You may have noticed the just installed traffic count equipment at the entrance to the proposed Gillespie Apartment project. Additionally, there is another traffic study counter located just past Pineville Matthews Road. This equipment appears to have been installed by Charlotte DOT.
Much of the conversation during the August 17, 2023, community meeting was with regards to the traffic study prepared by Design Resource Group at the request of the developer RK Investors.
Traffic studies are complex and seldom inclusive and, in this case, only address the immediate area (Area of Influence).
Also, since the developer hires the traffic study engineers it typically shows the project in the most favorable light to the benefit of the developer.
A couple things about the Design Resource Group study that stand out:
• Much of the base line data was derived from 2020 NC DOT numbers.
• Specific intersection traffic counts were taken from 2022, during spring break.
At least to laymen, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to use numbers from a year in which Charlotte was on lock down due to COVID for your baseline.
According to NCDOT:
• All continuous count stations saw a drop in AADT in 2020, ranging from -1% to -33%.
• Interstates experienced a higher drop than non-interstates.
• Urban areas experienced a higher drop than rural areas.
A study that collected minimal traffic counts on a school holiday in 2022, is inherently flawed. Not to mention that this was also during a time when the traffic still had not returned to “normal’ as many were still working remotely.
Additionally, what appears to be overlooked is the inclusion of future traffic from the other re-zoning projects nearby and already approved by the City of Charlotte. In fact, the study only factors in a 1% annual traffic growth rate. Some of these projects are:
• Calvary Church Addition (15,000 Square Feet Additional Classrooms) (382 VTD)
• Endhaven Condos (RZP-2022-025) (355 VTD)
• Ardrey Kell Middle School (RZP-2021-161) (3,210 VTD)
• Community House Road High School (3,885 VTD)
• 11902 Elm Lane Condos (RZP-2022-025) (116 VTD)
• Legacy Arboretum Apartments Expansion (RZP-2021-213) (1,275 VTD)
• Cato / Rea Farms Project (RZP 2023-046) (5,250 VTD)
The above projects add 14,473 additional vehicle trips daily (VTD) to the area. This additional uncounted traffic volume will certainly add to the already over capacity roads.
The traffic study also fails to consider the widening of Providence Road between Rea Road and Waxhaw Parkway (STIP U-5769) as well as the extension of Rea Road (NCDOT Project 39019.1.1 STIP U-3467) beyond Providence Road to connect with NC 84, Wesley Chapel, and Monroe.
The widening of Rea Road between Williams Pond Lane and I-485 may help ease the congestion in front of the Stonecrest Shopping Center.
In short these NCDOT projects will funnel an uncalculated volume of traffic into the Rea Road Piper Glen corridor.
A couple of additional concerns:
Comparing the NCDOT Daily traffic volumes (AADT) north of 485 to PinevIlle - Matthews Road was 28,500 in 2020. However, when you look at the traffic volume counted in their study during peak hours, there we was less than 5,000 cars that passed through the Piper Glen Drive and Rea Rd intersection (their data on figure 2) during the 2 morning and 2 evening peak times. This is less that 17% of the total traffic during those 4 hours. This also seems problematic.
Interesting to note that the study uses a predetermined single-family home 10.5 VTD vs multi-family at 5.1 VTD. This also seems rather selective. In part the reasoning is that renters tend to use public transportation. Which seems rather doubtful given the target rental market.
Summary:
To the Gillespie Property Developer the traffic study is just a formality. But it should be a solid road block.
In Charlotte traffic isn't really a concern unless you're stuck in it. But it should be a concern to everyone. In this case the developer and property owner do not live in the area so any grid lock created won't affect them But it erodes the quality of life in Charlotte and negatively affects productivity. Gridlock increases air pollution, leads to road rage, adds hours to our daily commute, which takes away from our family life. How many of us arrange our day around traffic? Why allow Charlotte City Council to make it worse?
Let's stop the Rea Road Gillespie Property Rezoning!
If you have not signed our petition you can do so here: http://change.org/SavePiperGlen
3 comments:
Going to be a traffic nightmare.
The proposed elm lane improvements are not nearly enough. There needs to be shoulders/sidewalks/turn lanes added south to endhaven if this terrible idea gets approved.
Yesterday, September 20, I noticed there were traffic counters on Rea Road, Elm Lane, and as I drove from Pineville to Matthews, more traffic counters. There were also some along Providence Road. I hope that the city will get a better idea of the traffic density in this area. I try to time my trips to off peak hours now since I’m retired, but even then, there is so much traffic sometimes. I don’t think the quality of life in our area will be the same if they add this nightmare development on Elm Lane!
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