Road Safety Audit Report - Chillicothe, Missouri

Northwest Missouri Regional Road Safety Audit Program
U.S. Highway 36 and S. Mitchell Avenue Intersection Chillicothe, MO

Sponsored by the MoDOT Northwest District Blueprint for Safety Coalition Conducted June 8, 2011
Mo-Kan Regional Council 224 N. 7th Street St. Joseph, MO 64501 www.mo-kan.org
Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments 114 W. 3rd Street Maryville, MO 64468 www.nwmorcog.org
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission 1104 Main Street Trenton, MO 64683 www.ghrpc.org
Road Safety Audit (RSA) Report The Intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and S. Mitchell Avenue Chillicothe, MO June 8, 2011
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Table of Contents
1.0
Background 1.1 RSA Team 1.2 RSA Process 1.3 RSA Report 1.4 Study Area Characteristics, Operations and Safety Performance Assessment Findings and Suggested Solutions 2.1 Sight Obstruction 2.2 Signage Issues 2.3 Insufficient Painting and Striping 2.4 Intersection Safety Conclusion 3.1 3.2 Summary of Issues
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3.0
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1.0
Background
U.S. Highway 36 is an east-west principal arterial four lane highway that traverses through northern Missouri. The highway connects Kansas and Illinois as a truck route to Chicago. Along the 36 corridor lies the City of Chillicothe located in Livingston County, Missouri. Chillicothe is a city with a population of 8,968 residents and is the largest city in the 11 county Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (GHRPC) area. It is also considered the commercial leader of the GHRPC area with eight businesses located in its industrial park. Each of the businesses located in the industrial park utilize large trucks for supplies needed to produce their wares as well as for distribution of their goods. Listed below are the 8 businesses located in the industrial park: Associated Packaging Technologies Cloverleaf/Farmers Produce Cold Storage DeLaval Manufacturing GEAR for Sports Manufacturing and Warehouse Distribution Helena Chemical Warehouse Distribution Midwest Quality Glove and Gear Warehouse Distribution Vance Brothers WireCo
The portion of U.S. Highway 36 included in this study was originally constructed as a four lane highway from Mo. Highway 65 to Brookfield in 1966. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) constructed the concrete median just west of S. Mitchell Avenue in 2002. The rest of the four lane highway in Livingston County was completed in 2004. The Chillicothe Industrial Park was purchased in 1988 and then developed in the 1990s to its current occupancy. Since that time it has become apparent that there are several safety concerns at the intersection of U.S. Highway 36 and S. Mitchell Avenue. The concerns raised can be categorized as sight obstruction, signage issues, insufficient road painting and striping, and intersection safety. Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, Mo-Kan Regional Council and the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments have been funded to perform three Road Safety Assessments (RSAs) in MoDOTs Northwest District. The Regional Planning Commissions applied for funding through the MoDOT Blueprint for Safety program to perform one RSA in each of the RPC areas. Green Hills RPC conducted a request for projects to all 11 counties located in its region, as well as all of the cities with populations over 1,000. GHRPC received five possible projects to review from the local elected officials and it was decided on March 25, 2011, by the Green Hills Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), that the U.S. Highway 36 and Mitchell Avenue intersection was the most needed area for improvement. The study area for this RSA, as shown in Figure 1.0.1, includes all approaches to the intersection. Curved sections of Highway 36 approximately one quarter mile to one half mile east of the intersection are also referenced in the study due to their impact on the intersection.
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Figure 1.0.1: Study Area Map 1.1 RSA Team
The RSA Team was composed of MoDOT, State, City, local representatives, and RPC staff members. The RSA Team included the following individuals:
Name Matt Buchanan Brad Gates Chuck Haney Tonya Lohman Kevin Murphy Hugh Musselman Lance Raines Lt. Matt Rodriguez Shannon Skoglund Sgt. Shawn Skoglund Dana Ternus Organization Mo-Kan Regional Council MoDOT City of Chillicothe MoDOT Delware Valley RPC City of Chillicothe Green Hills RPC Chillicothe Police Dept. MoDOT Missouri Highway Patrol NWMORCOG Email Address matt@mo-kan.org Bradford.gates@modot.mo.gov mayor@chillicothecity.org Tonya.lohman@modot.mo.gov kmurphy@dvrpc.org hughmusselman@gmail.com lance@ghrpc.org mrodriguez@chillimopd.org Shannon.skoglund@modot.mo.gov Shawn.skoglund@mshp.dps.mo.gov dana@nwmorcog.org Phone Number 816-233-3144 660-646-9730 660-973-6296 816-262-1797 215-238-2864 660-707-3800 660-359-5636 660-646-2121 660-646-4542 816-387-2345 660-582-5121
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1.2
RSA Process
