Coffeen Avenue & East Brundage Lane
A Corridor Study in Sheridan, Wyoming
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2nd Public Engagement Opportunity
Scroll to the end of the Story Map for the results of the 1st Public Engagement Opportunity, a draft summary of the recommendations for the corridor, and a survey to provide any feedback or comments.
Please note that the summary of recommendations and the survey will be made available on the day of the meeting - October 2, 2024.
Open House
The second public information meeting was held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, 5:30 pm at The Hub on Smith.
Click here to access a recording.
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Introduction
Coffeen Avenue
Coffeen Avenue is a primary route through Sheridan and its major commercial area. It connects downtown Sheridan to communities south like Big Horn, Banner, and Story through US Hwy 87.
Brundage Lane
Brundage Lane connects between the Sheridan County Airport, WY Hwy 332, Sheridan Avenue, Coffeen Avenue, I-90, and communities east like Ucross and Clearmont through US Hwy 14.
Background
The Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) is studying sections of Coffeen Avenue and Brundage Lane within the Sheridan Urban Systems boundary / city limits.
Purpose of this Study
The purpose of the study was to identify safety and traffic concerns for vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and any other road users.
The study recommends improvements to Coffeen Avenue and Brundage Lane that will benefit local vehicle traffic, bicycles, and pedestrians in the community, as well as regional and tourist vehicle traffic that travels through Sheridan.
Study Area
The study area consists of 1.8 miles of Coffeen Avenue between Main Street/Downtown and Brundage Lane...
...and 0.7 miles of Brundage Lane between Sheridan Avenue and Commercial Avenue just east of I-90.
Data and Analysis
Intersections
This study assessed 16 major intersections with streets on Coffeen Avenue and Brundage Lane, shown on the map and listed below:
The intersections shown in yellow are traffic signals, while the remaining intersections in white have stop signs.
Coffeen Avenue
- Main Street
- Gladstone Street / Gould Street
- Sumner Street/Perkins Street/Whittier Street
- Bryant Street
- Illinois Street /College Avenue /Lowell Street
- Sheridan Avenue/ Heald Street
- Avoca Avenue/ Sugarland Drive
- Sugar Lane
- Riverside Street
- Brundage Lane
Brundage Lane
- Sheridan Avenue
- Wetlands Drive
- Sugarland Drive
- I-90 Eastbound Ramps
- I-90 Westbound Ramps
- Commercial Avenue
The intersection of Coffeen Avenue & 1st Avenue is outside the study area, but was included in the assessment for being close to the Brundage Lane intersection
Traffic Data
Traffic volumes were counted on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 along Coffeen Avenue and Brundage Lane.
Coffeen Avenue
There were between 15,377 and 16,894 vehicles per day at different points along Coffeen Avenue, with the highest traffic count occuring at Little Goose Creek.
Brundage Lane
There were 11,877 vehicles per day on Brundage Lane, counted between Sugarland Drive and I-90.
Speed Data
Speed data was collected on Coffeen Avenue and Brundage Lane. The 85th percentile speed, which is the speed that most vehicles are travelling at or under (85% of vehicles) was assessed.
Speeds on the corridors were all within 5 mph of the posted speed limits, which is 30 mph along most of the corridors except near Downtown, where it is 20 mph. The highest 85th percentile speed was 33 mph in the northbound direction of Coffeen Avenue at Little Goose Creek.
Crash Data
- The areas with the highest number of crashes are shown on the map in dark red and pink. The highest number of crashes occurred at the Coffeen Avenue & Brundage Lane intersection, followed by Coffeen Avenue & Avoca Avenue.
- Between 2017 and 2021, 21% of crashes resulted in injury, with three serious injury crashes occuring. No fatalities were reported in that time.
- Crashes typically occurred at intersections and driveway accesses, with 44% of crashes being angle/T-bone crashes and 36% being rear-end crashes.
- Eight crashes involved collisions with bicycles and pedestrians due to turning vehicles, all resulting in injury.
Coffeen Avenue Typical Section
Coffeen Avenue is currently a five-lane undivided roadway with two drive lanes in each direction and a "two-way left turn lane" in the center.
