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Transportation Plan
Vehicular Volumes & Congestion
Vehicular traffic volumes are recorded every 4-6 years on state and county highways as well as select city streets. Traffic volume levels recorded on these roadways over the past 10 years are illustrated on the map below. Future traffic volumes are estimated based on historic growth trends, anticipated land development within the City limits and urban growth boundary, and anticipated population of the region. Estimated traffic volumes on state and county highways as well as Major Collector streets in Northfield are illustrated on the maps below. These estimates are anticipated for approximately the year 2030 and include three roadway network scenarios for evaluation purposes:
Scenario 1 includes the existing roadway network with the addition of new roadway connections that are anticipated prior to 2030. This scenario includes expansion of TH 19 between TH 3 and I-35. Under this scenario, a new vehicular bridge crossing of the Cannon River is NOT included.
Scenario 2 includes the roadway network in Scenario 1 with the addition of a new County Highway 1 Bridge over the Cannon River near the Northfield/Dundas city boundaries.
Scenario 3 includes the roadway network in Scenario 1 with the addition of a new Jefferson Parkway Bridge over the Cannon River within the City of Northfield.
Traffic congestion occurs on roadways when the vehicular traffic volumes begin to approach the capacity of the roadway and/or roadway intersections. Capacities of roadway systems vary based on the roadway’s functional classification and attributable design characteristics. Two–lane arterial roadways have a daily capacity of 12,000 to 18,000 vehicles per day, and a four-lane divided arterial street has a daily capacity of 28,000 to 40,000 vehicles per day. The variability in capacities are directly related to many roadway characteristics including access spacing, traffic control, adjacent land uses, as well as traffic flow characteristics, such as percentage of trucks and number of turning vehicles.
Collector streets have physical capacities similar to those of a two-lane arterial street, however the acceptable level of traffic on a residential street is typically significantly less than the street’s physical capacity. The acceptable level of traffic volumes on streets vary based on housing densities and setbacks, locations of parks and schools, and overall resident perceptions. Typically, traffic levels on Major Collector streets in residential/educational areas are acceptable when they are at or below 50% of the roadway’s physical capacity, resulting in an acceptable capacity of 6,000 to 9,000 vehicles per day. Acceptable traffic levels on Minor Collector streets are considerably less. Typically, a daily traffic volume of 1,000 to 2,500 vehicles per day may be acceptable on Minor Collector streets in residential areas. >
The maps below provide existing and future traffic volume and congestion estimates for roadways within the City of Northfield boundaries.
Existing Volumes and Congestion
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Plan Overview
Issues Map
Goals & Objectives
Public Meetings
Draft Transportation Plan
Related Project Links
Project Contacts
Comments/Public Input
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