12 Sep 2004:  Traffic Study 

As many of you may know, as part of the new Arcola Elementary School project, a Traffic
Impact Analysis was completed in June.  I finally got a copy of the study.  Overall the
report is rather dry and since I don’t have much experience in traffic studies, I found it
a little confusing in places.  If any of you have any experience or interest in reviewing
the study for the community, that would be great.  I hope to post key portions of the
study on our web site soon.

Basically, the report says that the new school, the new housing development at the Good
Counsel site (189 new housing units), and the new rescue station on Arcola Ave.  will not
adversely impact traffic operations in our community.  If I am reading the analysis
correctly, the report indicates that the new housing development will have a minor impact
on traffic on Arcola.  I noticed that the Orebaugh/Arcola intersection was not considered
in the study.  It appears that as a result of this report we may not get a new traffic
light at the Channing/Arcola intersection as many of us were hoping.

There are a couple of interesting tidbits of information in the study.  For example there
is a planned Road Improvement at the Arcola/Georgia Ave.  intersection.  A project to
widen the east leg of the intersection and improve the westbound approach of Arcola Ave by
providing separate left, thru and right turn lanes is planned in FY 2005.  Hopefully this
will improve what I consider a horrible intersection.  Also, the report notes that there
are currently 250 students at the Washington Christian Academy.  The new Arcola Elem.
will have approximately 645 (if they don’t add portables!)


from Ed Murtagh