The inside drive lanes and the turn lane are 11 feet wide and the outside drive lane is between 14.5 and 16 feet depending on the location.
Sidewalks on Coffeen Avenue are 5 feet wide and have no separation between the sidewalk and curb.
There is a connection to the Little Goose Creek Trail just north of the bridge near Derby Club, north of Avoca Avenue.
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1st Public Engagement Opportunity
The 1st Public Engagement Opportunity was conducted in person and virtually on October 17, 2023. Click this link to view the full summary of the results.
The following charts show the results of some of the multiple-choice questions related to how people use the corridors, what are their concerns, and what would they prefer to see happen to the corridors.
Q1. Why do you use these corridors?
Q2. How often do you use these corridors?
Q3. How safe do you feel driving on these corridors?
Q4. How safe do you feel walking/biking along these corridors?
Q5. What are your biggest concerns about these corridors?
Q6. What are your priorities when improvements are made to these corridors?
Analysis Findings
The most common vehicle crashes experienced on the corridor involved turning vehicles (43% Angle/Left-Turn & 36% Rear-End Crashes) that were in areas with high access and intersection density.
The Average Crash Rate for the Coffeen Avenue corridor is 4.344 which is above the statewide average of 2.460 for similar facilities.
3% of the total crashes along the corridor were bicycle or pedestrian related.
100% of the bicycle and pedestrian related crashes occurred due to vehicles turning into their path, most commonly at accesses.
The high access and intersection density along with sidewalks that provide minimal buffer between pedestrians and vehicles likely contributes to the safety deficiencies for non-motorized users.
Summary of Recommendations
Below are enhancements/alterations that could add to the mobility and safety of these two corridors . (click or hover over bold words for Definitions )
Corridor Wide Improvements (North to South)
Curb Extensions & Parking Lane Striping (Coffeen Ave – Main St to Sheridan Ave)
What is a curb extension?
Curb extensions, also known as bulb-outs or neckdowns, reduce the width of the roadway by extending the curb into the parking lane. This shortens pedestrian crossing distances and reduces the time needed to cross the street. Drivers are encouraged to slow down when approaching intersections and mid-block crossings, making turns, and traveling through intersections.
Benefits
- Increases pedestrian safety (shorter crossing times, better visibility)
- Reduces vehicle speeds
- Reduces pedestrian crash risk
Drawbacks
- More difficult to maintain in winter
- Can create drainage deficiencies
- More challenging for larger vehicles to navigate
Proposed Curb Extension & Parking Lane Striping Locations
Example of Curb Extension at Coffeen Ave. & Gladstone St.
Example of Curb Extension at Coffeen Ave. & Whittier St/Sumner St/Perkins St.
Example of Curb Extension at Coffeen Ave. & Bryant St.
Example of Curb Extension at Coffeen Ave. & Lowell St/College Ave./Illinois St.
Example of Curb Extension at Coffeen Ave. & Sheridan Ave./Heald St.
Example of Curb Extension at Intersection
Raised Medians (South of Little Goose Creek on Coffeen and Brundage)
What are raised medians?
Raised medians are raised barriers in the center portion of the street or roadway. They reduce left turning conflicts and provide space for street trees and other landscaping which, in turn, can help reduce speeds by changing the character of a street.
Benefits
- Increases vehicular and pedestrian safety
- Reduces conflict points
- Reduces crash risk
- Does not affect operations significantly
- Provides opportunity for added aesthetics landscaping
Drawbacks
- More expensive to construct
- Reduced snow storage
- Additional maintenance (trees/landscape)
Proposed Median Locations
Zoom in to view proposed median locations
Example of Roadway Sections with a Median
N. Main St, Sheridan
WY 59, Gillette
Grand Ave, Laramie
Business Accesses
Strictly manage new or modified business accesses (no changes mandated for existing accesses)
- Increases safety and improves operations
Traffic Signals
Adjust traffic signal timing throughout the corridor
- Adjust yellow and red time to increase safety
- Adjust green time to improve operations
Other Recommendations for Specific Intersections and Locations
Coffeen Ave & Main St
If additional right-of-way becomes available around this intersection, investigate the opportunity to purchase.
