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Comprehensive Plan Transportation Element <br />results in a 5% increase in capacity. Applying this increase to the two lane capacity of 43rd <br />Avenue found that three-laning would result in a new capacity of approximately 903 vehicle <br />trips/hour/direction. While the three-laning would help to mitigate level of service problems, it <br />was found that that improvement would not fully address level of service concerns, since peak <br />hour directional demand from proposed traffic projects on 43rd Avenue would soon exceed three - <br />lane capacity (903 trips). <br />With respect to new roadways and parallel roadways, a number of north/south facilities exist <br />within a distance of approximately five miles of 43rd and 27th Avenues. Two of these facilities <br />(US 1 and Old Dixie Highway) connect residents in both Indian River and St. Lucie counties, <br />while two others (58th Avenue and 20th Avenue) are limited to only Indian River County. In <br />analyzing improvement options for north/south alternatives, it was determined that widening <br />parallel facilities is either not feasible and/or will not result in adequate levels of service on 43rd <br />and 27th Avenues. <br />According to model runs performed as part of the MPO's 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan <br />update, the widening of US 1 from four to six lanes would still result in level of service <br />deficiencies on 27th and 43rd Avenues. Consequently, another roadway alternative was explored. <br />That was the extension of 58th Avenue to Indrio Road in St. Lucie County. Located <br />approximately 1 mile west of 43rd Avenue, 58th Avenue is a new, four lane divided north -south <br />facility. According to modeled output, extending 58th Avenue south to Indrio Road in St. Lucie <br />County would also not adequately address level of service issues on 43rd and 27th Avenues. <br />The remaining north -south roadways, 20th Avenue and Old Dixie Highway, are severely <br />constrained by right of way. Both roadways are also classified as collectors, whereas 27th and <br />43rd Avenues are classified as minor arterials. In addition, land use adjacent to 201h Avenue <br />includes several public and private schools and school crossing zones. Consequently, neither <br />facility can be widened without massive disruption to neighborhoods and businesses; therefore, <br />neither option is cost feasible. <br />No other parallel facilities exist within the corridor. Since the surrounding neighborhoods are <br />largely built out north of Oslo Road, no new parallel roads could be built without displacement <br />of existing neighborhoods. <br />In the course of preparing its 2030 LRTP, the MPO explored other alternatives to address the <br />43rd Avenue and 27th Avenue level of service considerations. Model analysis indicated that a <br />major new roadway corridor, 66th Avenue (modeled as a new, five -lane facility from SR 60 to <br />Oslo Road and as a new three -lane facility from Oslo Road to St. Lucie County) could relieve <br />conditions on 43rd Avenue if developed in conjunction with other alternatives (including the six- <br />laning of US 1 and the 3-laning of 27th and 43rd Avenues). As indicated in the LRTP report, this <br />relief would come about in year 2030, after all parallel and feeder routes are already constructed, <br />and only if the MPO's future assumptions on growth and travel demand are realized. <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 70 <br />