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19201 120th Avenue NE, Suite 201 | Bothell, Washington 98011 | www.NV5.com
CONSTRUCTION QUALITY ASSURANCE - INFRASTRUCTURE - ENERGY - PROGRAM MANAGEMENT - ENVIRONMENTAL
TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
To: Amita Poole
From: John Karnowski, P.E., PTOE, AICP (john.karnowski@NV5.com)
James Miller, PE (james.mill@NV5.com)
Cc: Venitta Lum, Stephen Maduli-Williams, Miriam Montesinos
Date: May 11, 2022
RE: SWA2, 1905 Raymond Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057
Traffic Conditions at Opening
Pursuant to the Environmental Review Committee (ERC) Report, dated April 5, 2022, NV5 re-evaluated the traffic
conditions that are expected to exist when the facility opens later this year. For the purposes of the analysis, the
opening date is assumed to be July 1, 2022.
Previous Studies
NV5 completed a traffic impact study dated October 28, 2021 (“October 2021 TIS”), under the direction of the City
of Renton and the WSDOT. When the study was undertaken, the only traffic data available was cell-phone probe
data from 2019 via the vendor StreetLight Data®, which was historical, pre-pandemic traffic data. The traffic
projections were completed to the prescribed horizon year of 2025 based upon the assumption that if the pandemic
never happened, the trend upward in traffic volume would continue. Therefore, the conclusions and
recommendations were based on the 2019 traffic volumes grown at a 3% per year rate to 2025 plus the full
capacity operations of the facility in 2025. The ERC Report echoed the findings of the October 2021 TIS that showed
the following [abbreviated] improvements:
1. Raymond Avenue SW and SW 19th Street
o Widen SW 19th Street to two full travel lanes via City standards
2. Lind Avenue SW and SW 19th Street
o Traffic Signal
3. Raymond Avenue SW and SW 16th Street
o Roundabout
4. SCOOT System (Traffic Adaptive Control) deployment at four intersections
Anticipated Traffic Operations at Opening
The traffic operations for the facility are unique. The facility will deliver goods to customers throughout the day.
Warehouse employees will arrive at the facility between 3 and 4:00 am. Beginning at 4:00 am, delivery personnel in
personal automobiles will arrive, pick up their packages and assigned delivery locations, and dispatch to customer
locations in the Greater Seattle-Tacoma area. The vehicles operate on an as-needed basis and do not return to the
site unless they are called for another delivery route. The last dispatches occur between 6 and 7:00 pm.
The facility will serve a new customer base and, as such, will expand operations as demand increases. When the
site initially opens, it is anticipated the facility will conservatively operate at 70% capacity. During the AM peak hour
(7:30-8:30 am), there will be 110 vehicles entering and 110 vehicles exiting the site. In the PM peak hour (4:15-
5:15 pm), there will be 74 vehicles entering and 51 vehicles exiting the site.
Reason for Re-Study
Employment conditions have changed dramatically due to the pandemic. Numerous businesses in the area have not
re-opened, or not fully, and the traffic patterns associated with offices have changed. Therefore, the results of the
October 2021 TIS may not accurately reflect the impacts of the facility when it opens in July 2022 – i.e., when traffic
volumes are lower than assumed in the prior study. As a result, it is prudent to examine the current traffic
conditions along with the planned roll-out of the site’s operations in the near term.
Study Methodology and Results
This memorandum summarizes the analysis of the three subject intersections to mitigate the development of the
facility using new traffic volume data collected on April 21, 2022. The purpose of this memorandum is to determine
whether one or more of the previously identified improvements are needed at the time the facility begins operations
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2
– i.e., 2022. To be conservative, both the 70% operational status anticipated at opening and the theoretical capacity
(100%) were analyzed to determine levels of service at the study intersections.
The counts collected as part of this new study shows a dramatic decrease in volume overall, which is reflective of the
fact that the surrounding area is not back to pre-pandemic levels. Table 1 shows the counts collected and are the
basis for the analysis.
