HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210243 19 Washington St. Development Site Plan Traffic Study Department of Public Safety
Traffic Maintenance Division
May 3th, 2021
To: Susan Barden, Principle Planner
From: Andrew Krupski,Traffic Maintenance Manager
RE: 19 Washing Street—Traffic Impact Study
The Developer for 19/23 Washington Street is proposing a modified Site Plan and Land Use, titled 19
Washington St. Development (Planning Board project#20210243),that is a considerable change from
the previously propose project that was titled 19/23 Washington Street Redevelopment (Adelphi Hotel
Expansion) Planning Board Project#20190595. The previous project application included a Traffic
Impact Study that was performed by CHA in May, 2015, CHA File: 28352.
Due to the significant change to the proposed project scope and land use, the original Traffic Impact
Study needs to be updated, or the Traffic Engineer needs to provide a supplement to the previous study
that reflect the new project conditions.
In the Site Plan Application,the Developer stated "Previously projects have been approved for a portion
of this site to include as many as 176 new hotel rooms and a 200 seat banquet hall.As well as modified
version of that approval to include 159 hotel rooms and 200 seat banquet hall. The most recent approval
for the Rip Van Dam project anticipated an increase in vehicular trips during the peak hour of 99 trips.
The current proposed project would see an increase of 81 trips during the peak hour. This development
presents a reduction in vehicular trips as compared to previously approved proposal and is producing less
trips than the previous. No modifications to the SEQRA should be needed". However,the Developer has
not included the supporting analysis for this conclusion.
Revisions to the original Traffic Study should include;
1. Project description
2. No Build Traffic Volumes.The original report indicated 2017 as the No Build/Build date.
Background traffic conditions need to be adjusted to reflect the new anticipated Build Date.
3. Proposed Conditions
4. Trip Generation
5. Include the proposed new driveways in the study area
6. Capacity analysis, including vehicle queues for the previously established study area
7. Conclusion
Additional traffic study will be needed for the two new proposed parking deck driveways.
A. There needs to be a driveway intersection Sight Distance Evaluation Study performed for the
two new driveways for both drivers exiting the building, and pedestrians walking along the
north side of Washington Street. The size and close proximity of the buildings support columns
to both the driveways and sidewalk is a concern.
B. The proposed driveways appear to only have a 10 foot long ramp landing that is level with the
street before the sidewalk.This will place longer vehicles at an elevated angle to the street,
could this condition impact sight distance, or create a situation where the drive might not stop
before the sidewalk?
C. The plans show the upper parking deck has an overhead garage door, will there be detection
placed in the exit travel lane to prevent the door from closing until the vehicle has cleared the
driveway?
D. The propose plan calls for the installation of No Left Turn signs to be place at the driveway exits.
It is unclear whether these signs are being proposed due to traffic conditions along Washington
Street, or to reduce the amount of time the overhead door needs to remain open. In any event
these signs will likely be ignored by drivers.The property management should institute a policy
to monitoring its residents and patrons, and motivating compliance with these signs, as the City
will not enforce these signs unless they are added to the City Code, due to identified safety
issues or negative traffic impact.