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Waterford 2003 Traffic Survey for the Traffic Calming Study

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2001 traffic volume per day by road

In 2003, the contractor developing a traffic calming plan for Waterford obtained and reviewed existing data and documentation relative to the study of traffic volumes, speeds, and safety. General traffic operations and conditions were observed, e.g., vehicle speeds and delays and overall operational safety.

Daily traffic volumes on the streets of Waterford are relatively low, ranging from 200 vehicles per day (vpd) to just over 1,500 vpd. These low volumes will allow low speed traffic calming measures typical of neighborhood streets. Two sources of daily volumes produced these findings. Historical 24-hour average annual daily traffic (AADT) counts were obtained from VDOT sources and are documented in the above map. In March and April 2003, Kimley-Horn conducted 24- hour tube counts and collected speed data over a 7-day period. These daily volumes are summarized below.

2003 Daily traffic Counts	Total	No. vehicles at different speeds
Location	vehicles	0-20	21-25	26-30	31-35	36-40	41-50	51-70
Water St.- Between Loyalty & Main	299	36	69	100	72	17	4	0
High - Between Church & Main	1,441	76	280	681	356	43	4	1
2nd - Between Patrick & Janney	1,451	292	602	440	100	14	3	0
Clarke's Gap - South of Factory	3,068	41	41	177	600	1,113	1,055	41
Loyalty - East of Water/High	1,427	102	296	561	368	85	13	2
Main - Between Clover Hill & Mill	1,672	186	409	742	293	32	9	2

Letter showing 1949 traffic survey in Waterford

Traffic Counts in September 1949
Location	Total vehicles
High Street	470

Kimley-Horn also collected AM and PM peak hour traffic volumes in February 2003. Based on these turning movement counts, there is a directional split of traffic in the AM and PM peak hours. The peak direction during the AM peak hour is south, towards Route 9. The reverse is true in the PM peak hour.

Another existing traffic pattern observed is the large number of vehicles traveling through the village from the northwest via Route 681 (Milltown Road from Lovettsville) to the south via Route 662. These vehicle trips do not have origins or destinations within the Village of Waterford. Route 662 is used as a north-south connection through the village to the more major east-west roadway of Route 9.

While the speed limit through the Village of Waterford ranges from 20 to 25 mph (reduced at some locations to cautionary 10 and 15 mph speed limits where roadways curve), speeds measured indicated that a majority of drivers exceed the 20 and 25 mph speed limits in the village.

Data indicated that in addition to motorists speeding while entering and leaving the village, there are also a number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit within the town limits: 63% and 75% of vehicles were recorded as traveling over 25 mph on Water Street and High Street. One location where most drivers tend to obey the set speed limit is on Second Street between Janney and Patrick Streets—only 38% of vehicles exceeded 25 mph.

Two measures of vehicle speed are the 85th percentile speed, which is the speed which 85% of drivers are traveling, and the pace speed, which is the 10 mph range in which most of the vehicles are traveling. Vehicle speed data collected in the field shows that the 85th percentile speed at all collection locations exceeded 25 mph. Clarke’s Gap Road was shown to have the highest speeds, with a 10 mph pace speed of 36 to 45 mph. Only 3% of vehicles on Clarke’s Gap Road were recorded as observing the posted speed limit.

Traffic Operations and Control Measures

During this study, Kimley-Horn also conducted a sign inventory for the village. All of the intersections within the village are stop-controlled. The speed limit within the village varies between 20 and 25 mph. A school zone exists near the Waterford Elementary School, reducing speed limit to 20 mph along Loyalty Road during AM and PM periods on school days. Since 1999, the regulatory speed limit signs have been equipped with additional placards warning speeding vehicles of a $200 fine. Also, in 1999 Route 662 (Clarkes Gap Road) was closed to through trucks.

Information regarding vehicle crashes and speeding citations within the village for the year 2002 was obtained from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Department. There were two crashes reported in the village during this period, one at the intersection of Clarkes Gap Road and Factory Street and one on Loyalty Road just east of the Water Street/Butchers Row intersection. Both of these incidents involved a collision between a vehicle and a deer. In 2002, the Sheriff’s Department issued 29 speeding citations along High Street and Loyalty Road within the village. The data does not include any crashes that may have been investigated by the Virginia State Police or crashes that did not require an accident report to be filed.

Conclusions

Based on field observations, data collected, and the number of citations given, speeding is a concern on Route 662 and Route 665 through the village. During field visits, numerous vehicles were observed traveling 5 to 10 mph over the speed limit. These observations are corroborated by the speed study conducted in the village. It should also be noted that speeding was not just limited to daylight hours; vehicles were also observed speeding at night and making incomplete stops. At Factory Street and High Street, which is stop controlled, eastbound right-turning vehicles were observed making a “rolling stop” as they attempted to exit the Village.

The data, however, does not indicate an overwhelming amount of traffic. Traffic counts collected as a part of this study indicate that the highest AADT volumes occurred along State Routes 662 and 665. Widths of roadways tend to be narrow, but traffic volumes such as those recorded in this study can be accommodated by widths of 20 to 22 feet, per AASHTO’s A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (2001). Considering the historic significance of Waterford’s structures and the limited right-of- way, the current roadway widths are generally satisfactory for the level of traffic they serve.

Based on the traffic and speed data collected, as well as observations made in the field, it was evident that traffic calming measures are necessary in the village and that a wide range of solutions is possible. Speeds measured indicated that a majority of drivers exceed the 20 and 25 mph speed limits in the village. While the 85th percentile speeds were generally less than 10 mph over the speed limit, it was the “rogue” speeders that caused concern. Reducing the speed of these drivers is a priority of traffic calming.

From field observations, pedestrians frequently use the sidewalks and streets for access to and from buildings and for leisurely walks. Making the streets safer for citizens and visitors is also a priority.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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