2020 6. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
Level of Service and System Deficiencies Analysis
In the Fallon Urban Area 2020 Transportation Plan, the transportation system in Churchill County was assessed to determine the current operating characteristics (level of service) and was also examined for system deficiencies. The system was examined from the perspective of roadway capacity, intersection capacity, ability to handle both general vehicle and truck vehicle traffic, and general circulation.
A capacity analysis was performed for the 1998 roadway network and counted street volumes.
Based on the volume-to-capacity ratio analysis, there are a few roadway segments that have capacity deficiencies under observed traffic volumes, but specific characteristics of roadway traffic may create conditions that are unacceptable to the motoring public including side street delay, inability to maneuver, hindered travel speeds, and roadway ingress/egress. Based on analysis of current traffic conditions, interviews with City and County staff and input from the general public, the following roadways were found to operate under less-than-desirable conditions related to traffic congestion:
• US 50—from approximately the V-Line canal to US 95/Maine Street intersection in the downtown area;
• US 95—from Front Street on the north to St. Clair Road on the south away from the business district; and
• Wildes Road—from Taylor Street to Pasture Road (because of school needs).
System Deficiencies and Potential Solution Alternatives
The 2020 Transportation Plan includes alternative solutions. The transportation system deficiencies from that plan are summarized below. Analysis and modeling, interviews with City and County staff and maintenance personnel, and input from the general public were utilized to formulate the list of issue areas. Some items on the original list have been addressed and removed, and new items were added. In addition, the two studies in 2005 (described above) developed other potential projects that are not in the list below.
• Congestion on access routes to NAS Fallon;
• Intersection safety along Wildes Road;
• Sheckler/Taylor/Maine/Wildes intersection (a round-about is currently planned);
• Wildes Road/Pasture Road intersection congestion and safety;
• Wildes Road/Harrigan Road intersection congestion and safety;
• Williams Avenue/Taylor Street geometry and safety;
• Williams Avenue/Maine Street geometry and safety;
• Pedestrian safety and traffic congestion at Sheckler/Maine/Taylor/Wildes intersection (school-related);
• Pedestrian safety and traffic congestion at Merton and Taylor Streets before school, lunchtime, and after school (school-related) – the City of Fallon provides a crosswalk guard to help traffic flow as smoothly as possible and get the students safely across Taylor Street;
• Railroad crossing at York Lane;
• Maintenance of roadways;
• Multiple jurisdiction maintenance;
• geometric deficiencies for truck travel;
• Sheckler Road truck traffic; and
• Congestion on Williams Avenue from Maine Street to Harrigan Road.
2020 8. TRANSPORTATION
Page 8-14 Improvement Alternatives Development and Analysis
Based on the existing and expected system deficiencies, various improvement alternatives were developed to alleviate current and expected congestion, improve circulation, decrease accident experience, and improve regional and community mobility. Many individual system improvement alternatives were developed for testing (by the travel demand model) and further evaluation.
Improvement project alternatives that address these deficiency locations are illustrated in Tables 7 and 8 of the Fallon Urban Area 2020 Transportation Plan. Included in the system evaluation was testing of a “bypass” facility for truck and other through traffic, illustrated in Figure 25 of the Fallon Urban Area 2020 Transportation Plan. A bypass facility was evaluated to assess its utility to address local transportation system deficiencies. As part of another study, this bypass facility was evaluated as a solution for transport of hazardous materials.
Selection/Prioritization of Long-Range Street and Highway Improvements
Table 7 of the Fallon Urban Area 2020 Transportation Plan provides the list of potential long-range street and highway improvement projects that could be considered to meet future travel needs in the Fallon Urban Area. This list includes all of the possible projects that could support future travel demand for 20 years and beyond. The table also contains planning level cost estimates for the long-range project alternatives. The total cost range of $30M to $67M (in 2000 dollars) far exceeds the available funding over the next 20 years.
Churchill County undertook efforts in 2005 to determine major improvements to the transportation system to accommodate several large developments in the urbanizing area of the County. The study (Fallon Area Transportation Study, June 2005 prepared by Lumos & Associates and adopted by Churchill County on June 15th, 2005) identifies new roadways, road alignments, and road and intersection improvements necessary to accommodate the increased traffic resulting from new growth. Map 8-1, earlier in this chapter, identifies necessary improvements. The analysis and resulting costs associated with these improvements form the basis of the Capital Improvement Plan for road system improvements and expansion, and it must be implemented as developments are approved through the collection of impact fees or developer constructed roadways.
Several approved subdivisions and planned unit developments (PUD) approved in 2005 were required to make improvements to the existing transportation system as outlined in the Fallon Area Transportation Study, June 2005 and the Fallon Urban Area 2020 Transportation Plan. As these developments are constructed, they will be required to conduct additional traffic analyses and studies to verify current and cumulative future impacts. Because of the recession, many of these proposed developments were put on hold or were terminated. This has also caused a hold on the future expansion of roads until the developments move forward.
Standards and Specifications for Road Construction
Design standards and specifications for streets are adopted by the Board of County Commissioners and amended as necessary. The Churchill County Road and Planning Departments review all developments located within Churchill County to evaluate impacts on the existing road network and determine the most appropriate improvements for the construction of effective highways and streets. The development of the Onda Verde subdivision, with its urban densities and urban street facilities has highlighted the difficulties of maintaining these settings for the Road Department.
Urban streets bring different challenges than rural roads in maintaining concrete surfaces, stormwater facilities, and pedestrian facilities. More important are the difficulties in funding these
2020 8. TRANSPORTATION
maintenance-intensive facilities. A review of current practices, facility standards, and funding sources is needed to ensure the maintenance requirements stay within the County’s financial means. A review of funding options is needed to determine how to cover the added cost of maintaining urban facilities using rural funding levels.
Goals and Policies for Streets and Highways
GOAL T 13: Adhere to adopted standards and specifications.
o Policy T 13.1: All work in the County rights-of-way shall be constructed to Churchill County specifications in accordance with “Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (Orange Book)”.
o Policy T 13.2: Legal and physical access shall be established prior to approval of development plans. Easements shall be provided as outlined in Churchill County Code and Uniform Fire Code.
o Policy T 13.3: Traffic studies are required to adequately assess the impact of a proposed development on the existing and/or planned highway system.
o Policy T 13.4: Churchill County shall work cooperatively with Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), City of Fallon, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District (TCID) and Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) to ensure that future road projects meet all necessary requirements.
GOAL T 14. Review the current road maintenance capabilities, facility design standards, and funding sources, and make modifications to ensure the long-term maintenance viability for roads of all types.
o Policy T 14.1: Consider altering urban standards to reduce unnecessary costs.
o Policy T 14.2: Consider establishing additional funding requirements for development projects using urban standards, such as special assessment districts (SADs) or other options.
o Policy T 14.3: Establish requirements to ensure that both development project features (landscaping, etc.) that are placed in the County rights-of-way, and county facilities (stormwater, etc.) that lie outside of rights-of-way have ownership and maintenance responsibilities clearly determined during review.
o Policy T 14.4: Encourage and in some cases require that Low Impact Development (LID) standards be incorporated into projects to reduce the need for stormwater infrastructure (such as piping, curbs, gutters, etc.) that unnecessarily increases the County’s maintenance burden.