| Agenda Item: | 10.
| | Agenda Title: | Discuss and consider action on the Vail Divide Drive and Falconhead Traffic Analysis
| Council Action:
| Discuss and Consider Action
| | Department: | Planning and Development
| | Staff Contact: | Kevin Sawtelle, City Engineer
|
1. INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE
In the Spring of 2023, the City hired Rodriguez Transportation Group (RTG) to perform a traffic analysis which studied the traffic patterns at the intersection of Vail Divide and SH 71 and throughout the Falconhead and Falconhead West neighborhoods pre and post completion of the Vail Divide Extension. Traffic observations and vehicular counts were taken prior to school summer dismissal in May of 2023 before the extension was open to the public in June and again in November of 2023 to compare the patterns.
Additionally, RTG evaluated potential pros and cons to adding a right turn lane on southbound Vail Divide leg of the intersection with SH 71. Those findings are detailed in the enclosed report and briefly in the Executive Summary provided under "Issues and Analysis" below.
2. DESCRIPTION/JUSTIFICATION
a) Background
There is concern within the community that the extension of Vail Divide would cause an increase in the number of non-resident vehicules utilizing the Falconhead neighborhoods as a preferred route when trying to reach destinations west of the Vail Divide and HPR intersection from RR 620 and Falconhead Blvd and vice versa. The enclosed report discusses the findings using traffic count data and also comparing actual drive times starting at RR 620 and Cavalier Drive and ending at Vail Divide and HPR using the three routes as follows:
- via 620 through the Falconhead neighborhoods onto the Vail Divide extension
- via 620 to Bee Cave Parkway and continuing on HPR
- via 620 to SH 71 and turning left onto HPR
b) Issues and Analysis
The major findings of the enclosed study are:
1. Before and after traffic volumes through the Falconhead neighborhood were virtually unchanged.
2. During the AM peak, travel times from Hamilton Pool Road (HPR) at Vail Divide to Lake Travis High School were the longest via the route through the Falconhead neighborhoods versus the other two options:
o HPR to Bee Cave Pkwy/RM 620
o HPR to SH 71 to RM 620
3. During the PM peak, travel times from Lake Travis High School to the HPR at Vail Divide intersection were consistently fastest through Bee Cave Pkwy.
o The route through the Falconhead neighborhood was the slowest when Lake Travis High School was dismissed at approximately 4:15 PM.
o Travel times through the Falconhead neighborhood and the route from RM 620 to SH 71 was very similar at 5PM, as well as 5:30 PM.
A Synchro analysis and field observations were made to determine the impacts of constructing a right- turn lane on SB Vail Divide at SH 71 as part of this study as well. The right-turn lane did not result in significant improvement to the level of service. Furthermore, the preliminary cost estimate for adding the RTL is approximately $250,000 and there would be significant impacts to utilities in the right-of-way and the aesthetics/landscaping of the Falconhead West Entrance.
3. FINANCIAL/BUDGET
| Amount Requested | | | Fund/Account No. | | | Cert. Obligation | | | GO Funds | | | Other source | | | Grant title
| | | Addtl tracking info | |
4. TIMELINE CONSIDERATIONS
5. RECOMMENDATION
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