Gk T'16o.Plo MI 2001 N5 STUDY: . SR 19/US 23 Bacon-Appling- Jeff Davis Counties May, 2001 Prepared for Office of Planning Georgia Department of Transportation by Tom McQueen Section Table of Contents Background and Executive Summary : .". ., ~ .j Page 3 Demographic Information .4 Corridor Description : 5 Traffic Analysis 6 Accident Analysis ; : 8 Altemative Routes ' 10 Programmed Projects in the Corridor 11 ' Conclusion and Recommendations 12 Appendix A Map of Traffic Count Stations in Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties 2 Background During a December 8, 2000 meeting between Commissioner Coleman and Representative Smith and the Bacon County delegation, Bacon County requested a study of the feasibility of improving SR 19IUS 23 between Hazlehurst and Alma. This request was assigned to the Office of Planning. Executive Summary The study considered population growth, demographics and employment along the SR 19IUS 23 corridor as it crosses through Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties. The study "also made use of current and projected traffic volumes, and accident data. In summary, the study found no need to improve SR 19/US 23 through Bacon, Appling, and Jeff Davis Counties. Current and future traffic volumes, accident statistics, and land use development do not support a proposal to four-lane the corridor. Based on the detailed analysis of accidents that occurred within the study area, it is recommended to take a more detailed look at the intersection of SR 19/US 23 and County Road 174 (Olin Wooten Road). There were a total of three accidents at this location between 1995 and 1997 that contributed to this section of roadway having an above average accident rate when compared to the statewide accident rate for similar facilities. 3 Demographic Information The State of Georgia .showed. strong population growth in the 1990s. Although not as strong as the overall statewide growth, Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties also experienced an increase in population. Between 1990 and 1998, the population of Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties grew by 8.5%, 4.8%, and 6.0%, respectively. The estimated 1998 population of the largest city in Bacon County (Alma) is 3,791. The estimated 1998 population of the largest city in Jeff Davis County (Hazlehurst) is 4,228. This data is shown in Table 1 below: Table 1 ]990 Population ] 998 Est. Population Population change, ] 990-] 998 Percent population change, 1990-] 998 Percent of workforce employed in County (] 990) Percent minority* population (1990) State of Georgia 6,478,179 7,642,207 +1,]64,028 +18.0% nJa 29.0% *U.5. Census defined as Black/African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, or American Indian/Alaska Native population. In Bacon County, the largest non-military employers are Fleetwood Trailer, Ithaca Industries, and Milliken & Company. In Appling County, the largest non-military employers are Catalytic Industrial, Georgia Power Co., and ITT Rayonier Inc. In Jeff Davis County, the largest non-military employers are Amoco Fabrics Co., ERO Industries, and Olin Wooten Transport. 4 r:.,:,~,. s , '~';'~~k ~! ~"l". ~. Corridor Description In the area studied, SR 19/US 23 is a north-south route connecting Hazlehurst and Alma. Between these cities, the route crosses through Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties. Map 1 below shows the location of SR 19/US 23 in the study area. In most of the study area, SR 19/US 23 is a two-lane facility with 5-foot grass shoulders. Each lane on the two-lane section is typically 14 feet wide. Between Alma and Hazlehurst, the route is functionally classified as a rural minor arterial. The land use along the corridor is mostly rural and undeveloped. One section of SR 19/US 23 is a four-lane facility. It is located in Bacon County starting at the northern city limits of Alma and proceeding northwards for approximately one mile. Appling County Mapl 5 Traffic Analysis Existing Conditions The Department conducts annual traffic counts at predetermined locations known as "count stations" on all state routes throughout the state. These locations are determined by distance between other routes, terrain and traffic generators. Along the section of SR 19IUS 23 between Alma and Hazlehurst, there are II count stations that provided current and historic traffic count data for this study. The location of the count stations providing traffic volume data for this study is shown in Appendix A. .. Traffic volumes along SR 19IUS 23 between Alma and Hazlehurst have been slowly increasing over the past 15 years. Some sections are increasing at greater rates than other sections, but in general, the entire corridor is experiencing low to moderate traffic growth. Traffic volumes on SR 19IUS 23 in 1999 range from high of 6,311 Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) in Bacon County to a low of 1,605 AADT in Appling County. The traffic volumes from each count station on the corridor are shown in Table 2. Truck volumes in the study area (measured as a percentage of total traffic volume) vary between 10.6% in Bacon County to 15.1% in Jeff Davis County. To study how well traffic is flowing, data on traffic volumes, passing opportunities, truck percentages and roadway grades are used to determine the capacity and Level of Service (LOS) for a roadway. Capacity is defined as the maximum hourly rate at which persons or vehicles can reasonably be expected to travel a certain distance or uniform section of roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway, traffic and control conditions. LOS is defined