Table 1. Existing Traffic Volume in Opening Year (2022)
Time Period NBL NBT NBR SBL SBT SBR EBL EBT EBR WBL WBT WBR TOTAL
2025
TOTAL
FROM
OCTOBER
2021 TIS
Int. 1 Raymond Ave SW at SW 19th St
AM Peak 0 2 2 5 10 0 0 0 0 8 0 10 37 345
PM Peak 0 8 9 6 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 29 175
Int. 2 Lind Ave SW at SW 19th St
AM Peak 14 275 2 15 176 5 3 0 1 6 1 23 521 1492
PM Peak 1 327 5 21 216 1 7 0 11 7 0 19 615 1856
Int. 3 Lind Ave SW at SW 16th St*
AM Peak 29 268 3 19 113 26 33 58 83 0 31 50 713 2628
PM Peak 41 311 1 44 198 44 74 50 37 3 45 58 906 3259
Int. 4 Raymond Ave SW at SW 16th St
AM Peak 15 1 31 9 0 3 3 135 38 9 76 1 321 1088
PM Peak 9 0 19 4 0 1 0 134 13 3 127 0 310 1549
*Included for potential impacts not identified in the Traffic Impact Study.
Using the expected distribution of traffic determined in the October 2021 TIS, the site traffic was assigned to the study
intersections. Table 2 shows the percentage of site traffic at each of the intersections. The volumes are the sum of
both AM and PM peak hours in 2022 when the site is expected to open.
Table 2. Traffic Volume at Impacted Intersections in Opening Year (2022)
Intersection
AM + PM
Peak
2022 volume
WITHOUT
Project
AM + PM
Peak
2022 volume
WITH Project
Traffic (70%)
Percentage
of
70% Project
Traffic at
Intersection
AM + PM
Peak
2022 volume
WITH Project
Traffic (100%)
Percentage
of
100% Project
Traffic at
Intersection
1. Raymond Ave SW &
SW 19th St 66 413 84% 550 88%
2. Lind Ave SW & SW
19th St 1,136 1,306 13% 1,374 17%
4. Raymond Ave SW &
SW 16th St 631 808 22% 877 28%
Note: The intersection of Lind Ave SW & SW 16th St is not shown because it is not one of the mitigated intersections.
Table 3 shows the results of the capacity analysis at the previously affected intersections. As identified in the table,
no capacity problems are anticipated for the Existing, Opening (70%), and Opening (100%) scenarios analyzed.
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN 3
Table 3. Level of Services Results in Opening Year (2022)
The intersection of SW 19th Street and Lind Avenue will not warrant a traffic signal. It may take several years before
volumes have risen to pre-pandemic levels to justify a signal.
The requirement to install the traffic adaptive signal system SCOOT at four intersections will have minimal impact on
traffic conditions. While not specifically analyzed here, it is assumed that most of the intersections analyzed in the
traffic impact study have lower 2022 traffic volumes. The traffic adaptive system may be worth exploring more in
the future, once traffic patterns return to pre-pandemic conditions.
SW 19th Street is currently only 15 feet wide and is open to two-way traffic. The mitigation previously identified at
Raymond Avenue and SW 19th Street was to provide two full travel lanes in each direction. For two full travel lanes,
about 300 feet of the road will need to be widened to safely accommodate traffic. While not necessary from an
operational perspective, traffic conditions could be improved by making that segment of roadway one-way in the
westbound direction. This could easily be accomplished with minimal disruption to existing traffic flow; there are very
few vehicles impacted by the proposed solution. All traffic existing from the private driveway that will serve the
facility would not be allowed to turn right. Any traffic heading south on Raymond Avenue will see a “No Outlet” or a
“Dead End” sign and have to turn around. SW 19th Street would only be one-way between Raymond Avenue and the
western driveway to 2001 Lind Avenue – approximately 300 feet. This will allow full movement to/from the
Southgate Providence II Office Park. Finally, any pedestrians or cyclists that happen to use this path would not be
impacted.
