ANALYSIS OF CLEARWATER MARINE AQUARIUM'S TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY
Analysis of
Clearwater Marine Aquarium’sAATraffic Impact Study
By City of Clearwater’sA Traffic Engineering Staff
July 25, 2013
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) proposes to build an aquarium in downtown Clearwater on
property located at the northwest corner of Osceola Avenue and Pierce Street. CMA was requested by
the City to submit a detailed Traffic Impact Study (TIS) which was conducted by Gulf Coast Consulting
(GCC), Inc. using a specific methodology.
The results of this TIS are summarized below, along with additional projections for 2 million and 2.5
million annual visitors as quoted by CMA representatives to City Council.
The TIS was conducted properly in accordance with the agreed upon methodology.
The TIS projected traffic volume is significantly lower (~70%) as compared to projected
vehicular trips generated from both the 2 million & 2.5 million annual visitor scenarios.
At 2 million visitors during the PM peak hour, Ft. Harrison Ave. between Chestnut St. and
Court St. fails with a level of service (LOS) “F”.A
At 2 million visitors during the PM peak hour, the signalized intersection of Osceola Avenue
andACourtAStreetAfailsAwithAaALOSA“F”.
At 2 million visitors during the Saturday mid-day peak, the signalized intersection of Ft.
HarrisonA ve.AandACourtASt.AfailsAwithAaALOSA“F”.
Due to physical constraints of the right of way, the recommended method of mitigation
wouldAincludeA“wayAfinding”AsignageAinAstrategicAareas.
A round-about constructed at Cleveland Street and Drew Street extension would help
facilitate traffic to Pierce Street. The round-about would also help circulate traffic for
special events at Coachman Park.
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Introduction
This report analyzes the proposed project by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium which is to build an
aquarium in the downtown Clearwater’sABluff.AATheAnewAaquarium is to be built currently where the City
Hall building sits (northwest corner of Osceola and Pierce intersection) along with a new parking garage
(southwest corner of Osceola and Pierce intersection). This report will also compare the Level of Service
(LOS) of the segments and intersections in the TIS (Traffic Impact Study) conducted by Gulf Coast
Consulting (GCC) versus our study using projected annual visitors.
Existing Traffic Volumes
Existing traffic volumes were obtained from the TIS submitted by Gulf Coast Consulting.
Trip Generation
The peak hour trip generation of the project site was estimated using three scenarios.
Scenario 1 from TIS by GCC. The submitted TIS by GCC used the category of a Multiplex Movie Theatre
(ITE #445). This was used because currently no category for an Aquarium attraction exists in the Trip
Generation Manual (Institute of Traffic Engineers, 9th edition, 2012). The best fit category was the
MultiplexAtheatreAwhichAusesAtheAvariableA“numberAofAseats”AtoAcalculateAtheAexpectedApeakAhourAtripsA
generated from the theatre as shown in table 1.
Table 1 - Trip Generation Estimates
Land Use Amount PM Peak Hour Trips
(Rate:0.08 per seat)
Sat. Mid-Day Peak Hour Trips
(Rate:0.09 per seat)
Multiplex theatre 1,750 seats 140 (50 in/ 90 out) 158 (114 in / 44 out)
TOTAL 140 (50 in / 90 out) 158 (114 in / 44 out)
Scenario 2 the estimated trip generation is from a projection of 2 million visitors per year. In order to
translate the 2 million visitors per year to vehicles per hour in the p.m. peak, engineering judgments
were made. Below are the calculations.
Using projected average of 2 million visitors per year. Translate 2 million visitors to vehicular trips per
hour in the p.m. peak hour.
Criteria:
3 passengers per vehicle.
