Traffic Engineering Study for the Intersection of S. 51st Street and W. Drexel Avenue

At the request of the City of Franklin, the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission conducted a traffic engineering study for the intersection of S. 51st Street and W. Drexel Avenue to address congestion issues (excessive vehicle delay and queuing) at the intersection, particularly during student arrival and departure times for the Franklin High School. The study involved analyzing the operation of the existing all-way stop signs at the intersection and identifying and evaluating potential improvements to the operation of the intersection, such as enhancing the existing all-way stop signs with additional lanes, replacing the stop signs with traffic signals, or constructing a roundabout.

A final report was prepared that documents:

• Inventories of the existing conditions and physical characteristics of the intersection; existing land uses and features adjacent to the intersection; existing physical characteristics of the intersection, such as lane, shoulder, and right-of-way widths; current volumes entering the intersection (including bicycle and pedestrian volumes and truck/bus volumes); current vehicle turning movements within the intersection; and vehicle crashes (including crashes involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and school buses).

• The results of an operational evaluation of the intersection of S. 51^st Street and W. Drexel Avenue under existing and forecast future year 2050 conditions.

• The identification of four potential alternatives for the City to consider to improve the operation (reducing average delay and queuing) of the intersection. This also involved developing planning level designs for each alternative that were used in the evaluation.

• The results of an evaluation of the four identified alternatives based on their ability to reduce delay and queueing, minimize impacts to adjacent land, and minimize construction costs.

A public informational meeting and comment period were held to allow the public to review and provide comment on the study alternatives and the results of an evaluation of the alternatives. The meeting was in an open house format with boards presenting information on the S. 51st Street and W. Drexel Avenue intersection, the identified alternative intersection improvements, and the results of an evaluation of the alternatives. A record of the public information meeting and comment period and the comments received are documented in the final report.