Some relief on 76 in Ballentine/Chapin area

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Like many of y’all, I drive this route almost every day. For several months (possibly years?) I noticed the traffic backed up in the mornings and afternoons. I mean, terribly!

Mornings: people from Chapin coming down 76 to get on highway at Peak Exit 91….and many others heading towards 26 to avoid the highway

Evenings: people heading home from work to Irmo and getting off Broad River Exit heading to Ballentine/Chapin to avoid the highway.

Last week, I decided enough was enough. Knowing it’s always gonna be crowded with the growth we have out here AND until Richland County ever gets Broad River widened (and until the construction on and around I26 is completed), the only thing I could think of is what we’ve tried in the past in other parts of the community – traffic signal timing changes.

Long story short…..DOT took my advice and request and you should have seen/felt some improvement this week. Below is an email I received today outlining what was done to “help keep traffic moving up and down 76 during peak hours.”

I can look (and have in the past) at doing these in other parts of the community; so please keep me posted out there and continue to help be my eyes and ears! I appreciate feedback, suggestions, and advice – anytime!

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Subject: Summary of Changes Made for US 76 Broad River/Dutch Fork

Below is a summary of what was changed overall and a very short explanation of volume density and why it’s useful for the corridor to have in place along with the increased green times.

The changes were intended to decrease overall delay experienced on US 76 and decrease travel time of the overall corridor. Maximum green times on mainline phases were increased anywhere from 44% to 140% of the previous maximum green times. Volume density timings were also implemented at several traffic signals and were adjusted where already implemented. Ultimately, this operation allows the traffic signal to utilize the density of traffic and apply larger green times when needed, and reduce green times and side street wait times during off peak periods.

Dutch Fork & Wessinger/Old Hilton – Mainline max green time increased from 45 to 90 seconds (+100%). Max green time increased for Dutch Fork left turn phase from 25 to 30 and Wessinger/Old Hilton Max green time from 25 to 30 seconds.

Dutch Fork & Three Dog – Mainline Max green time increased from 80 to 130 seconds (+63%). Max green time reduced for Three Dog approaches from 60 to 45 seconds.

Dutch Fork & Mount Vernon/Lowman Home Barn – Mainline max green time increased from 60 to 120 seconds (+100%). Volume density timings implemented.

Dutch Fork & Rauch Metz – Mainline max green time increased from 75 to 150 seconds (+100%). Dutch Fork left turn phase max green time reduced from 20 to 15 seconds.

Dutch Fork & AJ Amick/Bickley – Original mainline max green times varied between 40 to 60 seconds, increased to 130 seconds (+117-225%). Side street max green times varied between 25 to 50 seconds, adjusted to 40 seconds.

Dutch Fork & Dreher Shoals – Mainline max green time increased from 80 to 140 seconds (+75%). Dreher Shoals max green time increased from 45 to 55 seconds. Volume density timings implemented.

Dutch Fork & Taco Bell/Aldi – Mainline max green time increased from 65 to 120 seconds (+85%).

Dutch Fork & Shady Grove – Mainline max green time increased from 60 to 120 seconds (+100%).

Broad River & Dutch Fork – Mainline max green time increased from 90 to 130 seconds (+44%). Broad River approach max green time increased from 30 to 45 seconds.

Broad River & Koon – Mainline max green time increased from 70 to 170 seconds (+140%).

The majority of changes were made on Monday and some minor adjustments were made Tuesday morning. Better flow of traffic was observed on Dutch Fork Road and Broad River Road, and side street queued traffic seemed reasonable given the changes and did not appear to warrant any additional adjustments at this time.

The below graphs compare average eastbound and westbound travel times for the entire corridor for Wednesday of last week (Date 1 Average – May 8) with this week (Date 2 – May 15). You can see the travel times for eastbound and westbound decrease during peak periods.

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