as a qualitative measure describing operational conditions within a traffic stream, and its perception by motorists. Level of service is measured from "A" to "F', where "A" represents the best operating conditions and "F' represents the worst. Each level of service represents a range of operating conditions. The methodology used to determine LOS and capacity came from the Highway Capacity Manual and outputs from the Highway Capacity Software. The Level of Service along SR 19IUS 23 varied from location to location, however at no point along the route is the LOS worse than LOS "B" for 1999 traffic conditions. This condition is considered acceptable (anything worse than a LOS "C" is considered unacceptable on a two-lane rural highway such as SR 19IUS 23). In general, when LOS begins to 'fall below the "C" level, measures need to be taken,to improve the roadway. The LOS analysis for each section of the SR 19IUS 23 corridor within the study area is shownin Table 2. Future Conditions Projecting future conditions in any situation is dependent on land use and locations of major traffic generators and often time is difficult to predict. The methodology used to make future traffic 6 .. . '. :~ .. " '~ .~ .'~ ,," projections takes into account numerous factors, including the following: Historical traffic counts Population projections Economic projections Traffic generators along the route Road usage Land use plans Generally, when making traffic projections, the Department uses a 20-year horizon for identifying any deficiencies. Using the 20-year window allows for ample time to plan and implement any needed improvements. The current traffic conditions are evaluated and studied for deficiencies and these same conditions are projected out for 20 years to determine if the roadway will be functioning efficiently during this time. Future (year 2019) traffic projections for SR 19IUS 23 along the study area range from a high of . 7,552 in Bacon County to a low of 1,958 in Appling County. These projections are calculated using a growth factor corresponding to the various factors described earlier. An average growth rate is around 1.5% to 2% for normal conditions. The projected (year 2019) traffic volumes on the corridor are shown in Table 2. Level of Service along SR 19IUS 23 varies from location to location, however at no point along the route is the LOS worse than LOS "C" for traffic conditions in the year 20 19~ The future LOS analysis for each section of the SR 19IUS 23 corridor within the study area is shown in Table 2.. Other transportation modes No public transit service is available in Bacon County. Aviation Bacon County is home to the Bacon County airport, which is located 3 miles west of Alma. This airport is open to the public, with an average of 126 operations per week. Ten aircraft are based here and there is no commercial air service available. The airport is not part of the immediate study area of SR 19IUS 23. In Jeff Davis County, the Hazlehurst Airport is located 3 miles northwest of Hazlehurst. This airport is also open to the public, with an average of 118 operations per week. Nine aircraft are based here and there is no commercial air service available. The airport is also not part of the immediate study area of SR 19IUS 23. Bicycles The SR 19IUS 23 corridor is not listed as a Georgia Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan route nor in any local county bicycle and pedestrian plan. 7 Accident Analysis The number and type of accidents can give useful insight to problem areas along a roadway. When a large number of accidents occur at a particular point or if a large number of accidents occur along a stretch of roadway, this can indicate an area needing further study.' The type of accident can also help indicate if the accidents are being caused by problems with the roadway itself or if the problem is driver error. When an accident occurs, law enforcement codes the accident by type, such as "rear end", "side-swipe" or "angle-intersecting", etc. Generally, if there are numerous "rear-end" accidents, this may mean that there is a significant percentage of leftturning vehicles or traffic is becoming congested. If a large percentage of the accidents are coded as "angle-intersecting", this may mean that the intersecting roadway is at a bad angle and the driver does not have good sight distance. Whenever there are numerous accidents of similar type in one area, an investigation is warranted. The Department calculates an accident rate for each section of roadway. This is performed by " looking at the historical accident data for the last three years, accidents per 100,000,000 , million vehicle miles traveled, the average annual daily traffic and the roadway distance. These numbers are entered into a formula and compared on an annual basis. The resulting number is the rate of accidents per 100,000,000 vehicle miles traveled (MVMT). This accident rate is then compared to the statewide average for routes classified with the same . functional class. Functional class is a way of defining a road by how it is used.and where it is located. Comparing similar state routes allows insight as to whether a roadway is experiencing an above or below average accident rate. As shown in Table 2, the accident rate along most of the corridor is below the statewide average for the three most recent years that data is available: 1995, 1996, and 1997. However, there are several count stations that show above average accident rates for several specific years of data. They include Count Stations 174, 176 and 178 in Jeff Davis Counties and Count Station 133 in Appling County. Upon further investigation; there did not appear to be a pattern to the accidents in these Count Stations. Most were angle-intersecting accidents occurring where county roads intersected SR 19IUS 23. One exception was the intersection of SR 19IUS 23 and County Road 174 (Olin Wooten Road) in Jeff Davis County. For the three years that data was analyzed at this location, there was an average of one angle-intersecting accident per year. Near this intersection is the Olin Wooten Transport trucking-related facility. The presence of slow moving trucks entering and exiting SR 19 at County Road 174 may explain some of the conflict at this intersection. 