Hexagon completed an analysis of traffic operations on Blossom Hill Road in the vicinity of US 101. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of roadway improvements proposed to mitigate the impacts of planned development in the Edenvale Industrial Area. The traffic operations analysis was conducted using the microscopic simulation software, TRAF-CORSIM. CORSIM simulates the movements of individual vehicles through an integrated network of surface streets, freeway ramps and mainline segments. Because of the microscopic level of detail, CORSIM accurately models a driver’s lane preference based on its upcoming turn movement, vehicle lane changing maneuvers (on freeways segments and local streets), actuated signal control, freeway ramp metering and the effects of queuing.

The simulated study area extends from the intersection of Blossom Hill Road and Beswick Drive to the intersection of Silver Creek Valley Road and Hellyer Avenue, including a total of seven signalized intersections. The study area also includes grade separations with connecting ramps to and from Monterey and Cottle Roads. Because of the concern about unbalanced lane usage and weaving, Hexagon took special care to quantify the existing and future weaving movements on critical sections of Blossom Hill Road. The simulation analysis results were presented in two forms. Quantitative measures of effectiveness including average stopped delay, phase failures and queue lengths were reported, and an animation of traffic operations on Blossom Hill Road was presented before multiple City departments.