Dallas Five Leg Inersectioin

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				Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvement Project SR 0415, Section 303
				Commencement of Utility Relocations: 2015
				Commencement of Construction: 2016
				Note: Upper Demunds Intersection Improvement Project (website coming soon) and improvements at the intersection of PA Route 415/PA Route 309 to be completed prior to Dallas Five-Leg construction.
				PennDOT District 4 welcomes you to the Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvement Project Website. We encourage you to use this as a resource for accurate and timely project information.
				Project Purpose Project History Project Overview Concerns Addressed by the Project Public Involvement Summary Educational Materials Environmental Review and Approval Alternatives Analysis Preferred Design Alternative and Traffic Simulation Roundabouts: Fact and Fiction Roundabout Videos & Dallas Intersection Traffic Simulation Roundabout Safety Pedestrian Accommodations Right-of-Way Project Design and Construction Schedule Construction – Traffic Control, Staging, and Duration Construction Updates (Coming Soon) Photo Gallery (Coming Soon) Tunkhannock Highway (SR 0309) & Memorial Highway (SR 0415) Intersection Improvements Links Contacts Join the Project Email List
				Project Purpose
				To improve the quality of life for the community and the traveling public by:
				Improving traffic flow Providing safety, mobility, and access for pedestrians and bicyclists Minimizing impacts to the environment and cultural resources Development a cost-effective design for maximum use of funds
				Project History
				Back Mountain Area Transportation Study (2005)
				The Back Mountain Area Transportation Study was completed in 2005 by the Edwards and Kelcey, on behalf of the Back Mountain Area Council of Governments.
				Vision Statement:
				To provide for a safe and efficient multi-modal transportation system that supports the current and future needs of residents, visitors, and businesses of the Back Mountain Area, that strengthens preferred land use patterns, protects the environment, preserves and enhances the quality of life and can be achieved at a publicly acceptable cost.
				Objectives:
				Develop, optimize, maintain, and manage existing transportation facilities and services, Focus transportation investments to encourage smart-growth land use patterns that maximize use of the transportation investments, Offer mobility options to expand transportation capacity, and Recognize the need to manage travel demand in addressing traffic congestion and environmental objectives.
				Goals:
				Goal #1: Provide roads and bridges that are in good condition and increase transportation safety and efficiency while protecting environmental quality and supporting land use and economic development objectives.
				Goal #2: Provide needed pedestrian and bicycle facilities to use as a safe and healty alternative to automobile travel. Support the role of walking and bicycling in promoting area tourism and quality of life.
				Report Findings & Recommendations for Dallas Five-Leg Intersection:
				Route 415 at the Dallas Five-Leg approaching capacity at the time of the study. Crash analyses concluded that Route 415 through Dallas Borough is routinely congested with pronounced horizontal and vertical curvature, little to no access management, and heavy left turns. Transportation issues in the area from public comment included: Speeding, Bike/Pedestrian Safety and Facilities, Congestion, Trucks, Traffic Signals, Transit. Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvements recommended to be completed within 5 years of the BMACOG study: Roundabout was suggested as an improvement alternative based on preliminary analysis.
				THE PROPOSED PROJECT ADDRESSES THE VISION STATEMENT, OBJECTIVES & GOALS OF THE BACK MOUNTAIN AREA TRANSPORTATION STUDY
				Project Overview
				The Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Project, also documented by PennDOT as SR 0415, Section 303, is located at the intersection of Memorial Highway (SR 0415) and Lake Street (SR 1047)/Church Street (SR 1045)/Main Street (SR 1045) in Dallas Borough, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The project involves the construction of a roundabout at the five-leg intersection, with a single circulating travel lane, incorporating all five legs of the currently signalized intersection. The roundabout will eliminate the need for signalization and allow more efficient and safer travel through the intersection. The project also includes modifications at the nearby intersection of Memorial Highway (SR 0415) and Machell Avenue to further improve traffic flow and safety.
				Concerns Addressed by the Project
				The existing five-leg signalized intersection is inefficient and awkward traffic for the traveling public. The existing traffic signal equipment is outdated and in need of replacement and upgrades. Turning movements at an intersection create conflict points, or locations where collisions can occur. The existing five-leg signalized intersection configuration results in more conflict points than a standard four-way intersection or a roundabout. Example: A standard four-way intersection has 32 conflict points, while a four-leg single-lane roundabout has only 8 conflict points. The existing intersection configuration is not pedestrian-friendly. There are currently no ADA-compliant pedestrian amenities. Pedestrians must cross multiple lanes of traffic and multiple streets without refuge, resulting pedestrians feeling exposed and unsafe. The intersection of Machell Avenue with Memorial Highway (SR 0415) is very close to the main project intersection and creates additional conflicts and confusion for drivers.
				Existing Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Traveling Eastbound along Memorial Highway (S.R. 0415)
				Existing Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Traveling Westbound along Memorial Highway (S.R. 0415)
				Existing Dallas Five-Leg Intersection
				Public Involvement Summary
				Selection of the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) CAC Meeting #1: June 4, 2008 Project team presented three (3) preliminary alternatives CAC members were subdivided into three (3) groups, each designated by a color Each group was given a copy of conceptual plans for the preliminary alternatives to markup the pros and cons, and to note any specific concerns CAC members asked if a larger six-leg oval roundabout could be constructed, to also incorporate Machell Avenue
				Sample Meeting Feedback
				CAC Meeting #2: October 28, 2009 Project team presented the refined preliminary alternatives, including the larger six-leg oval roundabout with inclusion of Machell Avenue CAC members were again subdivided into three (3) groups, each designated by a color Each group was given a matrix table for each preliminary alternative, asking for information about more specific characteristics, impacts, and concerns Traffic, Pedestrians, Right-of-Way, Environmental, Community, Other
				Sample Meeting Feedback
				Public Meeting #1: November 18, 2008 Open house format Various stations related to the project, with a project team member at each station to answer questions All of the preliminary alternatives developed through the coordination with the CAC were presented to the public for review and comment. See the Alternatives Analysis section for more details. Public Meeting #2: June 2, 2009 Open house format Presented the selected preferred alternative, Build Option 1A, to the public prior to the start of Preliminary Engineering Various stations related to the project, with a project team member at each station to answer questions Representatives from Kairos Design Group, LLC were present to share the links between the proposed Dallas Five-Leg Intersection Improvement project and the Dallas Borough Downtown Master Plan 2009
				Educational Materials
				Roundabout educational brochures distributed at various project meetings throughout the public involvement process Current roundabout educational brochure, highlighting the latest safety statistics at roundabouts in the United States PennDOT’s “All About Roundabouts” webpage Project before and after rendering
				Before
				After
				Educational Brochure
				Environmental Review and Approval
				The environmental review process can be complex and take several forms, depending on the size and scope of a project. A Categorical Exclusion Evaluation (CEE) is the review format for this project. The CEE document is used when the impacts of the project on the human and/or natural environment will be minimal. The impacts will be documented as part of the CEE, which will include resource evaluations of the following:
	Aquatic Resources Land Wildlife Cultural Resources Section 4(F) Resources Air Quality and Noise Socioeconomic Areas Consistency Determinations Public Involvement Permits Checklist Resources to be Avoided and Mitigation Measures Scoping Field View