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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I INTRODUCTION Rice Creek Plaza is a I oca I I Y or iented shopp i ng center located in the southwest quadrant of the intersection of Si Iver Lake Road and Mississippi Street in New Brighton. The site originally contained a supermarket. About four years ago, the RCE Corporation constructed a shopping center bui.lding which consisted of 50,000 square feet (GFA) on the main floor and 10,000 square feet (GFA) on a lower level (see Figure 1). Since it was constructed, the space has been used for retai I sales on the main floor and office space on the lower level. The RCE Corporation has now proposed the addition of a 12,000 square foot building to Rice Creek Plaza to be used for retai I sales. The City of New Brighton has requested that the RCE Corporation prepare this analysis of the traff i c flow whi ch wou I d be generated if the add i ti on to Ri ce Creek Plaza is constructed. The City has also requested that this analysis address the potential impact of residential development currently occurring on the west edge of the site between Mississippi Street and Rice Creek Road (Figure 1). METHODOLOGY This traffic analysis examines the traffic operating conditions which would occur at critical points at and near Rice Creek Plaza if the proposed devel- opment is implemented. The analysis is conducted in four steps: . Document existing traffic conditions. . Estimate trip generation by proposed development. . Estimate post-development traffic volumes. . Conduct capacity analyses at critical locations. EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS Data regarding existing traffic volumes on streets near the center was collected from Ramsey County and the Minnesota Department of Transpor- tation. This was supplemented by a count of vehicles entering and leaving the shopping center parking lot during the afternoon peak period on Monday, January 5, 1981. Figure 1 shows average dai Iy traffic volumes on streets surrounding Rice Creek Plaza, estimated afternoon peak hour volumes on those streets, and afternoon peak hour counts at entrances to the shopping center. Traffic on surrounding streets and at entrances to Rice Creek Plaza operates at a very high level of service throughout the day. Capacity analyses of the intersections of Silver Lake Road with Mississippi ,Street and with Rice Creek Road indicate that these intersections, with four-way stop control, operate at Level of Service "A". This level of service impl ies essentially no delay or congestion. Observation of afternoon peak hour traffic con- firms the results of the analyses. 2