1. Lower Braemere Through-Traffic Solutions Craig Jussel and Joe Konkol 2/10/2016

2. L. Braemere is a Local street not a “Collector” and is not Compliant with ACHD Policy Manual Section 7 Regarding Local Streets
“The primary function of a local street is to serve adjacent property.”
“Local street systems should be designed to minimize through traffic.”
(Local Street Section): “Through traffic may be discouraged by creating breaks in the local street pattern; by off-setting local street intersections; or by controlling access to major streets.”
Standard Local Street Design: 46 ft total width (36ft +10ft sidewalks) vs L. Braemere at 30 ft
The Braemere and Curling intersection is flawed as it ENCOURAGES through traffic on this local street

3. Highlands Area Collectors Highlighted Yellow
Local Street (L. Braemere)
Arterial (Bogus Basin Rd)
Yellow
Red
Green
Highlands Area

4. 1000+ Cars/day Take this Shortcut!
Cut-Through Traffic Avoids Higher Capacity Collector and Uses Sub Standard Streets
Intended Route
Cut Through Route
Upper Braemere
47 ft
Collector
Bogus Basin Rd
L. Curling
L. Braemere
Arterial
Collector
30 Ft
(no sidewalks, narrowest street in the Highlands)
50 Ft
(widest street in the Highlands)
Local
2610/Day
L. Highland View
36 Ft
(no sidewalks)
Collector
3390/Day
1000+ Cars/day Take this Shortcut!
*Measurements are for combined street and sidewalk

5. Lower Braemere Traffic is 82% Through Traffic
Yellow slice estimated by car observations at school time plus ACHD hourly count data. Red slice confirmed by ~45% observed x 2442
THIS SHORTCUT SAVES DRIVERS 20 SECONDS !
Current Daily Trips: 1425
Add Highlands Cove: 150
New Total: 1575
From U. Braemere and Curling intersection:
Via Curling -Bogus Basin -Park Hill to 15th and Hill: 3:17
Via L. Braemere to 15th and Hill: 2:57
Difference: :20
Based on 10/13 ACHD traffic data

6. Lower Highland View Traffic
97% of 1425 happens between 6 am and 10 pm
Lower Braemere Diversion would significantly help the lower Highland View traffic situation—the highest count in the Highlands and about to get worse
*1015 cars per day is approx. 86 cars per hour during waking hours
Total Daily Trips: 3390
Add Highlands Cove:
New Total: 3840

7. Traffic Far Exceeds Reasonable Levels for a Sub Standard Local Street
Highlands “Local” Streets
Narrowest
No Sidewalks
Sloped
Blind Rises and Corners
Steep Driveways
Unsafe Walking Conditions!
Highlands “Local” Streets
*Streetway widths include sidewalks for those streets that have them.

8. Lower Braemere is the Key Link in the Walking Route to School for Most of the Lower Highlands Area
L. Braemere was the predominant repeating theme in the 2016 Highlands Elementary Safe Routes to School prioritization process
265 households must contend with L. Braemere traffic while walking to school

9. Solutions Small steps to date have not changed traffic pattern
Must correct the core of the problem: flawed intersection encouraging too much traffic on a sub standard local street
Potential Options:
Recommended: Full or partial diversions (see photos)
Sidewalks: Do not address core problem of traffic volume and have cost and other tradeoffs
Others not effective alone but may be used in combination with diversion
Other physical changes
Signage/education
Petition: 100% of L. Braemere households

10. Possible Lower Braemere/Curling Intersections
Full Diversion
“Two Way Turn” Diversion
“One Way Turn” Diversion
Sidewalk to Ranch
Sidewalk to Ranch

11. Would a diversion cause more traffic and thus safety issues in front of the school?
Facts:
Less than 2 CARS PER MINUTE added during 15 minute dropoff periods is not significant. (per car count observations)
Could be as little as zero incremental if more people feel safe enough to walk to school on L. Braemere and/or change car trip times by a few minutes.
Survey showed at least 25 families would walk more if L Braemere was safer
During the other 23.5 hours/day there is no issue as kids are not out in front of the school (even during the school day and lunch hour they are not allowed).
The safety issue is NOW on L. Braemere
Major walking route to/from the lower Highlands to the school (>265 homes)
The Highlands Safe Routes to School Committee recently confirmed that L. Braemere has been the predominant theme in its 2016 prioritization process.
Many schools manage safely on much busier streets
Examples: Washington: 237% more traffic, Longfellow: 324% more, many schools are even greater and it does not automatically mean a safety issue if managed correctly (speed zones, crosswalks, flashing lights, crossing guards, etc)
ACHD actions will help further with school area safety and congestion (warning lights, crosswalks, possibly dropoff lane changes, etc)

12. Should the Traffic be On…
L. Braemere: kids can reach out and touch traffic
L. Curling: kids are safely away from traffic

13. Would Traffic be Added to Harrison Blvd?
Facts
Diverting traffic to Bogus Basin Road is not the same as sending it to Harrison.
Most former cut-through drivers will return to 15th, not Harrison
Drivers cut through L. Braemere now because they are heading toward downtown and/or for other reasons they prefer the 15th St. route. There is no reason to believe they would suddenly now take Harrison over 15th in any substantial numbers.
Once a driver is on Bogus Basin Rd it takes about 20 seconds to take Park Hill over to 15th. If the driver is going downtown they have to drive those two blocks east at some point in their route anyway, so there is actually no net time added to go to 15th from that point.
Cut-through drivers could easily take Harrison now but they do not. This does not change just because they start on Bogus Basin road.
When coming down Bogus Basin road traffic is often stacked up at the light going straight onto Harrison. It is actually easier to turn left onto Park Hill or Hill Road (flashing yellow left turn arrow) toward 15th than it is to go straight onto Harrison.
Minor adjustments could be made to encourage traffic to 15th if needed (sign on BB Rd, free right turn at Park Hill and Highland View, etc)

14. Petition In Support of Braemere Diversion
77 Households, 98 Signatures
100% of L. Braemere, 73% of Lower Highland View plus 29 other households from the lower Highlands area
Distribution diagram below: