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F5 State Route 15 Passing Lane Study
Oconee/Greene County Line to City Limits of Watkinsville Oconee County
October 2001 ,Office of Planning Michelle Caldwell
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State Route 15 Passing Lane Study
Oconee/Greene County Line to City Limits of Watkinsville Oconee County
Executive Summary
The section of State Route 15 (SR-15) included in this study is located in Oconee County in the North central region of Georgia. The section. of State Route 15 under investigation, from Oconee/Greene County line to the city limits of Watkinsville is approximately 9.5 miles.
The request to study this section of State Route 15 came from Oconee County during the 1998 STIP development process when the Department met with local elected officials to discuss projects. The County specifically requested that the Department study the need for passing lanes on State Route 15 between Oconee/Greene County Line and the city of Watkinsville.
Between the limits of this study, State Route 15 currently functions at a Level of Service C, with an accident rate that has been below the state average. Within the next 20 years, these same sections are projected to continue functioning at a Level ofService C.
The Office of Planning does not recommend that passing lanes be added to this facility due to the current Level of Service and small number of accidents along the segment of State Route 15.
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Background The request to study the section of SR-15 between the Oconee/Greene County Line and the city of Watkinsville came from the County during the 1998 STIP development process when the Department met with local elected officials to discuss projects. The purpose of the study is to determine if passing lanes are needed due to continuing growth along the corridor.
Oconee County SR15 =;jE'_.=.=,======......._ _.11..-_ _---,.
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Existing Land Use and Social-Economic Conditions Agriculture is the most prevalent land use found throughout the county. The western and southern portions of Oconee County are still predominantly rural, with most of the land classified as agricultural or undeveloped. Residential development is mainly found in the northern part of the county. Land use along State Route 15, between the Greene County Line and Watkinsville consists primarily of agricultural with some residential properties scattered along the route. Although State Route 15 provides access to the city of Athens to the north, there are no major urban areas along the route. In the city of Watkinsville, land use is devoted almost entirely to agricultural, low and medium density residential and undeveloped/unused land use classifications. Nearly all of the residential development is found north of the railroad tracks that bisect the city. Some commercial development is located within the residential areas near US-441 and SR-53/Experiment Station
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Road, but for the most part, commercial land use is Ibcalized near the intersection of SR-15 and US-129.
Future land use along this section of the corridor is projected to remain agricultural and possible low-density housing developments. (See Future Land Use Map). In an effort to contain growth and mitigate incompatible land uses, county officials have been limiting development primarily to the northern one-third of the county. Such action also protects the wetlands and prime agricultural soils in the more rural parts of the county.
Future Land Use
esidential w Density Residential
gricultural etaillGeneral 'f/ice/Projessional ndustrial overnment ublie/Institutional arks/Recreation/Conservation - ransportation/Communication/Utaity
In 1990, 26% of the county's workforce was employed within Oconee County, while the remainder commuted out of the county for employment. The majority of Oconee residents who commuted to another county worked in Clarke County. Within the county, employment is primarily within the retail trade and service industries. The top six employers within Oconee county are: Oconee County Broad of Education; Athens Packaging; Oconee County Government; General Cable Corporation; Lowes Home Center; Home Depot.
Over the last twenty years, Oconee's agriculture sector gained 54 jobs representing a 15.6 percent employment growth. This increase represented the largest percentage growth in the Northeast Georgia region. The agricultural service sector includes fishing, forestry, and other agricultural related services. The poultry/cattle and lumber businesses provide secondary employment opportunities for the agriculture services sector.
According to the 2000 Census, the population of Oconee County was 26,225 persons with 10.4% being minorities. Statewide, 34.9% were minorities. The county's population grew by 48.9% between 1990 and 2000. This is compared with a state average of 26.4% during the period. During 1990, 8% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with a statewide level of 15% and a U.S. rate of 13%.
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Existing Transportation Conditions
The roadway characteristics of SR-15 within the study limits' are typical of state routes in the area. The terrain is generally considered rolling, and the horizontal alignment is characterized as having long sweeping curves. The width of the roadway along this section of State Route 15 is 24 feet; one 12 foot lane in each direction with grassed shoulders that are between one and four feet wide. The posted speed limit is 55 mph.
Currently there are several projects programmed in the area. There are five roadway projects, which are listed below and shown on Map 1. There are also fourlandscaping/streetscape projects, and one Bicycle and Pedestrian project in the area. Only one project, STP-1267 (13), is located within the study limits. This project will replace the bridge over Rose Creek located at the.southern end of the project limits. The roadway projects include widening the US-441 GRIP corridor and providing improved connectivity to areas north of Watkinsville. None of the programmed projects will add capacity within the project limit or increase traffic volumes.
Projects programmed in the area: STP-1267 (13), Bridge replacement at Rose Creek located between Greensboro and
Watkinsville STP-1267 (18) Widen/Reconstruct, SR-53/Mars Hill RdlCR-264 from SR-15 to SR-316 EDS-441 (43), Widening, SR-24/US-441 from north of Apalachee River to 'Watkinsville
Bypass STP-OOOO-OO (169), Landscaping, US 441/ SR 53 Interchange EDS-OOOO-OO (843), Landscaping, SR-15 from CR-274 to Timothy Rd./Clarke County STP-0002-00 (351), Landscaping, Watkinsville Downtown Streetscape STP-OOOE (23), Sidewalks, Streetscapes for Butler's Crossing in Watkinsville .. STP-OOOE (130), BicyclelPedestrian Facility, Simonton Bridge Road from Watkinsville to
Clarke County
The county offers several modes of transportation that include rail, bicycle and pedestrian, and
highway. The county has one rail line, owned by Norfolk Southern, that runs north-south
through the county. The rail line crosses SR-15 just north of the study limits. There are only
four trains per day at the SR-15 crossing. The county also has a State Bike Route (Route 60,
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Athens Link) that goes through Watkinsville and utilizes a portion of SR-15, north of the study
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limits. There is. also a programmed Ibike project (STP-OOOE 130) in the area along Simonton
Bridge Road. The proposed commuter rail will pass through the very northern portion of the I
county with a rail station planned for the city of Bogart.
Traffic Volumes/ Passing Opportunities
Traffic volumes between Oconee/ Greene County Line and the city of Watkinsville are between 3,700 to 5, 009 AADT (Average Annual Daily Traffic) range, which result in Level of Service C. It is estimated that 15% of the traffic is truck traffic. The projected future year (2020) volume ranges from 4,900 to 6,70q AADT and will continue to result in Level of Service C, which is considered acceptable. Level of Service (LOS) is defined as a qualitative measure describing operating conditions within a traffic stream, as well as its perception by motorists. LOS is measured from "A" to "F' with "A" representing the best operating conditions. This route currently functions as Level of Service C and is projected to continue functioning at a Level of Service C. Level of Service C is considered to be where traffic is moving at or near free flow speeds with noticeable restriction to maneuver.
Passing is permitted north and southbound on SR-15. The number of intersecting roadways are low and the adjacent land use is rural. These elements, combined with the roadway characteristics, allow for the roadway to be 45 % striped to allow for numerous passing opportunities.
Accidents
The latest year that complete accident data is available is 1997. There were 13 accidents in 1997 along this section of State Route 15. There were 15 accidents in 1996 and 9 accidents in 1995. In all three years studied the accident rate along this. section of State Route 15 was significantly lower than the statewide average.
Station # 1995 1996 1997
Year 1995 1996 1997
AADT 3,700 3,200 3,800
AADT 4,700 3,800 4,800
Traffic Count Station #112
# of Accidents
Rate
6
63
11
134
8
32
Traffic' Count Station #114
# of Accidents
Rate
3
73
4
119
5
118
Statewide Rate 193 201 194
Statewide Rate 193 201 194
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Conclusion! Recommendation Over the years, the lack of development along this section of SR-15 has resulted in a small increase in traffic volumes. This trend is expected to continue and traffic is projected to slightly increase. Study analysis indicate State Route15 is presently operating at a Level of Service C, and unless projected traffic conditions change dramatically, traffic is expected to continue to operate at this acceptable Level of Service C throughout the year 2020. Therefore, an addition of . a passing lane project is not recommended on State Route 15 between Oconee/Greene County Line and the city limits of Watkinsville.