The Road Safety Assessment was conducted in a manner consistent with FHWA Road Safety Audit Guidelines. The RSA process started with a kickoff meeting May 6, 2011. The meeting was held at the MoDOT Chillicothe Construction Office, which is located approximately one half mile south of the study area. At this time, the RSA team discussed data collection and reports of issues related to the intersection. Reported issues include: Southbound Mitchell Avenue turning onto U.S. Highway 36 westbound Traffic moving south on Mitchell Avenue have visual obstacles to overcome before they enter the westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 36. Grass and other foliage obstruct sight distance looking east from Mitchell Avenue A blind spot exists for southbound drivers stopped north of the intersection on Mitchell Avenue These drivers are unable to view oncoming westbound Highway 36 traffic due to reduced elevation and a curve in the roadway. Lack of lighting creates the perception that the intersection should be of no great concern to drivers. Southbound Mitchell Avenue turning onto U.S. Highway 36 eastbound Queue area on Mitchell in median is confusing to drivers. Median barrier is too close to the intersection and creates the perception of reduced visibility. Lack of lighting creates the perception that the intersection should be of no great concern to drivers. Forested area northeast of intersection obstructs sight distance. Westbound U.S. Highway 36 Missing intersection warning signs. A blind spot exists for southbound drivers stopped north of the intersection on Mitchell Avenue Drivers are unable to view oncoming westbound Highway 36 traffic due to reduced elevation and a curve in the roadway. Too much signage exists on westbound Highway 36 before Mitchell Avenue Nighttime visibility a concern Almost all of the accidents reported involve drivers traveling north and being struck by westbound Highway 36 semi trucks. Eastbound U.S. Highway 36 Missing intersection warning signs. Left (north) turn lane on Highway 36 is not long enough to support multiple vehicles at one time. Intersection/median is too small for semi trucks or multiple smaller vehicles to queue between the east and westbound lanes of Highway 36 The RSA team reconvened at the MoDOT Chillicothe Construction Office on June 8, 2011 to conduct the RSA. Prior to the field visit, the assessment team had a brief training session to prepare team members unfamiliar with the RSA process. Following the training, the team then began the discussion of the 5
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problems and facts associated with the study area. The RSA team analyzed the following information to prepare for the field visit: Aerial photographs Traffic volume data Crash history for the past five years Adjacent land uses Known safety issues
After the team discussed all of the known facts of the study area, they conducted a field visit at the site. The team observed driving habits and traffic flows within the study area. Team members took photographs, made notes, measured lane width, and evaluated signage. The team spent over one hour observing traffic and identifying potential hazards or obstructions. After conducting a substantive field visit, the RSA team reconvened at the MoDOT Construction Office for a post-audit meeting. During the post-audit discussion, the RSA team shared their observations, identified specific issues, determined potential solutions, rated the level of difficulty to implement each solution, and estimated the level of benefit for each solution. Following the post-audit meeting, regional planning commission staff members compiled all information collected during the RSA process and wrote this formal report. Prior to being finalized, this report was circulated to all RSA team members for their review and comments. 1.3 RSA Report
This report provides information on the issues identified by the assessment team. The information was deemed relevant to the stated goal of the RSA which identified opportunities for improvement of the road safety within the study area. Additionally, this report provides an assessment of the road user safety risk and provides suggestions for improvement of the project area. The suggestions should not be viewed as design or operational recommendations. They are intended to be illustrative of potential solutions to the safety issues identified at the project site. The suggestions are being presented for consideration only. 1.4 Study Area Characteristics, Operations and Safety Performance
U.S. Highway 36 is a four lane principal arterial highway with wide shoulders that runs through northern Missouri from Kansas to Illinois. Highway 36 runs through the southern border of Chillicothe, Mo. and has a posted speed limit of 65 miles per hour. The average daily traffic (ADT) is approximately 4,329 for westbound Highway 36 and 4,152 for eastbound Highway 36. Mitchell Avenue is a Chillicothe city street that runs north and south and connects to Highway 36. Near the intersection with Highway 36, Mitchell Avenue is a two lane asphalt street with eight foot shoulders. Mitchell Avenue has a posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour and was originally designed as a 6
