Introduction

A key objective in the preparation of a transportation plan is to identify those components of the existing system which do not function adequately, so that remedies can be identified to correct the situation.

For the purpose of this Plan, the identification of deficiencies has been done in several ways. From a technical standpoint, the method normally used to establish deficiencies is to calculate what is known as the Level of Service (LOS). For intersections, LOS is defined by the average period of dela experienced by vehicles passing through the intersection. This calculation has been done for each signalized intersection in Marion County and is summarized in the Traffic Operations Report. For roadway sections, deficiency is assessed by calculating volume to capacity (V/C) ratios. That analysis has been done and is summarized in this section of the report.

To some extent, deficiency is also a matter of perception. As part of this planning process, an extensive effort was made to collect information regarding public perceptions about transportation problems. This was done through the public involvement process and through more informal discussions with a wide variety of people during and after the data collection process for this study. For example, Pflum, Klausmeier & Gehrum Consultants, Inc. (PKG) staff met with bus drivers employed by the Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority (FMCTA) as a group to learn of problem areas of which they were aware. All of these sources were, of course, supplemented with field observation by PKG staff. The result of this more subjective analysis is summarized here in narrative form.

The roadway capacities calculated for the 1980 Marion County Transportation Plan were reviewed and revised based on improvements made in the interim. They were then compared with the adjusted 1997 traffic volumes and a V/C ratio was calculated. Generally, a V/C ratio of less than 0.8 reflects a situation in which a roadway is functioning adequately. A V/C ratio ranging from 0.8 to 1.3 indicates a moderate level of congestion while a V/C ratio greater than 1.3 indicates serious traffic congestion.

An analysis of the data shown in Table 3 indicates several areas in which the V/C ratio indicates problems (Figure 6). US 250 from I-79 through Fairmont consistently has V/C ratios in excess of 1.3. Again in the section of US 250 west of Farmington extending into Mannington, the V/C ratio is high. One other roadway worth noting is CR 58/1 (Manley Chapel Road) on which the V/C ratio exceeds 1.5.

Throughout the public involvement Process of this Plan, several recurring themes have emerged regarding the transportation system in Marion County. They are:

• Dissatisfaction about areas with persistent traffic congestion;
• A desire for improved access to I-79 from specific areas of the County; and
• A desire that improvements be made to modernize the existing roadway system.

The key element of each of these issues is summarized below.

Traffic Congestion

Through both the public involvement process and through field observations, several areas were identified in Marion County where traffic congestion problems are common. US 250, beginning in downtown Fairmont and extending south beyond I-79 in White Hall, is by all accounts the most serious traffic problem area in the County. Especially in the section between downtown Fairmont and Country Club Road, it is not unusual to find traffic congestion during much of the normal weekday. This section is typified by a three-lane roadway with heavy commercial development on both sides. Buildings are located close to the street making widening in this area difficult, if not impossible.

In much of the section between Country Club Road and the South Fairmont interchange of I-79, US 250 is a two-lane roadway. This section is now carrying a daily traffic volume in excess of 19,000 vehicles per day, which greatly exceeds the capacity of a two-lane road. This circumstance is aggravated by the fact that for a long stretch (2.7 miles) there are no traffic signals to create gaps in traffic. Such gaps would allow vehicles to enter the roadway from the numerous drives and access points on either side. Shoulder widths in this area are less than four feet at many points, allowing little room for driver error or for disabled vehicles to move out of the lanes of traffic.

US 250 passes through downtown Fairmont using portions of Adams, Jackson, and Monroe Streets. On these streets, traffic congestion often occurs during the middle of the day and is especially common during the evening peak period of 4:00 to 6:00 PM.

Another area in which traffic congestion occurs on a regular basis is the section of US 19 (Locust Avenue) that passes in front of Fairmont State College and the Fairmont General Hospital. The College campus has a student population of more than 5,000 as well as an employment base of 500. More than two-thirds of those students commute to the campus on a daily basis. The Hospital has employment of more than 800. In terms of traffic generation, this area is probably the largest traffic generator in all of Marion County.

At the east end of the Jefferson Street Bridge where Merchant Street, Newton Street, and Jefferson Street all come together in an awkward misaligned intersection, traffic congestion happens during the evening peak hour. This is a key choke point, as traffic from both of the Monongahela River bridges must past through it to reach I-79.

Access to the Interstate

In every public meeting held as part of this planning process, the universally consistent concern expressed is the issue of access to I-79. This concern surfaced in relation to three specific areas of the County.

The first is the downtown Fairmont area broadly defined to also include the Locust Avenue area where Fairmont State College and the Fairmont General Hospital are located. There is a conviction among Fairmont City leaders that the future prosperity of the downtown area depends on quick and easy access to I-79. Likewise, the College administration is of the opinion that poor access to I-79 is a limitation on the future growth and competitive stature of the College. In recent years, the Hospital has been rumored to be seeking an opportunity to relocate to a site near I-79 for the same reason. As previously stated, this part of Fairmont is probably the most concentrated trip generator in the County.

The second general area is the north central part of the County west of the Monongahela River. This area includes the towns of Rivesville, Baxter, Grant Town, and Fairview. Currently, anyone in this area who wishes to reach I-79 has only two choices: to drive through downtown Fairmont and cross one of the two bridges there, or to drive 15 –20 miles into Morgantown. This is seen as a major impediment to growth, development, and prosperity in this part of the County.

The third general area is the western area of the County that includes the towns of Mannington and Farmington. While these areas have an option of reaching the interstate through Monongah or south through Harrison County, this route is long and circuitous. Consequently, travelers from this area are also forced to pass through downtown Fairmont.

System Modernization

The third type of concern expressed has to do with the need for modernization of existing facilities. These concerns relate to such things as safety hazards created by narrow, sharply curved roads with inadequate shoulders. Other examples are intersections in need of improvements in the areas of turning radius, signalization, turning lanes or sight distance. There is also an understanding that poor roads are an obstacle to economic development in Marion County as well as to the maximization of potential tourist business.

Next Section: Recommended Plan