Jim P.
2005-12-16 15:44:07 UTC
Greeting All -
I'm working through some traffic issues and would love to hear
different sides...
I'm working with a developer on a new mixed use development, and our
traffic engineer is having a hard time finding Trip Gen information as
it relates to a mixed use (Residential, Golf / Recreational &
Neighborhood Commercial) development. He was able to locate recapture
information, but no trip generation.
Logic tells us (and the Town agrees) that having a *small* neighborhood
commercial area with space for some neighborhood oriented commercial
uses (under 5,000 s.f. per store - i.e. coffee shops, day care center,
small restaurants / corner deli, convenience store, dry cleaning drop
off, etc.) *should* reduce the number of trips that residents will need
to take outside of the development for certain items that will be found
at nearby shopping malls, etc.
However, having *too large* of a commercial area (such as a national
chain store) will make it an attractant for those outside the
development.
The problem we're having is that there's no definitive data out there
that says a mixed-use development will have any significant effect upon
trip generation.
The Town just wants to see some data that they can fall back on. Any
suggestions??
Thanks,
- Jim P.
P.S. - We also spoke to the Planning Director for the regional bus
operator (who was shocked that we contacted him) about putting in a
central bus stop. He said the ridership rates in that area are abysmal
to begin with, the routes needed to be reconfigured anyways, and adding
bus service will probably not make a huge difference - except for
commuters when the development is fully built out (5-9 years from now).
I'm working through some traffic issues and would love to hear
different sides...
I'm working with a developer on a new mixed use development, and our
traffic engineer is having a hard time finding Trip Gen information as
it relates to a mixed use (Residential, Golf / Recreational &
Neighborhood Commercial) development. He was able to locate recapture
information, but no trip generation.
Logic tells us (and the Town agrees) that having a *small* neighborhood
commercial area with space for some neighborhood oriented commercial
uses (under 5,000 s.f. per store - i.e. coffee shops, day care center,
small restaurants / corner deli, convenience store, dry cleaning drop
off, etc.) *should* reduce the number of trips that residents will need
to take outside of the development for certain items that will be found
at nearby shopping malls, etc.
However, having *too large* of a commercial area (such as a national
chain store) will make it an attractant for those outside the
development.
The problem we're having is that there's no definitive data out there
that says a mixed-use development will have any significant effect upon
trip generation.
The Town just wants to see some data that they can fall back on. Any
suggestions??
Thanks,
- Jim P.
P.S. - We also spoke to the Planning Director for the regional bus
operator (who was shocked that we contacted him) about putting in a
central bus stop. He said the ridership rates in that area are abysmal
to begin with, the routes needed to be reconfigured anyways, and adding
bus service will probably not make a huge difference - except for
commuters when the development is fully built out (5-9 years from now).