365 days per year
Peak hour Factor of 30% of CM ’s daily traffic volume (extrapolated from CM ’sAattendance
spreadsheet)
2,000,000 visitors per year/ 3 passengers per vehicles =666,666.67 vehicles per year
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666,666.67 vehicles per year / 365 days per year = 1,826.48 vehicle per day
1,826.48 vehicles per day x 30% = 548 vph (p.m. peak hour)
Scenario 3 the estimated trip generation is from a projection of 2.5 million visitors per year. In order to
translate the 2.5 million visitors per year to vehicles per hour in the p.m. peak, engineering judgments
were made. Below are the calculations.
Using projected average of 2.5 million visitors per year. Translate 2.5 million visitors to vehicular trips
per hour in the p.m. peak hour.
Criteria:
3 passengers per vehicle.
365 days per year
Peak Hour Factor of 30% of CM ’sAdaily traffic volume
2,500,000 visitors per year/ 3 passengers per vehicles =833,333 vehicles per year
833,333.33 vehicles / 365 days per year = 2,283.10 vehicles per day
2,283.10 vehicles per day x 30% = 685 vph (p.m. peak hour)
Site Trip Distribution
Site trip distribution were obtained from the TIS submitted by Gulf Coast Consulting.
Study Area
Study area is the same as studied in the TIS submitted by Gulf Coast Consulting.
Intersection Operational Analysis
An operational analysis of the selected signalized intersections was performed using Syncro software.
The tables below show the intersections impact it undergoes in terms of LOS (level of service) during a
typical weekday of the p.m. peak hour (table 2) and a Saturday mid-day peak hour (table 3) from existing
volumes and the volumes from a 1,750 seat theatre (TIS by GCC), 2 million projected visitors and 2.5
million projected visitors.
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Table 2 - Intersection Results Summary
WEEKDAY PM PEAK
Ft. Harrison & Chestnut
Signal Delay
(seconds/vehicle)
Delay
Level of
Service
Intersection
Capacity
Utilization
(ICU)
Existing Conditions*: 32.4 C 62.5 %
1750 seat theater*: 32.2 C 63.1 %
2M visitors / yr**: 21.5 C 100.0 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 21.7 C 101.2%
Ft. Harrison & Court
Existing Conditions*: 30.3 C 61.5 %
1750 seat theater*: 30.3 C 63.3 %
2M visitors / yr**: 29.5 C 100.0%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 32.3 C 101.2 %
Ft. Harrison & Drew
Existing Conditions*: 12.2 B 56.3 %
1750 seat theater*: 12.7 B 57.2 %
2M visitors / yr**: 24.4 C 62.3%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 25.0 C 63.3%
Oak & Chestnut
Existing Conditions*: 16.8 B 62.6 %
1750 seat theater*: 18.1 B 63.2 %
2M visitors / yr**: 31.5 C 65.5 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 31.7 C 66.3 %
Osceola & Court
Existing Conditions*: 8.2 A 42.2 %
1750 seat theater*: 9.7 A 47.0 %
2M visitors / yr**: 118.7 F 63.5 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 244.7 F 68.5 %
Osceola & Cleveland
Existing Conditions*: 5.6 A 32.5 %
1750 seat theater*: 5.6 A 32.5 %
2M visitors / yr**: 11.7 B 43.6%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 11.7 B 43.6%
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Osceola & Drew
Existing Conditions*: 6.1 A 39.7 %
1750 seat theater*: 6.8 A 41.5 %
2M visitors / yr**: 9.3 A 41.3%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 9.3 A 42.1 %
*Analyzed by Gulf Coast Consulting traffic study.
