UMass Amherst CMP Transportation and Parking Appendix A

104 Pages·2017·6.47 MB·English

University of Massachusetts Amherst
ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst
Campus Planning Master Plans Campus Planning
2012
UMass Amherst CMP Transportation and Parking
Appendix A
Joseph Wanat
VHB, [email protected]
Dennis Swinford
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Niels la Cour
University of Massachusetts - Amherst, [email protected]
Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cp_masterplans
Part of theTransportation Engineering Commons
Wanat, Joseph; Swinford, Dennis; and la Cour, Niels, "UMass Amherst CMP Transportation and Parking Appendix A" (2012).
Campus Planning Master Plans. 6.
Retrieved fromhttps://scholarworks.umass.edu/cp_masterplans/6
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Transportation Study
University of Massachusetts
Amherst Master Plan

Appendix A:
Transportation Study

Prepared for University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst Massachusetts

Prepared by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Watertown, Massachusetts

July 2012
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. iii
List of Tables .......................................................................................................................... v
List of Figures ....................................................................................................................... vi
Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1
Transportation Framework ..................................................................................... 1
Study Area ................................................................................................................. 2
Summary of Recommendations ............................................................................. 2
External Access to Campus ................................................................................... 10
Interstate 90 ............................................................................................... 10
Interstate 91 ............................................................................................... 10
Route 9 ....................................................................................................... 10
Route 2 ....................................................................................................... 10
Route 116 ................................................................................................... 11
Campus Circulation and Access to Parking ....................................................... 11
North Pleasant Street ............................................................................... 11
Massachusetts Avenue ............................................................................ 12
Commonwealth Avenue ......................................................................... 12
Eastman Lane ............................................................................................ 12
Governors Drive ....................................................................................... 13
Service Access ......................................................................................................... 13
Pedestrian Network ............................................................................................... 13
Bicycle Network ...................................................................................................... 14
Transit Service ......................................................................................................... 14
On Campus Shuttle Bus Routes ............................................................. 16
Off Campus Bus Routes .......................................................................... 17
Road Safety Audit ................................................................................................................ 19
Objectives of Study ................................................................................................. 19
Road Safety Audit (RSA) Participants ................................................................. 20
Site Characteristics ................................................................................................. 21
Traffic Volumes ....................................................................................................... 22
Crash Data ............................................................................................................... 22
Identified Safety Issues and Recommended Improvements ............................ 27
Existing Conditions ............................................................................................................. 37
Existing Traffic Volumes ....................................................................................... 37
North Pleasant Street Origin Destination Survey Analysis .............................. 38
Future Conditions ................................................................................................................ 41
Background Traffic ................................................................................................. 41
Master Plan Development Program ..................................................................... 41
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Campus Generated Traffic by Phase .................................................................... 42
Traffic Operations Analysis ............................................................................................... 45
Level of Service Criteria ......................................................................................... 45
Existing Conditions ................................................................................................ 46
Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ............................................ 46
Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ....................................... 48
Future Conditions ................................................................................................... 49
Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ............................................ 50
Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ....................................... 59
Transportation Recommendations ................................................................................... 65
Mullins Way ............................................................................................................ 65
Mullins Way Extension (Phase 1) ........................................................... 65
Roundabout at North University Drive and Massachusetts Avenue
(Phase 1) ..................................................................................................... 67
North Pleasant Street ............................................................................................. 69
Complete Street for North Pleasant Street (Phase 1) ........................... 69
Roundabout at Massachusetts Avenue and North Pleasant Street
(Phase 1) ..................................................................................................... 71
Vehicular Restrictions on North Pleasant Street (Phase 3) ................. 72
Thatcher Way at North Pleasant Street (Phase 3) ................................ 73
Commonwealth Avenue ........................................................................................ 74
Add Bicycle Lanes (Phase 1) ................................................................... 74
Complete Street for Commonwealth Avenue (Phase 1) ..................... 75
Intersection Improvements at Commonwealth Avenue and
Massachusetts Avenue (Phase 1) ........................................................... 75
Roundabout at Commonwealth Avenue (Not Recommended) ........ 77
Commonwealth Avenue at Campus Center Way (Phase 1) .............. 79
Governors Drive/Eastman Lane (Phase 1) ......................................................... 79
Massachusetts Avenue Complete Street/Road Diet (Phase 1)......................... 80
New Parking Garages ............................................................................................ 81
New East-West Roadway Link (Phase 2) ............................................................ 82
Direct Shuttle Routes (Phase 1) ............................................................................. 82
Bicycle Path to North Amherst (Phase 1) ............................................................ 83
Ellis Way Pedestrian Improvements (Phase 2) ................................................... 83
Other Roadway Improvements (Phase 3) ........................................................... 84
Thatcher Way Improvements ................................................................. 84
Governors Drive Relocation ................................................................... 84
New Connection between Route 116 and Governors Drive with
Roundabout ............................................................................................... 85
Traffic Volume Networks .................................................................................................. 87

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List of Tables
Table No. Description Page