LOSDelayLOSDelayLOSDelayLOSDelayLOSDelayLOSDelay
1
Raymond Ave SW &
SW 19th St &
Site Driveway
Side Street
Stop Control NB T+R A 8.4 A 8.7 B 11.9 A 9.2 B 10.4 A 9.0
EB L B 14.0 B 12.8 C 20.9 B 14.6 C 18.0 B 14.1
EB T+R A9.0A9.5A9.3A9.3A9.2A9.3
WB L B 14.7 B 15.0 C 18.9 C 16.8 C 17.4 C 16.3
WB T+R A 10.0 B 9.5 B 10.1 A 9.5 B 10.0 A 9.5
NB L A7.8A9.3A7.9A7.8A7.9A7.8
SB L A7.8A8.0A8.1A8.0A8.1A8.0
EB L D 36.8 D 37.1 D 36.8 D 37.1 D 36.8 D 37.1
EB T+R C 33.5 D 36.6 C 33.5 D 36.6 C 33.5 D 36.6
WB L A 0.0 D 39.1 A 0.0 D 39.1 A 0.0 D 39.1
WB T+R D 42.5 D 42.9 D 42.5 D 42.9 D 42.5 D 42.9
NB L A4.4A5.8A4.4A5.8A4.4A5.4
NB T+R A4.3A5.3A4.5A5.4A4.4A5.4
SB L A4.7A6.1A4.9A6.2A4.8A6.1
SB T+R A4.1A5.2A4.1A5.2A4.1A5.2
Overall B 16.3 B 15.6 B 15.3 B 15.2 B 15.6 B 15.3
EB L A7.4A0.0A7.4A0.0A7.4A0.0
WB L A7.8A7.5A8.1A7.7A8.0A7.7
NB L+T+R B 10.5 A 9.9 B 13.0 B 11.0 B 12.3 B 10.7
SB L+T+R B 10.9 B 10.5 B 11.6 B 10.8 B 11.4 B 10.8
PM
4 Raymond Ave SW &
SW 16th St
Side Street
Stop Control
2 Lind Ave SW &
SW 19th St
Side Street
Stop Control
AMID Intersection Control Movement AM PM PM
Existing Opening (70%) Opening (100%)
AM
3 Lind Ave SW &
SW 16th St Signal
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN 4
The scheme to make SW 19th Street one-way will require a more circuitous route for delivery operations so the study
intersections were re-analyzed to ensure that no additional impacts would be encountered. Table 4 shows the
resulting levels of service if SW 19th Street were one-way in the westbound direction.
Table 4. Level of Service Results in Opening Year (2022)
Summary and Conclusion
The 2022 traffic volumes on the roads surrounding SWA2 are much lower than the 2025 full-build out year traffic
analyzed in the traffic impact study. As such, there are no recommended improvements needed to accommodate
the traffic from the facility in 2022.
As the facility matures and the background traffic in the area returns to some pre-pandemic levels, the
improvements previously identified may still be necessary. An updated traffic study could be undertaken in
subsequent years to determine the extent to which the improvements are still needed.
LOS Delay LOS Delay
1
Raymond Ave SW &
SW 19th St (One-Way
Westbound)
Side Street
Stop Control NB T+R A 0.0 A 0.0
EB L B 13.4 B 13.9
EB T+R A 9.0 A 9.2
WB L C 15.3 C 16.1
WB T+R A 9.6 A 9.5
NB L A 7.8 A 7.8
SB L A 7.9 A 8.0
EB L D 36.5 D 35.7
EB T+R C 31.7 D 35.7
WB L A 0.0 D 39.1
WB T+R D 42.5 D 42.9
NB L A 5.0 A 6.3
NB T+R A 5.0 A 5.7
SB L A 5.0 A 6.5
SB T+R A 5.4 A 5.6
Overall B 18.2 B 16.6
EB L A 7.4 A 0.0
WB L A 7.8 A 7.7
NB L+T+R B 11.7 B 10.6
SB L+T+R B 11.8 B 11.3
Movement
2 Lind Ave SW &
SW 19th St
Side Street
Stop Control
3 Lind Ave SW &
SW 16th St
ID Intersection Control
Signal
4 Raymond Ave SW &
SW 16th St
Side Street
Stop Control
Opening (70%)
AM PM
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Appendix A -
Traffic Diagrams
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2022 Existing Traffic
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
70% Site Traffic
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2022 Existing Traffic + 70% Site Traffic
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
100% Site Traffic
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2022 Existing Traffic + 100% Site Traffic
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2022 Site Traffic Distribution Percentages Re-Routed for One-Way SW 19th St
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
70% Site Traffic Re-Routed for One-Way SW 19th St
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
2022 Existing Traffic + 70% Site Traffic Re-Routed for One-Way SW 19th St
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Appendix B -
Traffic Counts
SWA2 – Renton, WA SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Appendix C -
Synchro Output