This presentation for the Pyramid Way/McCarran Boulevard

This presentation for the Pyramid Way/McCarran Boulevard Intersection
Improvement Environmental Impact Statement Study (EIS) was provided to the
RTC Board of Commissioners at their November 20, 2009, meeting.
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As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Truckee Meadows, the
RTC is responsible for developing the long range transportation plan (RTP) to
accommodate growth for the next 30 years. This effort is repeated every five years
or so, and the most recent was completed in 2008.
This slide shows the city of Sparks in 1976 or about 30 years ago.
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This slide shows the tremendous amount of change that can happen in 30 years.
None of the major roadways shown on this slide existed at the time, development of
Spanish Springs and Wingfield Springs did not exist, and Pyramid Highway was a
narrow two lane road.
The photograph is representative of Sparks 1976
1976.
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This aerial photo shows the enormous amount of growth that has taken place since
1976 just within Sparks proper. The pattern of dense neighborhoods and
commercial centers repeats itself to the north as far as La Posada Drive and Calle
de la Plata. This image does not show the Legends development and other recent
changes which have occurred even during the current economic slowdown.
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This slide (taken from the RTC-5 educational outreach presentation to the
community in 2008) identified this EIS as an accelerated priority project.
The RTC-5 indexed fuel tax initiative passed by voters in 2008 was designed to
provide funding for future road projects and accelerate projects to meet current and
future needs. The Pyramid/McCarran intersection was identified as a priority project
which could be accelerated if the initiative was passed. The cost shown in the slide
was a construction estimate and did not include right-of way acquisition costs.
For your information, the use of stimulus funds for the Meadowood Way interchange
(US 395/I-580) has been approved, and the project will go to bid in January. The
Vista Boulevard widening is under construction, and the bids for that project came in
at half the engineers’
g
estimate.
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Additional priority projects that could be accelerated with RTC-5 funding (this slide
also from RTC-5 educational outreach to the community in 2008).
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This is an aerial photo of the Pyramid McCarran intersection in 1976. At that time,
McCarran Boulevard terminated at the Pyramid Highway. Wedekind Road was a
main route over to Reno. Backyard fences overlooked a quiet, two lane Pyramid
Highway.
Development occurred as a result of the Lepori Ranch being sold to Lewis Homes
who would develop the future Village Green Subdivision.
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This map illustrates the Pyramid/McCarran intersection EIS project area today. The
term ‘intersection project’ is a misnomer because this project encompasses five
other intersections as well: Queen Way, Rock Boulevard, Roberta Lane, York Way,
and 4th Street.
The area is now home to thriving neighborhoods, shopping centers, schools, and
churches.
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A purpose and need statement is the foundation on which a project is analyzed,
designed and constructed.
Given the congestion and crash issues at this intersection, Pyramid/McCarran is
considered one of the “worst” in the Truckee Meadows.
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This slide illustrates the crash rates at the Pyramid/McCarran intersection. This
intersection has 2.5 to 3 times the crash rate for typical intersections of this type.
10
This slide lists the conceptual alternatives that were evaluated to address the needs
at the intersection. These were developed by local Project consultant, Parsons,
RTC staff, and the EIS project Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TAC is
made up of engineers, planners, traffic, environmental, and right-of-way specialists
from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), RTC, City of Sparks, and
Washoe County.
Of the conceptual alternatives evaluated, only three fulfilled all the requirements of
the purpose and need, without excessive cost or right-of-way needs.
Some concepts, the Reversible Lanes, Roundabouts, and the Southbound Right
Turn Lane were studied in detail because although they did not meet the long term
goals of the project,
g
j
they
y did provide some immediate benefit for much less cost
rather than waiting until the full project was completed. The Southbound Right Turn
Lane was carried forward as a project but has been suspended due to right-of-way
needs.
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The Northwest Cutoff concept was looked at with possible tie-ins to Rock
Boulevard, Wedekind Road or El Rancho Drive. Because of the steep terrain, the
costs associated with building this road would be very high.
Additionally, the Pyramid Highway/US 395 Connector project (red line) may fulfill the
same function within this corridor.
12
Since the project started, the RTC has held five public meetings for the project.
An EIS Project Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) made up of users and
neighborhood members was established to assist the RTC through the project
development process. The CAC has met four times.
Project updates were made to the Sparks Citizen Advisory Committee
Committee, Sparks City
Council and the Washoe County Commission. Finally, numerous one on one
meetings with residents, businesses and other property owners have been held at
RTC offices, as well as in homes and churches.
The RTC will continue to hold public meetings in the future.