Table 1 Transportation and Parking Recommendations by Master Plan Phase ............ 5 
Table 2 Vehicular Crash Summary ..................................................................................... 25 
Table 3 Observed Weekday Traffic Volumes .................................................................... 37 
Table 4 North Pleasant Street License Plate Survey Results ........................................... 39 
Table 5 Traffic Volume Comparison -- North Pleasant and East Pleasant Streets ....... 39 
Table 6 Employment and Enrollment by Master Plan Phase ......................................... 41 
Table 7 Trip Generation by Phase ....................................................................................... 42 
Table 8 Intersection Level-of-Service Criteria ................................................................... 46 
Table 9 Existing Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ........................................... 47 
Table 10 Existing Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis .................................... 49 
Table 11 Phase 1 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis .......................................... 51 
Table 12 Phase 2 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis .......................................... 53 
Table 13 Phase 3 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis .......................................... 55 
Table 14 Phase 4 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis .......................................... 57 
Table 15 Phase 1 Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ..................................... 60 
Table 16 Phase 2 Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ..................................... 61 
Table 17 Phase 3 Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ..................................... 62 
Table 18 Phase 4 Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis ..................................... 63 
Table 19 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis – Massachusetts Avenue at
Commonwealth Avenue ...................................................................................................... 66 
Table 20 Unsignalized Intersection Capacity Analysis with Mullins Way Extension . 67 
Table 21 Roundabout Capacity Analysis – North University Drive at Massachusetts
Avenue ................................................................................................................................... 68 
Table 22 Capacity Analysis -- Massachusetts Avenue at North Pleasant Street .......... 72 
Table 23 Traffic Diversions with Closure of North Pleasant Street ............................... 73 
Table 25 Signalized Intersection Capacity Analysis -- Massachusetts Avenue at
Commonwealth Avenue ...................................................................................................... 76 
Table 24 Roundabout Capacity Analysis – Massachusetts Avenue at Commonwealth
Avenue ................................................................................................................................... 78 
Table 26 Parking Structures by Phase ................................................................................ 82
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List of Figures
Figure No. Description Page

Figure 1 Study Area ................................................................................................................ 3 
Figure 2 UMass Campus ........................................................................................................ 4 
Figure 3a Transportation and Parking Elements Master Plan Phase 1 ........................... 6 
Figure 3b Transportation and Parking Elements Master Plan Phase 2 ........................... 7 
Figure 3c Transportation and Parking Elements Master Plan Phase 3 ............................ 8 
Figure 3d Transportation and Parking Elements Master Plan Phase 4 ........................... 9 
Figure 4 Transit Service ........................................................................................................ 15 
Figure 5 Road Safety Audit Study Area ............................................................................ 19 
Figure 6 Typical Cross Section Recommended for North Pleasant Street. ................... 29 
Figure 7 Typical Bus Pullout Plan ...................................................................................... 31 
Figure 8 Recommended Massachusetts Avenue Cross Section ..................................... 33 
Figure 9 Three-Lane Cross Section for Commonwealth Avenue .................................. 36 
Figure 10 Commonwealth Avenue Cross Section with Mullins Way Extension ......... 36 
Figure 11 Existing Weekday Morning Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ...... at end of report 
Figure 12 Existing Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ....... at end of report 
Figure 13 Phase 1 Weekday Morning Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........ at end of report 
Figure 14 Phase 1 Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........ at end of report 
Figure 15 Phase 2 Weekday Morning Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ....... at end of report 
Figure 16 Phase 2 Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........ at end of report 
Figure 17 Phase 3 Weekday Morning Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ....... at end of report 
Figure 18 Phase 3 Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ........ at end of report 
Figure 19 Phase 4 Weekday Morning Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ....... at end of report 
Figure 20 Phase 4 Weekday Evening Peak Hour Traffic Volumes ......... at end of report
Figure 21 Planned Bicycle Improvements ......................................................................... 70 

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Introduction
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) has been retained by University of
Massachusetts (UMASS) Facilities and Campus Planning Department to evaluate the
transportation and parking components for the UMass Master Plan. Transportation
and Parking Appendix A focuses on the transportation component of the Master
Plan. The purpose of the transportation study is to describe conditions, project
future condition with Master Plan proposed development, identify existing and
future transportation deficiencies, and recommend enhancements and improvements
to improve safety and system operations. The Transportation Study includes traffic
operations, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and transit services. Appendix
B presents similar analyses of the UMass parking system. Each Appendix refers to
the other as appropriate to address various issues with both transportation and
parking components.

The transportation study is divided into two main sections:

 The Campus Today (Existing Conditions) – this section highlights the major
features of, and issues facing, the existing campus transportation system, and
 The Future Campus (Future Condition) – this section presents the Transportation
Plan, which addresses existing needs and supports the development of the
campus as presented in the Master Plan
Transportation Framework
The framework for analysis of the UMass transportation system follows the
following five principles:

 Think Pedestrian First
 Complete the Bicycle Network
 Enhance Transit Connections
 Complete the Streets
 Managing Traffic Effectively
This transportation study includes evaluation of each mode of the existing
transportation system, projection of the impacts of proposed Master Plan
development on the transportation system, identification and evaluation of potential
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improvements to address both existing and projected future deficiencies and
recommendations.
Study Area
The study area for the transportation study for the Master Plan for UMass Amherst
includes roadways on the campus as well as adjacent roadways. Figure 1 shows the
Study Area and the existing roadways providing access to the campus. Figure 2
shows the existing UMass campus, including buildings, parking and bus stops. The
major external routes to the University include Interstate-90, Interstate 91, Route 2,
Route 9 and Route 116. The major on-campus routes include North Pleasant Street,
Massachusetts Avenue, North University Drive, Commonwealth Avenue,
Governor’s Drive, Eastman Lane and East Pleasant Street. These facilities are
described in more detail below.
Summary of Recommendations
The recommended transportation and parking improvements are summarized by
Master Plan phase in Table 1. The recommendations include roadway, pedestrian,
bicycle, bus and parking improvements. The types of improvements include
complete streets, additional shuttle bus services, bicycle paths and lanes, enhanced
pedestrian accommodations, and four new parking garages to replace parking
displaced by campus development. The details of these recommended
improvements can be found in the Transportation Recommendations Section.
Appendix B Parking Study presents a detailed analysis of existing and future parking
conditions with Master Plan development. Figures 3a – 3d show the location and
extent of the proposed improvements by Master Plan phase of development.

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