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