Compass Pointe is a 2,000-acre site fronting on US Highway 74/76 in Brunswick County, NC.  The developer plans to develop this site to include approximately 3,500 residential, retirement and recreational homes, 1,000 single family homes and 500 residential townhomes.  Davenport Transportation Consulting (DTC, formerly JDE) was hired by the developer to perform the following scope of services:

• Traffic Impact Analysis
• Custom Trip Generation Study for resort/retirement residential land use
• Master Plan Public Improvements
• Public Informational Meetings
• Phased Engineering Planning, Design & Driveway Permitting
• Reverse Superstreet Design
• Roundabout Design
• Signal Design

DTC completed the initial Transportation Impact Analysis (TIA) and various updated studies for the Compass Pointe Development.  In addition, a sensitivity analysis was developed to determine appropriate development phasing and trigger points for associated roadway improvements.  The sensitivity analysis provided the client and NCDOT a better understanding of when and how the development could be permitted and implemented over time.



DTC performed a customized trip generation study for resort / retirement housing to establish the appropriate trip generation for this type of development.  The ITE Manual does not provide a good model for this type of development, but it does prescribe a method for conducting a trip generation study, which DTC followed. 

It should be noted that DTC’s data indicated that this type of residential development (resort/retirement) does not produce its peak traffic volume during the typical peaks.  The majority of the trips related to projects of this type are generated between 10 AM and 4 PM, which is technically off-peak.  This would be consistent with the assumption that the majority of these property owners are retired, and are not a part of the workforce.  The trip generation study was presented to and approved by the NCDOT Congestion Management Unit.  The trip generation study resulted in a more accurate determination of future roadway conditions from the Compass Pointe Development.

The site plan for the project proposes two main access points on US 74/76.  Both proposed accesses have been designed utilizing the “reverse superstreet” design concept.  A “reverse superstreet” permits left turns to exit but requires vehicles entering to turn right to complete a u-turn movement and then enter with a right turn. 

Additionally, roundabouts were recommended as an off-site improvement to terminal ramp intersections of a nearby interchange in order to accommodate projected future traffic volumes.  The US 74/76 interchange ramps at Mount Misery Road are planned to be converted to dual lane roundabouts as a part of the development’s off-site improvements.  The overpass bridge will be restriped to accommodate 4 travel lanes.  This “Bowtie” roundabout design was developed as an alternative to handle traffic volumes in lieu of widening the overpass bridge which would have been necessary with the use of typical signalized intersections.