Agenda 11-14-23; 7-b - US 70 Multimodal Corridor Plan

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29 lib AADTs on US 70 are highest on the eastern portion of corridor in Hillsborough(14,400 vpd)and by the I-85 interchange near Durham(17,000 vpd).Volumes are steady through Mebane,then decrease towards the middle of the study corridor, reaching a low of 3,800 vpd in Efland,before increasing through Hillsborough. .............. Due to the effects of COVID-19,however,traffic volumes dropped substantially in 2020,before beginning to recover in 2021,and continuing through 2022(although complete NCDOT data for 2022 AADTs are not yet available). Overall, available 2022 traffic levels appear similar to those in 2019.However: • Trucks make up a larger share of traffic now than in 2019. This is due in part to increased online shopping and home delivery,and in part because truck traffic was less impacted by COVID than travel by personal automobile. • Traffic volumes recovered somewhat faster in the western portion of the corridor than the eastern. This may be due to the more industrial/commercial nature of employment in the west,resulting in more work-from-home opportunities(thus less trau to the east. o�� Although traffic growth for the study corridor overall averaged about 2.3%annually between 2011 and 2019,rates varied considerable year-to-year and by location(typically between 2%and 3%annually). Further analysis of NCDOT count data reveals no substantial, sustained traffic growth trends for US 70 immediately beyond the study limits;in fact, some minor decreases were observed.Traffic volumes for significant roads intersecting US 70 within the study corridor were also assessed.NCDOT AADT records were reviewed, along with other counts and StreetLight estimates, and in general,traffic trends at these locations are consistent with US 70 observations.Figure 6 shows the average historic NCDOT AADT for each segment in the study area from 2011-2022. 27 US 70 Multimodal Corridor Study Existing Conditions Report