**Analyzed by City staff.
Table 3- Intersection Results Summary
SATURDAY MID-DAY PEAK
Ft. Harrison & Chestnut
Signal Delay
(seconds/vehicle)
Delay
Level of
Service
Intersection
Capacity
Utilization
(ICU)
Existing Conditions*: 34.3 C 50.4 %
1750 seat theater*: 34.5 C 51.7 %
2M visitors / yr**: 26.5 C 97.1%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 25.7 C 100.8 %
Ft. Harrison & Court
Existing Conditions*: 33.2 C 67.5 %
1750 seat theater*: 33.4 C 71.8 %
2M visitors / yr**: 110.6 F 97.1 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 173.3 F 100.8 %
Ft. Harrison & Drew
Existing Conditions*: 11.3 B 46.4 %
1750 seat theater*: 11.7 B 47.6 %
2M visitors / yr**: 24.2 C 64.0 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 25.8 C 64.4 %
Oak & Chestnut
Existing Conditions*: 6.3 A 50.6 %
1750 seat theater*: 8.4 A 52.0 %
2M visitors / yr**: 13.6 B 48.1 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 17.7 B 50.9 %
Osceola & Court
Existing Conditions*: 8.3 A 45.8 %
1750 seat theater*: 10.3 B 50.0 %
2M visitors / yr**: 11.6 B 61.3 %
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2.5M visitors / yr**: 13.1 B 64.9 %
Osceola & Cleveland
Existing Conditions*: 5.6 A 32.5 %
1750 seat theater*: 5.7 A 33.2 %
2M visitors / yr**: 11.6 B 40.7 %
2.5M visitors / yr**: 11.4 B 42.4 %
Osceola & Drew
Existing Conditions*: 5.0 A 40.2 %
1750 seat theater*: 5.0 A 40.8 %
2M visitors / yr**: 9.1 A 44.6%
2.5M visitors / yr**: 10.7 B 46.4%
*Analyzed by Gulf Coast Consulting traffic study.
**Analyzed by City staff.
Roadway Segment Operational Analysis
Roadway segment analyses wereAundertakenAutilizingAFDOT’sAgeneralizedAserviceAvolumeAtables.ATheA
tables below shows the roadway segments impact it undergoes in terms of LOS (level of service)
during a typical weekday of the p.m. peak hour (table 4) and a Saturday mid-day peak hour (table 5)
from existing volumes and the volumes from a 1,750 seat theatre (TIS by GCC), 2 million projected
visitors and 2.5 million projected visitors.
Table 4 - Roadway Segment Results Summary
WEEKDAY PM PEAK
EXISTING
(2013)*
1750 seat
multiplex*
2M
projected
visitors**
2.5M
projected
visitors**
Roadway Segment LOS LOS LOS LOS
Ft Harrison Ave (Chestnut - Court) D D D F
Ft Harrison Ave (Court - Pierce) D D D D
Ft Harrison Ave (Pierce - Cleveland) D D D D
Ft Harrison Ave (Cleveland - Drew) D D D D
Osceola Ave (Court - Pierce) C C D D
Osceola Ave (Pierce - Cleveland) C C C C
Osceola Ave (Cleveland - Drew) C C C C
Chestnut (Oak - Ft Harrison) C C C C
Chestnut (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Court St ( E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Court St (Ft Harrison - Oak Ave) C C C C
Pierce St (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
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Pierce St (Ft Harrison - Osceola) C C C C
Cleveland St (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Cleveland St (Ft Harrison - Osceola) C C C C
Table 5 - Roadway Segment Results Summary
SATURDAY MID-DAY PEAK
EXISTING
(2013)*
1750 seat
multiplex*
2M
projected
visitors**
2.5M
projected
visitors**
Roadway Segment LOS LOS LOS LOS
Ft Harrison Ave (Chestnut - Court) D D D F
Ft Harrison Ave (Court - Pierce) D D D D
Ft Harrison Ave (Pierce - Cleveland) D D D D
Ft Harrison Ave (Cleveland - Drew) D D D D
Osceola Ave (Court - Pierce) C C C D
Osceola Ave (Pierce - Cleveland) C C C C
Osceola Ave (Cleveland - Drew) C C C C
Chestnut (Oak - Ft Harrison) C C C C
Chestnut (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Court St ( E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Court St (Ft Harrison - Oak Ave) C D D D
Pierce St (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Pierce St (Ft Harrison - Osceola) C C C C
Cleveland St (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Cleveland St (Ft Harrison - Osceola) C C C C
Drew St (E of Ft Harrison) C C C C
Drew St (Ft Harrison - Osceola) C C C C
* From Gulf Coast Consulting TIS
** From City staff
Conclusion
This study was to estimate the traffic impact for the proposed new CMA Aquarium in downtown
Clearwater’sABluff for both a weekday during the PM peak hour conditions and Saturday mid-day peak
conditions. It also compared the TIS by GCC (scenario 1) with the projected 2 million (Scenario 2) and
2.5 million (Scenario 3) annual visitors. Using engineering judgment, the 2 million & 2.5 million annual
projected visitors was translated into PM peak hour trips.