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secondary entrance into the city as an alternative to U.S. Highway 65. Today, the street serves as the primary access point to the Chillicothe Industrial Park. Mitchell Avenue has an average ADT of 995 with most of the traffic being commercial semi-trucks delivering goods to the industrial park. There are only two entrances from Highway 36 into the city of Chillicothe: 1) the Highway 65 diamond interchange, and 2) the at-grade Mitchell Avenue intersection. The intersection of Highway 36 and Mitchell Avenue is a standard four-way, at-grade Type 2 intersection. Mitchell Avenue traffic stops for Highway 36 traffic, which does not stop. Currently, the only signals at the intersection include stop signs for both northbound and southbound Mitchell Avenue Highway 36 traffic is provided with both left and right turn lanes at Mitchell Avenue. Additionally, a queue area between the eastbound and westbound lanes of traffic provide drivers the ability to cross two lanes of traffic at one time, rather than having to cross all four at one time. Yield signs for both northbound and southbound drivers are located within the queue area between the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 36. The queue area is large enough for approximately one to two passenger vehicles to use at one time. The queue area does not provide enough space for semi-trucks to use for an extended period of time, given that trailers would block two of the four lanes of traffic when the vehicles cab is queued between lanes. Land uses currently observed near the intersection include agricultural, industrial, and commercial. Mitchell Avenue is the primary route to the Chillicothe Industrial Park from Highway 36. There are eight companies located inside the Chillicothe Industrial Park that rely on the intersection of Mitchell Avenue and Highway 36 for truck access. Most semi-trucks are unable to take Service Road 36 to the Highway 65/Highway 36 interchange, due to a low-hanging railroad bridge over Service Road 36; therefore, the Mitchell Avenue intersection with Highway 36 is the only access point. The RSA team reviewed crash data for the study area from 2006-2011. Accident Reports since 2006 indicate that 21 reported accidents have occurred at the intersection. There have been two reported fatalities at the intersection and 39% of the crashes involved reported property damage only. A significant number of serious accidents occurred in the westbound Highway 36 lanes due to vehicles turning northbound toward Mitchell Avenue, directly into the path of oncoming westbound traffic. This pattern indicates possible sight distance issues at the intersection that prevent drivers from recognizing oncoming Highway 36 traffic.
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Figure 1.4.1: Official plans of the intersection used by MoDOT for a resurfacing project in 2000
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2.0
Assessment Findings and Suggested Solutions
The RSA team has included the RSA findings in this report, which includes a list of the potential strategies to rectify the problems. The Team also rated the difficulty to implement the strategies and estimated safety benefits, which are included in Chapter 3.1, along with a complete list of the RSA findings and suggested solutions. 2.1 Sight Obstruction Safety Concern: Sight distance limitations affect drivers traveling from all four directions at the intersection. As shown in Figures 2.1.12.1.4, obstacles to sight distance include: The Chillicothe Industrial Park Sign Vegetation along the sides of the highway including a forested area northwest of the intersection A blind spot approximately one quarter mile east of the intersection caused by reduced elevation and a curve Median Concrete barrier west of the intersection
Observations: RSA team members witnessed drivers experiencing difficulty finding opportunities to cross both sets of lanes on Highway 36. Although a high volume of truck traffic was determined to be a primary contributor to this issue, sight distance limitations also contributed to drivers ability to determine opportunities to turn onto Highway 36 or to cross through the intersection to reach either side of Mitchell Avenue. The team identified four distinct impediments within the study area which either reduce visibility or create the perception of reduced visibility, thereby contributing to driver confusion and stress. First, located northeast of the intersection, a large sign (Figures 2.1.1, 2.1.3) indicates the entrance to the Chillicothe Area Industrial Park. The signs close proximity to Highway 36 affects drivers sight distance when traveling southbound on Mitchell Avenue north of the intersection. Not only does the sign partially block drivers lines of sight, but it also affects drivers depth perception, hindering their ability to judge the distance of oncoming traffic. The sign also blocks westbound Highway 36 traffic from recognizing queued vehicles on Mitchell Avenue north of the intersection.
Figure 2.1.1: Industrial Park sign northeast of the intersection 9
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Second, overgrown vegetation also contributes to drivers limited sight distance (Figure 2.1.2). A forested area exists northwest of the intersection and grassy areas surround the area, including inside the medians. When the grass is allowed to grow tall, sight distance is further diminished. Tall grass is a particular concern northeast of the intersection because it contributes to a third sight obstruction. A curve and a reduction in elevation approximately one quarter mile to one half mile east of the intersection create a blind spot for queued southbound vehicles on Mitchell Avenue (Figure 2.1.3).
