Parks Highway / Sheep Creek Road Extension Traffic Signal (HSIP)
Project No. NFHWY00898/0A45(032)

Determining the Preferred Alternative:

First, we acknowledge that we were unable to develop a solution that fully satisfies all the comments. Considerations for selecting the Preferred Alternative were: user safety, received comments, preferences, reported experiences, user needs, and context of the intersection.

Despite receiving 3 additional comments preferring Alternative A (“A”), the Preferred Alternative is Alternative B because of the following:

• Why Alternative A can be dismissed: Main reason for including it is mitigated. Alternative A was providing a solution to the reported glare that causes visibility issues at certain times when the drivers had to decide of when to leave the intersection because it was stop controlled. By adding a traffic signal, right turning drivers can wait for a protected right for the times when they are uncertain to determine whether they can proceed.
• Why Alternative A was not selected: Safety concerns for non-motorized users.
• Expectation for having a right of way: Alternative A would allow right turning vehicles to join the Park Highway traffic without needing to yield or slow down. Because the non-motorized traffic is present here occasionally, this could overtime create a habit for not looking for non-motorized users.
• We cannot lower the speed of right-turning traffic: Because this intersection is part of a truck route, the pavement geometry must provide a large radius for right turns which takes away our ability to control the speed of right turning vehicles. Partially raised pavement for off-tracking was not selected due to additional snow removal efforts and because this route also serves non-commercial traffic with trailers.
• Protecting the most vulnerable users: Alternative B is likely not the preferred alternative for drivers who routinely perform this movement. However, we selected this as a preferred alternative to protect the most vulnerable users – pedestrians and bicyclists. Because this path is used by non-motorized users of all ages and abilities, the design team selected this alternative in accordance with FHWA’s Complete Streets direction (“A Complete Street is safe, and feels safe, for all users.”).
• Alternative B Improves safety for left turning traffic: Based on the feedback we received, offsetting the Parks right turn lane will also make it easier to determine whether the approaching vehicles are in the through or right turn lane for the drivers who want to make a left turn from Parks Highway.
• Improved signalization for right turns: Currently, the right turning vehicles onto Parks Highway must STOP before proceeding. To address increased delays under the Proposed Alternative compared to Alternative A, the Preferred Alternative includes a Right Green Arrow signal, making it clear when unobstructed right turns can occur. This extends time for protected right turns, as drivers won’t need to stop when left turns from Parks to Sheep Creek have their green arrow. As at other intersections, right turning traffic may proceed if it is safe after stopping at the red light.

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