are not included. | |||
A five-leg roundabout was chosen by the Montpelier City Council, the Central Vermont Regional Transportation Agency Committee and the Project Study Committee and was approved by the VTrans Project Development Team as the preferred alternative. The proposed roundabout included two approaches for Route 2, one for Route 302, one for Walker Motors and one for the Grossman parcel. The intersection would be initially constructed as a single-lane roundabout designed to accommodate the largest permitted truck. The roundabout would also be designed such that it could be expanded to a two-lane roundabout in the future if necessary with minimal changes. This alternative was chosen because it has the potential to meet all the goals of the study conducted. More specifically the scoping study indicates that:
- The occurrence of injury and fatality accidents at a roundabout is lower than at a signalized or stop sign or controlled intersection;
- Both the Walker Motors and Grossman parcel approaches would be safer than their existing access points;
- Due to the geometry of the approaches, there would be room for Irving Oil to install an exclusive left-turn land on US Route 302 if needed for any proposed development on their site;
- Shorter queues are anticipated on US Route 2 with the roundabout alternatives, which creates less potential for driveway obstruction;
- There would be room across the Winooski River bridge for a sidewalk to connect the Winooski East Path with the with the roundabout alternative;
- There would be room for a sidewalk and bike lanes from Pioneer Street to the intersection (3 lanes become two on US Route 2 leaving room for the sidewalk and bike lanes); and
- A roundabout would provide a traffic calming effect and would serve as a gateway to slow traffic entering Montpelier.
For More Information
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Lamoureux & Dickinson Jody Carriere 14 Morse Drive Essex Junction, VT 05452 (802) 878-4450 Jody@LDengineering.com |
City of Montpelier Public Works Department Tom McArdle 39 Main Street, City Hall Montpelier, VT 05062-2950 (802) 223-9508 tmcardle@montpelier-vt.org |
Updated August 8, 2005
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