MEMORANDUM
Date:
January 6, 2010
TG:
08099.00
To:
Nuru Tuku, Seattle Department of Transportation
From:
Mike Swenson, Transpo Jesse Birchman
cc:
Mike Boonsripisal, King County Metro
Subject:
Howell Street Transit Lane Alternatives Analysis – Arterial Travel Time Results This memorandum presents the arterial travel time/speed results for the analysis of BAT/Transit Only lanes along Howell Street in Seattle, WA. At the request of Seattle Department of Transportation Staff (SDOT), the arterial travel time/speed results for the Howell Street and Stewart Street corridors were output from the Synchro models used for the analysis presented in the December 9, 2010 analysis summary memorandum which subsequently were resubmitted via email
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with minor edits made based on comments from SDOT staff. The forecast arterial travel time/speed results are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Average Arterial Travel Time (m:ss) & Speed (mph)
Alternative
AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour EB Howell WB Howell WB Stewart EB Howell WB Howell WB Stewart Existing
7.0 mph 3:49 6.0 mph 3:23 6.3 mph 2:58 5.9 mph 4:31 5.3 mph 3:47 5.6 mph 3:21
Alt 1
No Contra & BAT Lane on N Curb 7.3 mph 3:39 - 6.7 mph 2:50 6.4 mph 4:11 - 8.6 mph 2:11
Alt 2
With Contra & BAT Lane on 2nd Lane from S Curb- - - 3.6 mph 7:27 6.3 mph 3:13 8.6 mph 2:12
Alt 3
No Contra & BAT Lane on 2nd Lane from S Curb 7.6 mph 3:32 - 6.7 mph 2:49 6.8 mph 3:57 - 8.2 mph 2:17
The arterial operations results presented in Table 1 are similar to the LOS results presented to date. All alternatives improve arterial travel speeds relative to existing conditions except for Alternative 2, and Alternative 3 provides the greatest overall benefit to general purpose traffic. As the results of the LOS analysis indicated, Alternative 3 allows for improved transit travel times and reliability with the smallest impact to general purpose traffic within the study area. Note that due to the limitations of the Synchro/LOS analysis, the direct impact of the recommended alternative on transit travel times and reliability has not been quantified in Table 1. As discussed in the previous memorandum, the existing conditions VISSIM model which models the unique traffic operations along the Howell Street corridor is available should the direct impacts of the selected alternative be necessary to quantify travel time benefits to and transit vehicles.
M:\08\08099 KC Speed & Reliability Program\WO6 - Howell Analysis\Documents\Memos\Howell Street Arterial MOE 2011-01-06.docx
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Email from M. Swenson to N. Tuku dated December 14, 2010.
NOT TO SCALEM:\08\08099 KC Speed & Reliability Program\WO6 - Howell Analysis\Graphics\CAD\08099_WO6_graphic01 <Att_A1> jesseb 12/02/10 11:25
Alternative 1 - No Howell Street Contra-Flow Lane & North Curb Bus Only Lane
9 t h A v e T e r r y A v e B o r e n A v e B o r e n A v e M i n o r A v e Y a l e A v e
A1
Howell Street BAT/Transit Only Lane
M:\08\08099 KC Speed & Reliability Program\WO6 - Howell Analysis\Graphics\CAD\08099_WO6_graphic01 <Att_A2> jesseb 12/02/10 11:26
Alternative 2 - Maintain Howell Street Contra-Flow Lane & Bus Only Lane in Second Lane from South Curb
A2
NOT TO SCALE
Howell Street BAT/Transit Only Lane
9 t h A v e T e r r y A v e B o r e n A v e B o r e n A v e M i n o r A v e Y a l e A v e