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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo to Moore on Alexander Road Feb 2014t5t City of Little Rock Department of Planning and Development Planning 723 West Markham Street Zoning and Uttle Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 Subdivision Phone: (501) 371-4790 Fax: (501) 399-3435 or 371-6863 MEMORANDUM TO: BRUCE T. MOORE, CITY MANAGER FROM: TONY BOZYNSKI, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT: ALEXANDER ROAD STREET CLASSIFICATION DATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2014 Per Director Wyrick's request, Staff reviewed the Master Street Plan in southwest Little Rock in the gcncral arca of Vimy Ridgc Road south of Interstate 30. The review was to determine if Alexander Road, west of Vimy Ridge Road could be reclassified from a Minor Arterial to a Collector on the Master Street Plan. Arterials are intended to create a network of roads to move vehicles in and around the metropolitan area. These roads move vehicles long to moderate distances. Generally such roads are at a spacing of no more than one -mile in distance from another arterial to efficiently move traffic. In the case of Alexander Road, the closest Arterial is Stagecoach Road some 4000 plus feet (three-quarters of a mile or more) away. Due to the rail - line, floodways, and Interstate 30 to the north there is no location north of Alexander to place an arterial. (And these prevent Stagecoach from providing the services of an Arterial to this area.) To the south, the topography and existing single-family subdivisions prevent an alternative arterial location. (Attached is the minor arterial description from the Master Street Plan.) Staff estimates there is some 260 acres of vacant residential zoned land that will take access to this portion of Alexander Road. The density of single-family subdivisions was reviewed and found to range from five -lots per acre to three -lots per two -acres. The traffic volumes generated would range from a low of just under 4000 daily trips to over 13,000 daily trips. The most likely density of single-family homes is the mid-range around two homes per acre or the addition of over 5000 trips per day. The current (2014) traffic volume for Alexander Road is approximately 1200 trips per day. The new subdivision on Vimy Ridge Road, just south of Alexander Road, is at the five -lots per acre density. The design volumes for Arterials are in the neighborhood of 18,000 trips per day. The current traffic volume on this section of Alexander Road is 1200 vehicles per day. With built -out of the surrounding land, the estimated traffic volume on Alexander Road would be greater than the service volume for a Collector and approaching the design volumes for an Arterial. Staff believes there is a justification and need for an Arterial road in this general area and that there is not an alternative to Alexander Road serving this purpose. Therefore, Staff recommends that the current classification of a Minor Arterial for Alexander Road not be changed. If additional information is needed, please advise. MINOR ARTERIALS FUNCTION: The Minor Arterials provide the connections to and through an urban area. Their primary function is to provide short distance travel within the urbanized area. Generally these roads are spaced at one mile intervals and have a right-of-way of 90 feet. Since a Minor Arterial is a high volume road, a minimum of 4 travel lanes is required. Current platted Master Street Plan Minor Arterials are five lane sections. At the time of redevelopment via boundary street widening, platting or public funded reconstruction, a change in the section may be desirable. Applicants wishing to change the five lane section to either a four lane section with bike lanes or a divided four lane section may do so through an amendment to the Master Street Plan. Newly created or existing Minor Arterials that have not been partially constructed may select either of the three approved sections at the time of preliminary plat application. A lesser standard may be acceptable in areas of rugged topography or other areas where development will be limited. This lesser standard can only be used in cases where unusual conditions would substantially reduce or eliminate the amount of direct access to the road and substantially reduce the density of surrounding development. The standard Minor Arterial is to be used in all cases except where .the City Staff and Planning Commission find an unusual condition occurs. The curb cuts should allow both a continuous flow of traffic and access to adjoining property. See page 15 for a list of Minor Arterials with special design standards.