Main Street Traffic Studies: 8000+ Vehicles a Day

A pair of recent traffic studies of lower Main Street in New Canaan found that more than 8,000 vehicles a day were traveling this collector road – a road which is a primary route for emergency vehicles, as well as emergency evacuation.  The studies were conducted of northbound and southbound traffic at Woodland Road during the short July 4th holiday week. Some of the studies’ conclusions need to be adjusted, since they assume a speed limt of 25 mph; the posted speed limit there is 30 mph.

The number and type of vehicles and their speed was recorded in 60 minute time periods, from 12 AM on 7/01/08 to 12 AM on 7/03/08, lasting a total of 48 hours. For northbound traffic, the AADT (average annual daily traffic) Count was 4,088. For southbound traffic, the AADT Count was 4,423. The total AADT Count for both lanes is 8,506.  It is reasonable to assume that these numbers would be higher during the school year, when more famliies are in town (a more accurate AADT would take into account such season variations). One would also expect the detailed breakout numbers shown during rush hours and school opening/closing times to be higher during the school year. 

Most of the vehicles were passenger cars; 211 were small trucks, 45 were large trucks or buses, and 15 were tractor trailers. (The study was conducted prior to the beginning of the Mill Pond drainage project.)

The mode speed in both directions was 30 mph; at least half of the vehicles were traveling at a speed of 30-34 mph or lower. Northbound the average speed was 32, and the 85th percentile speed was 39.57 mph. Southbound the average speed was 31, and the 85th percentile speed was 36.48 mph.

What is also interesting is the number of vehicles traveling in excess of 55 mph: 104 (2.74%) northbound and 58 (1.38%) southbound. Multiply that by 365 days a year. And this is in one of several sections of lower Main Street that are already “narrow” by the “traffic calming” goal of the proposed construction: 24 feet.  Also revealing is that these speeding vehicles are most likely to be found during morning and afternoon rush hours, not in the wee hours of the morning as one might suppose.

Would you like to be walking on a sidewalk right next to a 55 mph vehicle? A loud dump truck or a tractor trailer splashing mud? There’s not room for a buffer between the proposed sidewalks and this heavily-traveled road. And when there’s a sidewalk on only one side, walkers tend to cross the road to get to it, often jaywalking and surprising drivers.

Here are the studies for those of you who would like more detail (remember that the speed limit is 30 mph at this point on Main Street, not 25 as the studies say, so the conclusions about the number of speeding vehicles is incorrect.)

• Northbound Main Street at Woodland Road, 12 AM 7/01/08 – 12 AM 7/03/08
  
• Southbound Main Street at Woodland Road, 12 AM 7/01/08 – 12 AM 7/03/08
  

Tags: collector road, main street, New Canaan, sidewalks, traffic, traffic calming, traffic study