Hudson Valley Community College 2009-2013 Facilities Master Plan Troy, NY
HVCC .
The final traffic calming measure included in the 2003-2013 Facilities Master Plan is the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of North and South Drive. Roundabouts are very effective at slowing traffic while at the same time improving the movement of vehicles through the system. A roundabout at this location is expected to reduce traffic congestion and speed as well as enhance the overall connectivity between the main campus and the Williams/Cogan/Viking area.
Campus Master Plan
The majority of comments related to vehicular circulation recognized the need to slow traffic, improve the efficiency of moving traffic adjacent to campus at peak hours and the elimination of vehicle circulation within the campus core. Traffic calming recommendations for the campus inside access management, a speed table and a roundabout. In order to improve the efficiency of traffic adjacent to campus, it is recommended that signal timings be reviewed. The proposed I-90 Connector is also expected to provide additional improvements to circulation and efficiency. Vehicular circulation within the campus core was addressed in the 2003-2008 Master Plan. The College plans to eliminate the access road in front of McDonough by 2008. The 2009-2013 Facilities Master Plan recommends the creation of a culde-sac style turn-around from North Drive to the front of McDonough in order to maintain the facility’s function as well as allow access to delivery points for the Siek Campus Center. Recommendations for traffic calming and safety are further explained below. The first traffic calming recommendation for the 2009-2013 Facilities Plan is focused on access management. Access management improvements are designed to reduce the number of access points to North and South Drives in order to increase the distance between intersections and conflict points. This will manage traffic within the parking areas and create a more orderly and consistent flow of traffic from lots the North and South Drive.
Vehicular Vehicular Circulation Circulation & & Parking Parking
The second traffic calming recommendation is the construction of a speed table at the intersection of the primary north-south pedestrian axis with North Drive. A speed table is a simple and cost effective measure to reduce traffic speeds and enhance pedestrian visibility. In general, a speed table places the pedestrian crosswalk at the height of the curbline, raising the height of the pedestrian the full height of the curb relief (6 to 8 inches typically). This increases visibility of the pedestrian and forces vehicles to slow down. Additionally, a speed table should include warning signage, a striped and gradual approach and the pedestrian scale lighting (15 foot poles) to notify the driver of the pedestrian crossing.
Hudson Valley Community College is primarily a commuter campus, requiring most students, faculty, staff and visitors to drive and park. The campus currently has 2,894 parking spots. The projected need for future parking, based upon enrollment projections and spaces lost as part of new construction, is roughly 3,400 by 2013. Therefore, it is expected that an additional 500 parking spaces are required in order to meet minimum demand. It is expected that future parking demand increases will be slowed by the expansion of distance learning programs. The expansion of surface lots on the campus is limited by available space as well as impacts to the pedestrian environment. For this reason, a parking garage with approximately 500 additional spaces is recommended. The parking garage is best located on the south side of campus. This will effectively split the traffic entering and exiting the campus onto Vandenburgh Avenue via the North and South Drive Intersections, reducing congestion in that area. Moreover, the planned I-90 connector exit will likely intersect with South Drive, allowing for efficient traffic flow in and out of the parking garage. An additional parking lot for visitor use is planned on the west side of the campus accessible by the South Drive. General parking lot improvements, including paving and striping are recommended on an as needed basis for all surface lots. Primary Delivery Locations Delivery locations will essentially remain the same on the campus. The New Lang Building will have a delivery area accessible from South Drive. New Higbee will have a delivery area accessible from North Drive. The Williams Hall delivery area will be moved to the south side of the building.
Intermodal Intermodal & & Public Public Transportation Transportation
Campus lighting improvements recommended in the 2009-2013 Facilities Master Plan are focused on safety and aesthetics. In general, the perimeter and roadways should utilize lights with significant coverage areas. These lights should be placed on poles with a maximum height of 30 feet. Appropriate shielding should be installed to reduce light spillage both skyward and off of the campus grounds. Internal pedestrian walkway lighting should be placed on poles with a maximum height of 15 feet. These lights will play an important role in safety as well as aesthetics. Therefore, they should be spaced with a maximum distance of 75 feet and should be considered part of the landscape. Lighting in areas where there are unique features, such as the Arts Quad, should provide an additional level of beautification to the public space. Poles should be no higher than 10 feet and be situated so as to enhance key features in the specific area. An enhanced security station system is recommended as part of the 2009-2013 Facilities Master Plan. In general, a security station is shown every 275 feet on the main campus, within each parking lot and other key gathering locations. The security system typically consists of a lighted pole with a phone that has direct connection to campus security or 911.
Lighting Lighting & & Safety Safety