Benefits include
- Opportunity to widen Coffeen Ave for safety
- Buffer between opposing lanes could be constructed
- Sight distance could be increased
Coffeen Ave Widening at Main St
Coffeen Ave & Whittier/Perkins St
Convert Perkins St to one-way westbound.
- Decreases confusion
- Improves operations by removing conflicting inbound movements
Perkins St One-way at Coffeen Ave & Whittier St
Coffeen Ave & Sheridan Ave
Modify Sheridan Avenue lanes and signal. Change southbound lane group to two independent left turn lanes and a single shared through and right turn lane. Separate the left lane from the shared through and right turn lane for the northbound traffic.
- Improves safety and operations
- A roundabout was analyzed but was not recommended because overall intersection operations deteriorated with roundabout implementation.
Coffeen Ave & Sheridan Ave Signal Modifications
Coffeen Ave & Brundage Ln
Remove channelized right turn lane and adjust signal timing.
- Improves vehicle and pedestrian safety
- Signal timing adjustments improve operations
- A roundabout was analyzed but due to right-of-way constraints and lack of improvement to the intersection’s operations a roundabout was not recommended.
Existing Channelized Right Turn at Coffeen Ave & Brundage Ln
Remove Channelized Right Turn at Coffeen Ave & Brundage Ln
Brundage Ln
Restripe, as show in the image below, the outside west bound lane and the outside eastbound lane on Brundage Lane between Coffeen Ave and I-90.
- Increases safety
- Does not significantly affect operations
- Allows flexibility for I-90 interchange design
Brundage Lane Modifications
Brundage Ln & Sheridan Ave
A traffic signal and a roundabout were both analyzed for this intersection. Existing volumes do not “warrant” either option. Warrants are only assessed on existing conditions. Current projections show that based on volumes alone, existing intersection control will adequately function for approximately 20 years. If safety or operations degrade, consider roundabout for safety and operational benefits.
- Increases safety
- Reduces vehicle speeds
- Reduces pedestrian crash risk
- Reduces crash severity
- Reduces conflict points
- Requires additional right-of-way
Brundage Ln & Sheridan Ave Roundabout
Brundage Ln & I-90 Interchange
Traffic signals and roundabouts at the intersections were analyzed. Existing volumes do not “warrant” either option. Warrants are only assessed on existing conditions. Current projections show that based on volumes alone, existing intersection control will adequately function for approximately 20 years. If safety or operations degrade, consider roundabout for safety and operational benefits. Remove channelized right turn lane at I-90 EB to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety.
- Increases safety
- Reduces vehicle speeds
- Reduces pedestrian crash risk
- Reduces crash severity
- Reduces conflict points
- Requires additional right-of-way
- A diverging diamond Interchange and a single-point urban interchange were also considered, but do not fit in existing space
Channelized Right Turn Removal at Brundage Ln & I-90 EB Ramps (west intersection)
Brundage Ln & I-90 Interchange Roundabouts
Definitions
Channelized Right Turn Lane
Channelized right-turn lanes are turning roadways at intersections that provide for free-flow or nearly free-flow right-turn movements.
Conflict Points
Conflict points are the points where two vehicles can potentially collide with each other at road intersections or accesses.
Corridor
A segment of roadway used to move people, goods and services.
Volumes
Traffic volume refers to the number of vehicles that pass a specific point on a roadway during a given time period, usually expressed as vehicles per hour.
Volume Warrants
Volume “warrants” are thresholds where a certain number of vehicles on both the main and side streets are required to consider traffic signals or roundabouts. If volume grows in the future, warrants may be reached.
Traffic Signal vs. Roundabout
Both options can improve operations and safety at intersections with stop signs. Roundabouts often can be safer and more efficient than signals by reducing conflict points and crash severity, however they require more space to build and more disturbance during construction. Signals usual cost less than roundabouts. Commercial vehicles can traverse both options.
Draft Report
Complete draft report can be accessed here
Survey
Click this link to access a survey to provide feedback and comments.