8 County Count Station Jeff Davis 178 (SR 19) Jeff Davis 176 (SR 19) Jeff Davis 174 (SR 19) Milepost 9.09-10.83 7.2 - 9.08 2.92-7.19 1999 AADT 4,376 3.597 2,433 Jeff Davis 172 (SR 19) 0- 1.98 1,884 Appling 134 (SR 19) 2.25 - 3.19 1,810 Appling 133 (SR 19) Bacon 129 (SR 19) \0 Bacon 127 (SR 19) Bacon 125 (SR4) Bacon 123 (SR4) 0-0.27 1,605 2.5 - 6.89 1,833 0-2.49 2,164 12.86-14.99 5,220 11.81-12.85 6,311 Bacon 123 (SR 4): 4 lanes Bacon 120 (SR 4): 4 lanes 10.79-11.80 6,180 10.19-10.78 6,180 Table 2 1999 LOS 2019 AADT B 5,340 B 4,389 A 2,969 A 2,299 A 2,209 A 1,958 A 2,237 A 2,641 ... B 6,061 B 7,701 A 7,552 A 7,552 2019 LOS B B B Accident Accident Accident Rate-1995 Rate-1996 Rate-1997 Above Above Below Average Average Average Below Above Above Average Average Average Below Average Above Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average A Above Below Above Average Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average C "Below Below Below fJ:.verage Average Average C Below Below Below Average Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average A Below Below Below Average Average Average ~ ~! ,OJ .,.< .,<~ "-1 ~ :".; 1') i:~ '<- ".~ ..~...:.;.:- .,~..~ .-.;... I; ~ ':':.: '. f ~"'- ~~i Alternative Routes A portion of SR 19IUS 23 in the study area runs concurrently with US 1, which is included in the Governor's Road hnprovement Program (commonly referred to as "GRIP"). The GRIP program is a statewide developmental highway system that includes US l/SRI7. The location of US 1 relative to SR 19IUS 23 is shown on Map 2 below. 'Within Georgia, the US 1,corridor is 331 miles long, of which 115 miles have been improved to four lanes (or are currently under construction) as part of the GRIP program. Jeff Davis County Appling County Map 2 More specifically, SR 19IUS 23 and US 1 run concurrently as a single facility known as SR 19IUS 23IUS 1 northbound out of Alma. The two facilities split approximately 5 miles north of Alma where SR 19IUS 23 continues northwestwards until intersecting the Golden Isles ParkwaylUS 341 in Hazlehurst. Meanwhile, US 1 continues northeastwards where it intersects the Golden Isles Parkway/US 341 in Baxley. Where they intersect the Golden Isles Parkway, SR 19IUS 23 and US I are approximately 18 miles apart. Where they run separately, current and projected traffic volumes are approximately 45% higher on US 1 compared to SR 19IUS 23. 10 : :.:", ' Programmed Projects in the Corridor Where SR 19IUS 23 runs concurrently with US 1 north of Alma, SR 19IUS 23 has been improved to four lanes or will be improved to four lanes in the near future as part of the GRIP program. The 4.4 miles section of SR 19IUS 23IUS 1 through Alma has already been improved to four lanes and is open to traffic. For the unimproved section north of Alma, there are two widening projects programmed on SR 19IUS 23IUS 1 that were let to contract on July 23, 1999. These widening projects begin where the previous widening left off (south of the SR 19/US 23IUS 1 split in the vicinity of the Hurricane Creek overflow bridge) and proceed northwards a distance of 6.7 miles to the Bacon!Appling county line. hnprovements on this 6.7-mile section should be completed by January 15,2002. For the next section of widening of US 1 from the Appling/Bacon County line into Baxley, that project's environmental studies and surveys are now complete. Between the location where SR 19IUS 23IUS 1 split and the City of Hazlehurst, there is only one programmed project on SR 19/US 23. Project STP-000I-00(81O), PI 0001810 proposes to construct an overpass that will carry SR 19IUS 23 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad in Hazlehurst, where there is currentlyan at-grade crossing. 11 Conc lus t on and Re'cbmmendat;; on's Current and future. traffic volumes do not indicate a.need to widenSR 19IUS 23 through the study area. In addition, accident rates are generally below average throughout the corridor for the most recent years that data was available. Therefore, it is recommended that no widening projects be programmed between Alma and Hazelhurst on SR19IUS 23. Future north-south traffic volumes.onthe portion of SR 19/US 23 that coincides with the US 1 GRIP corridor will be served with already programmed GRIP projects on US .1. In the future, it is recommended that the remainderofSR 19/US 23 between Alma and Hazlehurst be monitored.for potential safety and operational improvements. It is recommended that a more detailed study be done at the intersection of SR 19IUS 23 and County Road 174,(Olin Wooten Road). At this location; there were three angle-intersecting accidents over the three years that data was analyzed. Near this intersection is a truckingrelated facility owned by Olin Wooten Transport. The presence of slow moving trucks entering and exitingSR 19 at County Road 174 may explain someof the conflict at this intersection. 12 o < C0 UNT Y < / Appendix A Traffic count stations along SR 19/US 23 in Bacon, Appling and Jeff Davis Counties. 13 ..,.