Traffic Impact
Location
Yellow Hills Ranch is located on the south side of State Road 112 beginning at mile marker 39.10 and ending at mile marker 40.7. It is across the street from El Vado State Park and Wildlife Reserve.
The main entrance is at mile marker 39.10 and another entrance is planned at approximately mile marker 40.5 in the future. That would mean any traffic associated with the Ranch will impact this area of State Road 112 only where any development will be clustered.
Making A Traffic Estimate
American drivers now make an average of 3.4 vehicle trips per day on average.
Source: http://www.transolutions.org/?q=footprint`
According to the US Department of Transportation:
“There are significant differences in the travel of people who live in rural areas compared to those who reside in urban areas. Rural households have more vehicles and are more likely to have older vehicles, especially pick-up trucks.
The average age of a vehicle in a rural household is 8.7 years compared to 7.9 years for an urban vehicle. Rural households account for more vehicle miles of travel; each rural resident on average drives 3,100 miles more per year, or 25 percent more than their urban counterparts.
The most significant disparity is for work trips. Rural residents have an average work trip length of 14.0 miles while urban commutes average only 10.6 miles.”
Source Cited:
US Department of Transportation URBAN AND RURAL TRAVEL BEHAVIOR Section VII, National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs05/national_household_info.htm
Calculating the Traffic Impact
Resident Assumptions
The Ranch estimates it will have a full time population of approximately 50%, and the remainder will be seasonal or intermittent residents. This estimate is the starting point for considering the traffic impact.
Trips per Day
Assuming a density of 325 units, multiplied by the average trip per day of 3.4, equals 1,105 potential trips per day. Given the occupancy patterns assumed above, on average we consider 50% of that to be a more reasonable estimate for planning purposes or 553, or so trips per day. (See "Traffic Authorities" column on right for details on assumptions.)
Impact Conclusion
NM State Road 112 will always be a rural route due to the fact that little or no impact is expected on most of the northern side of State Road 112 between State Road 84 and El Vado Lake since a New Mexico State Park occupies this land. That means State Road 112 will always have extra capacity and the Ranch’s impact will not overburden it in the practical future even if one makes more severe assumptions about the impact of the Yellow Hills development.
Looking East along State Rd 112 frontage.
Looking West along State Rd 112 frontage