cbauman
11-02-2008, 07:21 AM
Northeast Area Traffic Problems
A recent mailer supporting the Sebastopol's Northeast Plan proposal hit in Sebastopol mailboxes on Friday. It states that traffic problems are inevitable whether or not the Northeast Plan is implemented. So why worry about.
The analysis of traffic patterns mentioned in mailer uses LOS (Level of Service) system. Level-of-service (LOS) is a measure-of-effectiveness by which traffic engineers determine the quality of service at a specific location or intersection. The transportation LOS system uses the letters A through F, with A being best and F being worst.
Predictions are that every intersection on Healdsburg Ave. will be at Level of Service F within a few years. The claim is that, because the Level of Service is deteriorating anyway, the addition of the Northeast Plan in Sebastopol as well as other approved developments will not make a measurable difference.
DON'T BE FOOLED!
You can have unbelievable traffic jams and still ihave traffic conditions categorized at LOS F because:
Wikipedia: LOS F is the lowest measurement of efficiency for a road's performance. Flow is forced; every vehicle moves in lockstep with the vehicle in front of it, with frequent drops in speed to nearly zero mph. Technically, a road in a constant traffic jam would be at LOS F. This is because LOS does not describe an instant state, but rather an average or typical service. For example, a highway might operate at LOS D for the AM peak hour, but have traffic consistent with LOS C some days, LOS E or F others, and come to a halt once every few weeks. However, LOS F describes a road for which the travel time cannot be predicted. Facilities operating at LOS F generally have more demand than capacity.
The reality is that without city mitigation of existing roads, the addition of the Northeast Plan traffic will create:
1) Increased frequency of Gridlock,
2) Expanded use of roads not meant for heavy travel, used as informal bypasses to avoid downtown area,
3) The potential loss of income due to loyal consumers from outlying areas going elsewhere at certain times because they don't want to wade through traffic for 1/2 hour or so to get downtown shopping or to use other facilities,
4) The increased business competition in communities such as Graton who will cater to people not wanting to shop in congested Sebastopol,
5) Future city administrations having to raise and spend additional money/taxes on safety features such as traffic signals for pedestrians and bicyclists. Safety issues for pedestrians on the 'West Side' of the Northeast area will increase.
6) Future city administrations having to raise money/tax spending on increased infrastructure such as parking garages at edges of town with buses running into center, round abouts, widening and paving of roads, or parking meters, etc. to accommodate the larger volume of cars and bicycles,
7) Significant noise and air pollution increases.
Also remember the Northeast Plan is not the only development plan that will add traffic to Sebastopol Streets in the future.
FYI: Traffic is heavy because Sebastopol has two major highways Hwy 116-Healdsburg/Main St. and Hwy 12-Bodega Ave. running through it as conduits for North Bay destinations.
If anyone in the City Planning Department has specifics on how the City is going to concretely address the above mentioned problems let me know.
Thanks. Chris
Edit Post
A recent mailer supporting the Sebastopol's Northeast Plan proposal hit in Sebastopol mailboxes on Friday. It states that traffic problems are inevitable whether or not the Northeast Plan is implemented. So why worry about.
The analysis of traffic patterns mentioned in mailer uses LOS (Level of Service) system. Level-of-service (LOS) is a measure-of-effectiveness by which traffic engineers determine the quality of service at a specific location or intersection. The transportation LOS system uses the letters A through F, with A being best and F being worst.
Predictions are that every intersection on Healdsburg Ave. will be at Level of Service F within a few years. The claim is that, because the Level of Service is deteriorating anyway, the addition of the Northeast Plan in Sebastopol as well as other approved developments will not make a measurable difference.
DON'T BE FOOLED!
You can have unbelievable traffic jams and still ihave traffic conditions categorized at LOS F because:
Wikipedia: LOS F is the lowest measurement of efficiency for a road's performance. Flow is forced; every vehicle moves in lockstep with the vehicle in front of it, with frequent drops in speed to nearly zero mph. Technically, a road in a constant traffic jam would be at LOS F. This is because LOS does not describe an instant state, but rather an average or typical service. For example, a highway might operate at LOS D for the AM peak hour, but have traffic consistent with LOS C some days, LOS E or F others, and come to a halt once every few weeks. However, LOS F describes a road for which the travel time cannot be predicted. Facilities operating at LOS F generally have more demand than capacity.
The reality is that without city mitigation of existing roads, the addition of the Northeast Plan traffic will create:
1) Increased frequency of Gridlock,
2) Expanded use of roads not meant for heavy travel, used as informal bypasses to avoid downtown area,
3) The potential loss of income due to loyal consumers from outlying areas going elsewhere at certain times because they don't want to wade through traffic for 1/2 hour or so to get downtown shopping or to use other facilities,
4) The increased business competition in communities such as Graton who will cater to people not wanting to shop in congested Sebastopol,
5) Future city administrations having to raise and spend additional money/taxes on safety features such as traffic signals for pedestrians and bicyclists. Safety issues for pedestrians on the 'West Side' of the Northeast area will increase.
6) Future city administrations having to raise money/tax spending on increased infrastructure such as parking garages at edges of town with buses running into center, round abouts, widening and paving of roads, or parking meters, etc. to accommodate the larger volume of cars and bicycles,
7) Significant noise and air pollution increases.
Also remember the Northeast Plan is not the only development plan that will add traffic to Sebastopol Streets in the future.
FYI: Traffic is heavy because Sebastopol has two major highways Hwy 116-Healdsburg/Main St. and Hwy 12-Bodega Ave. running through it as conduits for North Bay destinations.
If anyone in the City Planning Department has specifics on how the City is going to concretely address the above mentioned problems let me know.
Thanks. Chris
Edit Post