Figure 2.1.2: Forested area northwest of intersection
Figure 2.1.3: Sight distance limitations north and west of intersection
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Figure 2.1.4: Blind spot created by curve and a drop in elevation The final observed obstruction is a concrete barrier that has been constructed immediately west of the intersection to separate the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 36 (Figure 2.1.5). The barrier is low enough for drivers to view oncoming traffic on the opposite side; however, the barrier has been described by local law enforcement as creating the perception of reduced sight distance. This perception contributes to drivers stress and therefore affects behavior.
Figure 2.1.3: Concrete Barrier west of intersection on Highway 36 11
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Suggested Solutions: The following options should be considered: Relocation of the Chillicothe Industrial Park sign Mow grass more frequently on an as needed basis so that it is not allowed to grow too tall Remove forested area near the intersection Consider the long term improvement of reconfiguring the road east of the intersection to eliminate blind spot Remove concrete barrier and replace with cable
2.2 Signage Issues Safety Concern: Essential signs near the intersection fail to capture some drivers attention. Specific issues include: Cluttered non-essential signs along westbound Highway 36 Undersized essential signs Limited nighttime sign visibility
Observations: Following the field visit, RSA team members reported several issues relating to signage. Cluttered signage placement on westbound U.S. Highway 36 near the intersection with Mitchell Avenue overwhelms drivers and reduces the impact/visibility of essential signage (Figure 2.2.1). Additionally, the essential signs (stop signs, yield signs) in the area are undersized for an intersection with such a high volume of traffic. Although a nighttime audit was not conducted during this study, local law enforcement officials report that sign visibility at night is also a problem.
Figure 2.2.1: Clustered signage along westbound Highway 36 approaching Mitchell Avenue intersection
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Figure 2.2.2: Undersized stop sign signaling southbound Mitchell Avenue drivers
Suggested Solutions: The following options should be considered: Remove or relocate MoDOT Facility sign Remove or relocate Animal Shelter sign Remove or relocate Chillicothe Industrial Park sign Remove or relocate the blue motorist service sign Replace undersized stop and yield signs with larger signs Add delineators to essential signs Ensure retroreflectivity of essential signs Remove signs indicating Business 36
2.3 Insufficient painting and striping Safety Concern: Faded and/or absent painting and striping contribute to driver confusion within the intersection. Specific examples include: Faded yield bars inside the intersection Faded lane and curve pavement markings Absent stop bars on Mitchell Avenue Absent directional arrows in turn lanes Absent lane pavement marking inside intersection
Observations: The RSA team observed a number of issues related to missing or faded painting/striping at the Highway 36 and Mitchell Avenue intersection. There appears to be sufficient space within the median intersection to allow two passenger vehicles to queue (Figure 2.3.1), but the absence of lane markings results in a great deal of confusion for those using the intersection; however, semis using the
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intersection often exceed the length of the median, block lanes with their trailers, and cause significant wait time for passenger vehicles attempting to cross (Figure 2.3.2).
Figure 2.3.1: Queue area between eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 36
Figure 2.3.2: Truck queued between intersection has trailer blocking westbound Highway 36 lanes Within the intersection itself, the yield bars are faded. Drivers often move slowly toward the yield signs, but often block the turn lanes on Highway 36. Striping in the center of the median is absent, often resulting in drivers crossing the center of the roadway and preventing cars traveling in the opposite direction from staying on the correct side of the road. Turn lanes on Highway 36 do not display directional arrows. Vehicles within the median intersection often block the turn lanes as well. The absence of stop bars on Mitchell Avenue often causes drivers to stop their vehicles prior to the intersection which restricts their view of oncoming traffic, particularly on the north side.
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Suggested Solutions: The following options should be considered: Repainting curves and yield bars within the median intersection The addition of rumble strips along the edge of the median intersection, turning lanes, and the shoulder The addition of stop bars on Mitchell Avenue The addition of directional arrows to turn lanes The addition of lane markings in the median intersection to identify lanes Ensure retroreflectivity of striping