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Staff also input the vehicular trip volumes fromAallA3AscenariosAintoAtheACity’sAmodelAofAtheAadjacentA
roadwayAnetworkAofAtheAdowntownAClearwater’sAbluff.AAThisAmodel ties all the signalized intersections
used in the traffic impact study conducted by Gulf Coast Consulting, Inc. along with the signal timings
used today (see appendix).
Out of the three scenarios, the 2.5 million annual visitors was the worst case in terms of estimated
vehicular daily trips. TheACity’sAComprehensiveAplanAadopted December of 2008, under section B.1.5.6
Recognize the LOS standard of C average daily/D peak hour and volume/capacity ratio of 0.9 on roads
underAcountyAjurisdiction,AinAaccordanceAwithAtheAMPO’s countywide concurrency management
standards.
The results of the study documented herein are summarized below:
The proposed development with 2.5 million annual visitors is anticipated to generate 2,283 new
daily trips and 685 vehicles per hour net new PM peak hour trips.
During the weekday PM peak hour conditions, all studied intersections and roadway segments
currently operate at acceptable level of service D or better and are expected to do so during the
build-out year.
During the Saturday mid-day peak conditions, all studied intersections and roadway segments
currently operate at acceptable level of service D or better and are expected to do so during the
build-out year.
In the future with build-out during the weekday PM peak hour conditions and the Saturday mid-
day peak conditions, the only segment that fails with a LOS “F” is Ft. Harrison Ave (Chestnut –
Court).
In the future with build-out during the weekday PM peak hour conditions, the only signalized
intersectionAthatAfailsAwithAaALOSA“F”AisAOsceola Avenue and Court Street intersection.
In the future with build-out during the Saturday mid-day peak conditions, the only signalized
intersectionAthatAfailsAwithAaALOSAofA“F”AisAFort Harrison Avenue and Court Street intersection.
Mitigation - The roadway segment Ft Harrison Ave (Chestnut – Court) is constrained and very
expensive to widen the roadwayAthereforeAstrategicAplacementAofA“wayfinding”AorA“guide”AsignsA
may help disperse new traffic to roadways that have more capacity (see map 1). The green
arrows are vehicles entering the site from NB Fort Harrison Avenue and the red arrows exiting
the site from SB Fort Harrison Avenue. InAadditionAtoAprovideA“wayfinding”AsignsAforAvisitorsA
approaching CMA aquarium from WB Drew Street and WB Cleveland Street (green arrows) via
new round-about at Cleveland Street and Drew Street extension.
A new round-about at Cleveland Street and Drew Street extension will help facilitate traffic to
Pierce Street and vice versa. This round-about will also help circulate traffic for special events
at Coachman Park e.g. the annual Jazz festival.
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Any mitigation to consider widening Fort Harrison Avenue would require additional studies due
to right-of-way constraints.
MAP 1 -WAYFINDING ROUTE
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APPENDIX
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SYNCHRO DATA
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COVER PAGE OF TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY
BY GULF COAST CONSULTING, INC.
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CITYAST FF’SAARO DW YANETWORKAMODELING
CITY’SADOWNTOWNABLUFF
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