Intersection turning movement surveys were conducted by Bunt & Associates at 20 key intersections during the weekday PM peak period (3:00 PM to 6:00 PM) peak hour period on April 9th and 10th, 2002. Additional data was obtained from the Highway 2A corridor study completed in 1999 by Stantec Consulting, and from Alberta Transportation, and daily traffic count data and vehicle classification information was collected at six Exhibit 4-1 locations using automatic traffic counters. Although the weather was not seasonal (snow had fallen in the previous week), conditions at the time of the counts were clear and there were no restrictions in travel evident either locally or regionally.(1)
The traffic count data was summarized so as to identify the peak hour at the intersections and average daily traffic volumes on roadway links. This is illustrated on Exhibits 4-2A through 4-2C. A comprehensive capacity analysis was undertaken. This specifically involved an assessment of key signalized and unsignalized intersections using Synchro 5.0, a traffic analysis software package based on the methods outlined in the Highway Capacity Manual. An analysis was also undertaken for the key roadway links using Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) recommendations regarding environmental capacity and roadway function.
[1] The schedule dictated by the request for proposals issued by the Town called for the project to be awarded in March with the first draft of recommendations due by the end of May. This schedule required that traffic count data be collected in late March or early April in order to remain on schedule. Since the weather in late March was uncooperative, the only opportunity to collect the traffic data was in early April. It was noted and understood that the project would be dependant upon the accuracy of this data, and so additional traffic data was collected in July of 2002 to determine what, if any, lift in daily traffic volumes would be expected. This is discussed in further detail later in the report.