Figures 2.3.3 provides a sketche of possible striping/lane marking for the intersection.
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This map shows the additional markings needed at the intersection of Highway 36 and South Mitchell Avenue in Chillicothe, Mo. The road markings shown in white are currently existing. The suggested markings (stop bars, yield arrows, striping and turn arrows) are shown in yellow.
Figure 2.3.3: Additional markings needed highlighted in yellow
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2.4 Intersection Safety Safety Concern: A significant number of conflict points between passenger vehicles and commercial truck traffic exist at the intersection of US highway 36 and Mitchell Avenue. Specific examples of safety concerns include: Insufficient turning radius at the intersection Inadequate queue area Pavement deterioration inside the intersection Lack of notice of approaching intersection from U.S. Highway 36 Insufficient lighting
Observations: In gathering information prior to the site visit, it was reported that an above-average number of collisions involving eastbound passenger vehicles turning north onto Mitchell Avenue and colliding with westbound truck traffic on Highway 36 have occurred at this location. The majority of accidents occur during early morning hours and evening hours, particularly around sunrise and sunset when environmental factors further contribute to the intersections ambiguity. The intersection is a typical median opening that allows all turns; therefore, there are 18 major conflict points possible. During the site visit, a number of observations related to traffic indicated a myriad of problems present at this intersection. Semis using the intersection encounter a number of difficulties and obstacles. The radius of the intersection appears to be insufficient when turning from Highway 36 onto north Mitchell Avenue. The length of trucks stopped in the median exceeds the median length, often leaving a portion of the semis trailers extended into traffic lanes of Highway 36. (See Figure 2.3.2) This problem also contributes to congestion within the median intersection. When a single semi is attempting to use the intersection, the problem is minimal. However, when multiple semis are involved, the resulting situation is confusing and perilous. (See Figure 2.4.1)
Figure 2.4.1: Queue area between eastbound and westbound lanes on Highway 36 17
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Similarly, when multiple passenger vehicles and semis are involved, right-of-way and positioning creates problematic situations for all drivers attempting to use the intersection. The wariness of drivers utilizing the Mitchell Avenue and Highway 36 intersection is evident. For those traveling on Highway 36, no intersection warning is posted. Lighting is largely non-existent with the exception of north Mitchell Avenue which further contributes to the ambiguity of the driving situation by creating the impression that the intersection is not heavily utilized by traffic. Suggested Solutions: The following options should be considered: The extension of turn lanes The addition of acceleration lanes Make pavement repairs inside the intersection The elimination of the concrete barrier to the west of the intersection and implementation of guard cable Altering access to Mitchell Road by eliminating left turns, effectively creating a right-in/right-out Re-routing traffic to the Highway 65 interchange through signage and policy changes Constructing a Type 3 or Type 4 intersection to eliminate congestion and points of conflict The addition of intersection warning signs Increased lighting to alter impression of intersections usage Figures 2.4.2 and 2.4.3 provide diagrams of alternative intersection configurations
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Figure 2.4.2: Typical Type 3 Median Opening
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Figure 2.4.2: Typical Type 4 Median Opening
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3.0 Conclusion
This assessment has been prepared to assist the responsible road authorities in the identification and actualization of opportunities to improve safety within the study area. The assessment is based on information available at the time of the field review. The suggestions it contains are for consideration only, and are in no way intended to serve as design or operational recommendations. A summary of the site-specific issues outlined above is presented in the following table in Section 3.1, page 22, including potential improvement strategies, the level of difficulty to implement, and the estimated safety benefit. This table was created by the Road Safety Audit team members. This report does not preclude the identification of additional issues pertaining to safety by the responsible road authorities, or the emergence of new issues over time. It is recommended that the responsible agencies review this report; document their responses to the issues identified in a formal response report; and track their progress toward the implementation of safety improvements prompted by the assessment.
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3.1 Summary of Issues

