05-20-57 Council Special Meeting Minutes

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SPECIAL MEETING MAY 20, 1957 Boulevard, thence south on Olive Boulevard to the trucking terminals. Trucks heading west from the terminals would travel in the opposite direction over the same route. It is important to keep in mind that the trucks in question, which number approximately 200 daily, are trucks that formerly used Sample Street and therefore did not use Western Avenue (State Route 2) or Olive Boulevard before Sample Street was closed and will not use Western and Olive after Sample Street is opened. With the welfare and safety of the general public to be considered, the question therefore, is , which route is best suited to handle the additional truck load as a result of the closing of Sample Street. The following facts, in my opinion, very definitely answer that question: ACCIDENT DATA During the year 1956 on the route proposed by the City of South Bend, which route covers a total of 7 miles, 30 traffic accidents occurred, for a total of 4.3 accidents per mile. During the year 1956, on the route proposed by the trucking concerns, which route covers a total of 2.6 miles, 124 traffic accidents occurred for a total of 47.7 accidents per mile. During the past 10 years, 19.47 to 1956 inclusive, on the route proposed by the City of South Bend, ,8 fatal accidents occurred. During the past 10 years, 1947 to 1956 inclusive, on the route proposed by the trucking concerns, 16 fatal traffic accidents occurred. TRAFFIC VOLUME On the ronte-proposed by the City'of South Bend, vehicular volume couts taken during the month of May, 1957, showed the following: On Mayflower Road (State Route 123) near Sample Street the average vehicular volume per hour was 225. On Liberty Highway (State Route 23) mid =way between Mayflower Road and Olive Street, the average vehicular volume per hour was 175. On Olive Street near Indiana Avenue, the average vehicular volume per hour was 102 On the route proposed by the trucking concerns, vehicular volume counts taken during the month of May 1957 and during the same hours as the counts on the route proposed by the City, showed the following: On Western Avenue (State Route 2) near Falcon Street, the average vehicular volume per hour was 921 On Olive Boulevard near Ford Street, the average vehicular volume per hour was 279 SPEED. DELAY AND TRAVEL TIME STUDIES In an effort to determine average speed, delay and total travel time on the two routes in question, actual trips during normal periods of the day were made. The following average results were obtained On the route proposed by the City of South Bend, the average speed in traveling the route, with origin at Western and Mayflow& and destination at Olive and Sample, was 36 miles per hour. The total number of stops in traveling this route was 2 and the total time of delay was 11 seconds. The total travel time was 11 minutes and 40 seconds. On the route proposed by the trucking concerns, the average speed in traveling the route, with origin at Westerr and Mayflower and destination at Olive and Sample, was 16.4 miles per hour. The total number -of stops in traveling this route was 6 and the total time of delay was 3 minutes and 10 seconds The total travel time was 9 minutes and 30 seconds. From the facts as outlined the following conclusions can be drawn: More than 11 times as many traffic accidents per mile occurred during 1956, on the route proposed by the truck- ing concerns as occurred on the route proposed by the City of South Bend. Nearly 6 times as many fatal accidents per mile occurred, during the past 10 years, on the route proposed by truckers as occurred on the route proposed by the City of South Bend. In all instances traffic volumes are higher on the streets covering the route proposed by the City of South The result of heavier volumes and congested conditions on the route proposed by the trucking concerns is re- flected in the speed, delay, number of necessary stops and over all time necessary to travel.the entire route. For example; The average speed in traveling the route proposed by the trucking concerns was 16.4 miles per hour as compared to 36 miles per hour over the route proposed by the City of South Bend. The total number of stops and time of delay on the route proposed by the trucking concerns was 6 stops with 3 minutes and 10 seconds delay as compared to 2 stops with 11 seconds of delay on the route proposed by the City of South Bend. The total time difference between the two routes, in spite of the fact that the route proposed by the City of South Bend is 4.4 miles further, was only 2 minutes and 10 seconds longer. Based on the facts as outlined, I strongly recommend the adoption of the route proposed by the City of South Bend. Yours very truly, /a/ Ernest H. Miller EHM /f Ernest H. Miller, Traffic Engineer Councilman Muszynski made a motion that the communication be accepted and placed on file. Councilman Kroll seconded the motion. Motion carried. d/