Challenge

As part of downtown Ocala, Florida’s efforts to revitalize, the development of a higher-end hotel in the area will affect existing traffic infrastructure. Additionally, the City of Ocala is planning a parking garage a block south of the hotel site. Dinkins Engineering and Mariott Hotels need to understand how the development of both hotel and parking structure will impact traffic patterns and what changes need to be implemented for more efficient and safe roadways.

Solution

Kittelson has submitted a proposed methodology document to the City for conducting a traffic study in the area surrounding the hotel and parking garage. Looking at trip generation and traffic volumes, our team plans to provide the information and analysis necessary to understand circulation between parking and hotel, on smaller roads with hotel access, and from major roadways.

We have also provided proposed designs and renderings for the street separating the hotel and parking garage through an urban planning component of the project. With the goal to make the connection between structures as seamless and pedestrian friendly as possible, the plans include traffic calming and redirecting that incorporate land- and streetscaping to beautify the area.