Site-Specific Issue Sight distance issue with southbound traffic on Mitchell due to Industrial park sign Grass/foliage obstructs sight distance looking east from Mitchell Forested area northeast of intersection may be sight distance concern Sight distance concern with westbound 36 curve before Mitchell Median barrier to close too intersection and compromises sight distance Cluttered, non-essential signage on Westbound 36 reduces visibility/impact of essential signs Sign visibility Nighttime Visibility Faded yield bars Queue area on Mitchell in median confusing Vehicles off-track into the median when turning onto/from Mitchell Faded striping on every curve Missing pavement marking arrows inside intersection Missing Stop Bars on Mitchell Missing turning lane arrows on 36 Not enough radius for trucks to turn from 36 to Mitchell Not enough radius for trucks to turn from 36 to Mitchell Pavement deterioration at median inside intersection Large number of accidents occurring due to eastbound traffic turning north onto Mitchell colliding with traffic traveling westbound on 36 A significant number of crashes involving trucks turning onto/from Mitchell from 36 Missing intersection warning signs Potential Improvement Strategy Consider relocating or eliminating the sign Difficulty to Implement Medium Estimated Safety Benefit Low
Additional mowing Eliminate forested area
Low Low
Low Low
Realign highway Eliminate barrier and replace with safety cable
High Medium
Medium High
Eliminate or relocate MoDOT facility sign, animal shelter sign, and blue motorist service sign Increase size of essential signs and add delineators to posts. Ensure retro-reflectivity of striping and essential signs Paint yield bars Paint double yellow stripes to guide traffic, identify lanes; consider adding rumble strips Add rumble strips on left and right edges of turning lanes and onto the shoulder Repaint curves Paint arrow markings
Low
Low
Low Low Low Low Low Low Low
Medium Low High High High Medium High
Paint Stop Bars Paint turning lane arrows Consider extending turn and acceleration lanes Relocate signs away from corners that obstruct turning trucks Make pavement repairs Reconfigure intersection to Type 3, Type 4, or right in-right out turns only
Low Low High Low Medium Medium
High High High Medium Low High
Reroute traffic to 65 interchange through signage/policy From both directions, add intersection ahead signs with light (prior to rail bridge); consider adding road name to sign Increase lighting
Medium
High
Low
High
Lack of lighting contributes to the ambiguity of the intersection
Medium
High
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Road Safety Audit Report - Chillicothe, Missouri

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Northwest Missouri Regional Road Safety Audit Program

U.S. Highway 36 and S. Mitchell Avenue Intersection Chillicothe, MO

Figure 1.0.1: Study Area Map 1.1 RSA Team

Assessment Findings and Suggested Solutions

Figure 2.1.1: Industrial Park sign northeast of the intersection 9

Figure 2.1.2: Forested area northwest of intersection

Figure 2.1.3: Sight distance limitations north and west of intersection

Figure 2.1.3: Concrete Barrier west of intersection on Highway 36 11

Figure 2.3.3: Additional markings needed highlighted in yellow

Figure 2.4.2: Typical Type 3 Median Opening

Figure 2.4.2: Typical Type 4 Median Opening

3.1 Summary of Issues

Additional mowing Eliminate forested area

Realign highway Eliminate barrier and replace with safety cable

Low Low Low Low Low Low Low

Medium Low High High High Medium High

Low Low High Low Medium Medium

High High High Medium Low High

Lack of lighting contributes to the ambiguity of the intersection

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