Comprehensive Downtown Channelside Traffic Study Analysis

RS&H provided professional services associated with the evaluation of the downtown Tampa transportation network to determine the operational impacts caused by the Waterfront District Master Plan and Port Tampa Bay Master Plan developments by the 2040 design year. The scope of work included data collection, traffic volume development, and traffic operational analysis. The study encompassed East Kay Street the north, Old Water Street to the south, Channelside Drive to the east, and South Plant Avenue to the west.

The traffic analysis included over 100 signalized intersections, which made the creation of the study area Synchro network a monumental task. The employment of a project-specific traffic volume database linked to the Synchro network facilitated this process, minimizing the labor required to both create and update volumes as the project progressed.

RS&H’s final deliverable detailed the performance and potential deficiencies of the downtown Tampa transportation network (as planned for the 2040 design year), worsened by the additional development traffic. It also outlined several potential improvements to improve future congestion.

RS&H’s precise and timely communication with the client, subconsultants, and other stakeholders led to the efficient acquisition of existing conditions data, including traffic counts, signal timing plans, and geometry with minimal rework, saving time and preserving the budget.