Claxton truck study

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Claxton Truck Study

Prepared by. the Office of Planning Steve Yost 12/98

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APPENDIX B

Table B-1: Sample weekday traffic between 7:00 - 8:00 (AM Peak) and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129 / US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound)

123

Ralph St. (northbound)

64

US 280 (eastbound)

278

US 280 (westbound)

293

Total

758

Volume 22 0 17 29 68

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

2

18

0

0

1

16

0

27

3

61

Right Tum 2, 0 0 2 4

Table B-I1: Sample weekday traffic between 9:00 - 10:00 AM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129/ US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound)

64

.

Ralph St. (northbound)

33

US 280 (eastbound)

296

US 280 (westbound)

201

Total

594

Volume 3 0 25 25 53

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

3

0

0

0

1

23

0

23

4

46

Right Tum 0 0 1 2 3

Table B-III: Sample weekday traffic between 3:00 - 4:00 PM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129/ US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound) e

136

Ralph St. (northbound)

82

US 280.(eastbound)

355

US 280 (westbound)

333

Total

906

Volume 12 1 25 27 65

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

7

2

1

0

0

25

1

25

9

52

Right Tum -13

0

0

1

I

4

Table B-IV: Sample weekday traffic between 5:00 - 6:00 PM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129/ US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound)

93

Ralph St.(northbound)

78

US 280 (eastbound)

390

US 280 (westbound)

415

Total

976

Hourly Truck Traffic -
Volume Left Tum Straight

1

1

0

0

0

0

23

1

22

16

0

14

40

2

36

Right Tum 0 0 0 2 2

j

I

Claxton Truck Study

Introduction
The Office of Airport and Road Design requested the Office of Planning investigate truck movements at the intersection of US 301 and US 280 and at the intersection of US 280 and State Route 129 (approximately 0.6 miles west of the US 301IUS 280 intersection) in Claxton. In addition to investigating the truck movements at these two intersections, the Office of Planning was asked to investigate the interaction of truck traffic between these two intersections. Specifically, the study investigated the northbound truck traffic on US 301 and westbound truck traffic on US 280 that use US 280 and State Route 129 through Claxton as a short cut route toI-16.

Background Information

US 301 and US 280 are arterial highways that intersect in Claxton, Georgia{see Figure 1). US 301 runs north-to-south and US 280 runs east-to-west. US 301 is functionally classified as a rural minor arterial. It is a two lane highway south of Claxton and a four lane highway through and north of Claxton. The posted speed limit through the city is 35 miles per hour. US 280 is functionally classified as a rural principal arterial. US 280 'is a two lane highway east and west of Claxton. Through the CBD, the roadway is three lanes wide and parking (parallel) is present on the north side. The posted speed limit of US 280 through Claxton is also 35 miles per hour.

US 301 traverses north-south through Evans County, connecting the city of Claxton to Ludowici, Jesup, and Brunswick to the south and 1-16, Statesboro, and other points to the north. US 280 traverses east-to-west through Evans County. To the east, it connects Claxton to Savannah and to the west; Vidalia, McRae, Cordele, and 1-75. US 301 and US 280 intersect inside the Central Business District (CBD) of Claxton. Both routes are STAA access routes on the national network, allowing the use of single and twin tractor trailers.

State Route 129 is functionally classified as a rural major collector roadway. The route begins

approximately 6 miles southeast of Claxton (at John Todd Road; CR 233), traverses southeast-to-

northwest through Evans County, and ends in Metter, north of 1-16. Through the Claxton CBD,

State Route 129 runs east-to-west and common with US 280 for 0.80 miles. The southern termini





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of State Route 129 provides access to the Glissons Pond area of Ft. Stewart. This area is a training

area for the Georgia National Guard. The northern termini of State Route 129 crosses 1-16 but does

not directly access the interstate. Access to 1-16is provided via State Route 23/121. State Route 129

is not a STAA access route; therefore, oversized single trailer and twin trailer trucks are prohibited

from using this roadway.

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Present Conditions

US 301 and US 280
Special traffic counts at the intersection of US 301 - US 280 were observed and recorded in March of 1998. The counts were made during a three hour period in the morning (7:00 - 10:00) and a three hour period in the evening (3:00 - 6:00) during an average week day. Counts taken included turning movements as well as the type of vehicle traveling through the intersection (see Figure 2).
It was observed that morning traffic through the intersection of US 301 and US 280 peaks between the hours of 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. It was also observed that afternoon traffic through this intersection peaks between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Traffic during the afternoon peak hour is heavier than traffic during the morning peak hour. During both peak hours, the dominant flow is north-south on US 301.
Table I below indicates the morning peak hour volumes on each approach through the intersection. Table II indicates the afternoon peak hour volumes. Both tables also indicate the amount of truck traffic traveling into the intersection and corresponding turning movements of the truck traffic. In the Appendix of this report are Tables A-I through A-IV depicting hourly volumes recorded during the remaining observed and recorded time periods.

Table I:

Sample weekday traffic between 8:00 - 9:00 (AM Peak) and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

US 301 (southbound)

255

US 301 (northbound)

246

US 280 (eastbound)

285

US 280 (westbound)

157

Total

943

Volume 32 20 28 14 94

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

1

18

2

15

.

4

18

4

10

11

61

Right Tum 13 3 6 0 22

'.

2

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Table II:

Sample weekday traffic between 4:00 - 5:00 (PM Peak) and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

US 301 (southbound)

412

US 301 (northbound)

313

US 280 (eastbound)

363

. US 280 (westbound)

252

Total

1340

Volume 30 21 35 25 111

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

2

19

2

18 .'