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The current build alternatives under evaluation are:
• Eastbound to Northbound Direct Connector (Flyover Ramp)
• Expanded At-Grade Intersection
• Grade Separation (Pyramid over McCarran)
As part of the environmental process a “no-build” alternative must also be evaluated
against the “build” concepts.
14
The direct connector uses a one-way flyover to take the east to north traffic out of
the intersection. This is one of the major sources of congestion during the evening
peak traffic period.
15
This rendering illustrates what the Direct Connector structure may look like. The
view is looking to the northwest from the southeast corner of the intersection.
16
The Expanded At-Grade intersection adds more travel lanes and turn lanes to
accommodate the traffic at the intersection.
17
The Grade Separation alternative uses a bridge structure to carry traffic over
McCarran Boulevard.
18
This rendering shows a view of the Pyramid Highway bridge structure looking to the
east on McCarran Boulevard, west of the intersection.
19
The table in the slide shows the results of a travel analysis based on projected
future traffic levels that confirm, without improvement of the intersection, the
congestion and travel delays at the intersection will continue to increase.
The intersection currently operates at Level of Service (LOS) F (A being the best)
during peak periods, and this condition will worsen for longer periods of time in the
future. The southbound travel times and queue lengths show the time and miles to
travel 5 miles from La Posada to the intersection during peak periods. These
conditions are occurring today. The build alternatives all reduce the travel times to
what occurs today during off-peak periods.
VISSIM refers to a traffic modeling software program that creates visual images of
projected congestion along road segments and intersections.
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The right-of -way (ROW) in the Pyramid corridor is very restricted, as well as on
McCarran east of the intersection. As a result, ROW will need to be acquired to
build the project. Previous widenings on these roads have taken most of the
available property but did not include taking structures. For this project, entire
property acquisition will be required which will include residences and businesses.
It should be noted that all three build alternatives have similar footprints and
therefore similar ROW implications. Approximately 70 residential properties and 40
commercial properties could be affected by the project depending on the alignment.
Aligning the Pyramid improvements to the east predominantly impacts residential
properties; aligning Pyramid improvements to the west impacts many more
commercial properties. Aligning
g g McCarran to the north has the least impact on
residential properties to the east of the intersection.
21
Listed are the 4 alignments under evaluation for each alternative.
22
This alignment shows Pyramid aligned to the east and McCarran to the north.
23
This alignment shows Pyramid aligned to the east and McCarran to the mid-south.
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This alignment shows Pyramid aligned to the west and McCarran to the north.
25
This alignment shows Pyramid aligned to the west and McCarran to the mid-south.
26
Preliminary evaluation of the right-of-way property acquisition costs indicate the
west alignment (predominantly commercial properties) has an estimated cost of $36
million; the east alignment (predominantly residential) has an estimated cost of $24
million.
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The congested conditions and delays at this intersection impacts local residents and
commuters today. The improvements being considered are designed to benefit not
only present and future commuters, but also local residents.
In addition to the congestion issues, the negative conditions for local residents
include:
• Poor Pedestrian Accommodations – No sidewalks
sidewalks, sidewalks that go nowhere
nowhere, or
sidewalks adjacent to the traffic stream. At the intersection there are wheelchair
access ramps that exit on to the dirt.
• Bicycle Accommodations – Bike lanes are non-existent in many parts of the
intersection.
• General Aesthetics – The overall intersection is hostile for anyone but moving
cars Additionally
cars.
Additionally, the current conditions for commuters does not meet their needs
and is unsafe.
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Examples of the poor existing conditions.
29
Examples of the poor existing conditions.
30
This image shows Pyramid looking south. C&G Nursery is on the right and Mercy
Court is on the left.
31
This is a rendering of the Expanded At-Grade alternative at the same location.
Amenities with the new construction will include parkways, landscaping, bike lanes
and sound walls/visual screens.
Community participation in the design and inclusion of the type of amenities shown
here for example is very important. The RTC will outreach to local residents to
gather input to ensure that locally preferred design components are built.
32
This rendering shows a potential sound wall or visual screen design featuring desert
flora and appropriate landscaping.
33
These photos of southwest McCarran Boulevard in southwest Reno show an
example of the type of landscaping that could be installed in the Pyramid/McCarran
corridor.
34
These photos demonstrate an improved pedestrian amenity and landscaping
improvements when the sidewalk is separated from the roadway by a parkway.
35
Please contact the EIS project manager shown here if you have any questions or
comments about this presentation and the EIS project.
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Visit www.rtcwashoe.com, click on Hot Topics/Pyramid Corridor for a menu of
options on projects/studies in the Pyramid Corridor, including the Pyramid/McCarran
intersection Improvement EIS Project.
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