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Traffic study for GEM Charter School flags intersection upgrades, estimated developer share
Summary
A traffic impact study for the proposed GEM Charter School found several intersections would drop to lower levels of service with background growth plus the school and recommended targeted improvements with estimated construction costs and the school’s proportional share.
Public Works Director Keith Davidson presented a traffic impact study for the proposed GEM Charter School and summarized recommended intersection improvements and estimated costs.
The study examined existing conditions and projections for the intersections identified by the city, including Main Street/Highway 33 at Twelfth West and the 1000 South/Seventh South intersection near Burton Elementary. Davidson explained level-of-service (LOS) measures and said background growth alone will push some movements toward LOS D–E by 2030; adding the school increased delays on several movements.
Recommended improvements and estimated costs: the consultant recommended widening Twelfth West to add a northbound right-turn lane at Highway 33. The construction cost estimate for that work is approximately $305,000; the study attributed roughly 13% of the cost to the school (about $40,000) to be included in the development agreement. At 1000 South (Seventh South), the study recommended short-length lane additions on both approaches to return those movements to LOS C, with a construction estimate near $170,000 and a school share of approximately 16% (about $28,000).
Davidson said state transportation staff are also evaluating longer-term signal reconfiguration at the Highway 33 intersection to support additional capacity; reconfiguring signals would add cost beyond the study’s identified geometric improvements. Councilmember Johnson said she had expected to see the traffic-impact information before the council’s vote on a conditional-use permit and asked staff to present such studies earlier when they are available.
Why it matters: The study identifies modest, targeted roadway improvements that the school would be asked to pay through a development agreement; larger signal work may require state coordination and additional funding.
Next steps: Staff will include the recommended mitigation items in the school’s development agreement and continue coordination with the state on signal plans at Highway 33.