8,

22

5

18

17

77

Right Tum 9 1 5 2 ,17

State Route 129 and US 280
Special traffic counts at the State Route 129 - US 280 intersection were also observed and recorded in March of 1998 during a weekday. Counts taken included turning movements counts as well as truck and bus movements that traveled through the intersection during the morning and afternoon peak hour (see Figure 2).
It was observed that morning traffic through the intersection of State Route 129 and US 280 peaks between the hours of 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. Afternoon traffic' through the intersection peaks again between the hours of 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. Traffic during the afternoon peak hour is heavier than the morning peak hour. During both peak hours, the dominant flow is east-west on US 280.
.Table III below indicates the 8:00 - 9:00 morning hour traffic volumes on each approach and Table IV indicates the 4:00 - 5:00 afternoon peak hour volumes. Note that for comparison purposes with the intersection of US 301 and US 280 , this report focuses on traffic counts during US 30 lIDS 280 peak hour period. Tables III and IV also indicate the amount of truck traffic traveling into the intersection and corresponding turning movements of the truck traffic. In the Appendix of this report are Tables B-1 and B-III depicting hourly volumes recorded during the remaining observed and recorded time periods.

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Table III:

Sample weekday traffic between 8:00 - 9:00 (AM) and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129/ US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound)

72

Ralph St (northbound)

37

US 280 (eastbound)

339

US 280 (westbound)

260

Total

708

Volume 2 1 22 22 47

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

2

0

1.

0

1

21

0

20

4

41

Right Tum 0 0 0 2 2

Table IV:

Sampleweekday traffic between 4:00 - 5:00 (PM) and number of' trucks in traffic stream entering the SR 129/ US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

SR 129 (southbound)

77

Ralph St. (northbound)

69

US 280 (eastbound)

364

US 280 (westbound)

417

Total

927

Volume 5 1 24 23 52

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

5

0

0

I

1

21

0

21

6

43

Right Tum 0 0 1 2 3

4

Analysis:
Intersection of US 301 and US 280
Tables I and II as well as the Tables in Appendix A indicate a majority of the trucks approaching the US 301 - US 280 intersection continue straight through the intersection. During the morning peak, southbound trucks on US 301 turning rightonto US 280 is the heaviest truck turning movement at this intersection. During the evening peak, southbound traffic on US 301 turning right onto US 280, again, is the heaviest truck turning movement.
Intersection of State Roue 129 and US 280
Tables III and IV as well as the Tables in Appendix B indicate a huge majority of the truck traffic traveling through this intersection (a.m. and p.m.) is east-to-west. During.both the morning and evening peak hour, truck traffic on US 280 turning north onto State Route 129 and southbound truck traffic on State Route 129 turning e~st or west onto US 280 is negligible.
Conclusion
After investigating and observing truck movements at the intersection of US 301 and US 280 and at the intersection of US 280 and State Route 129 in Claxton, it is apparent that no substantial northbound through truck traffic on US 301 is turning left onto US 280, traveling west through downtown Claxton and turning north onto State Route 129. Also, no substantial southbound through truck traffic on State Route 129 is traveling into Claxton, turning east onto US 280, traveling through Claxton, and then turning south onto US 301. Generally, through truck traffic on US 301 and US 280 is continuing on these routes and State Route 129 is not being widely used by trucks as a short cut to 1-16 and/or to other routes.
Additionally, there is a project programmed in the Department's Six Year Construction Work Program to widen US 280 through Claxton (MLP-30(81); P.I#522105). This project is to widen the roadway from two and three lanes to five lanes. Traffic, especially truck traffic, turning off of US 301 and onto US 280 as well as traffic turning off of US 280 and onto US 301 will benefit from this widening effort.
Findings:
No significant amount of truck traffic on US 301 is turning off of US 301 onto US 280 (and viceversa) to access State Route 129 as a short cut route to 1-16 and other arterial routes.
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APPENDIX A

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Table A-I: Sample weekday traffic, between 7:00 - 8:00 AM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection.

-
Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Hourly Truck Traffic

Approach

Volume

Volume Left Tum Straight

US 301 (southbound)

285

9

1

6

US 30 I (northbound)

215

19

4

11

US 280 (eastbound)

223

16

3

12

US 280 (westbound)

164

18

3

13

Total

887

94

11

42

Right Tum 2 4 1 2 9

Table A-II: Sample weekday traffic between 9:00 - 10:00 AM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection..

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

US 301 (southbound)

236

US 301 (northbound)

195

US 280 (eastbound)

251

US 280 (westbound)

154

Total

836

Volume 30 19 26 18 93

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

1

16

3

13

9

15

5

12

18

56

Right Tum 13 3 2 1 19

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Table A-III: Sample weekday traffic between 3:00 - 4:00 PM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

US 301 (southbound)

284

US 301 (northbound)

277

US 280 (eastbound)

336

US 280 (westbound)

218

Total

1115

Volume 23 32 29 21 105

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

1

16

2

24

6

23

1

16

10

79

Right Tum 6 6 0 4 16

Table A-IV: Sample weekday traffic between 5:00 - 6:00 PM and number of trucks in traffic stream entering the US 301 / US 280 intersection.

Hourly Traffic (all vehicles)

Approach

Volume

US 30 I (southbound)

370

US 301 (northbound)

283

US 280 (eastbound)

350

US 280 (westbound)

266

Total

1269

Volume 18 10 13 23 64

Hourly Truck Traffic

Left Tum Straight

0

14

1

6

3

10

0

22

4

52

Right Tum 4 3 0 1 8