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Smoother traffic?

We’re stopping less from 32nd St. to Elmore’s Corner
Pedestrians cross Camino del Rio at Seventh Street on Friday. The raised median was installed in 2014 during the construction of the continuous-flow intersection at U.S. Highways 550/160. A new study shows traffic is moving faster along an 11-mile stretch from 32nd Street to Elmore’s Corner, near Grandview.

Drivers are stopping and being delayed less on the stretch of road from 32nd Street to the U.S. Highway 160 and Colorado Highway 172 intersection, according to a study commissioned by the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The study, conducted by the independent firm Fehr & Peers, compared winter-signal timing from 2012 to winter-signal timing in 2014 – since the construction of the continuous-flow intersection at U.S. Highways 550 and 160 near the DoubleTree Hotel. The 11-mile stretch runs through Durango to Elmore’s Corner, past Grandview.

“The data show significant improvements in traffic flow along the corridor, even with increased traffic, and a reduction in overall travel time through this 11-mile section,” said Mike McVaugh, CDOT Region 5 traffic and safety engineer.

The data results for an average day show:

The number of stops per vehicle was reduced 32 percent, and up to 39 percent during the morning peak hours, from 6 to 8:30 a.m.

The delay per vehicle (the time the trip takes) was reduced by 33 percent, and up to 42 percent for the morning peak hours.

Emissions were reduced by up to 1 percent, and up to 1.6 percent during the afternoon peak hours, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Fuel consumption per vehicle was reduced by up to 1.2 percent, and up to 1.7 percent during the afternoon peak hours.

CDOT adjusts the signal timing every fall – generally in October – and spring – in mid-May – to adapt to changing traffic levels, spokeswoman Nancy Shanks said. Traffic can double at times during the summer, so CDOT lengthens the cycle of signals for U.S. Highway 550 and the 550/160 corridor.

“The CFI intersection is the busiest on the Western Slope and busier than many intersections on the Front Range,” she said, “because it’s the intersection of two U.S. highways.”

CDOT did a study on the revised summer-signal timing after the intersection was completely open in September, which showed similar results.

“We usually do a whole analysis – traffic counts and traffic patterns – and implement a new signaling plan every three to five years,” Shanks said.

CDOT installed several safety features for cyclists and pedestrians while building the continuous-flow intersection, including raised medians, interconnected and green bike lanes as well as green bike boxes, Shanks said.

“But we don’t know if accidents are up or down,” she said. “We do know that the intersection is configured for 35 mph because it’s in town. If drivers are going 35 mph, they will have plenty of time to react to signage and conditions. The features at the very least call motorists’ attention that there are vulnerable people walking or riding on lightweight pieces of metal, and they have as much right as motorists to use those highways.”

abutler@durangoherald.com

Dec 13, 2014
Flow study says it works


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