ISSUE RC‐1
Traffic Congestion Outside of Keesler AFB Gates Traffic backs up at White Avenue Gate , Meadows Drive Gate , and along Forrest Avenue and Irish Hill Drive during peak hours .
In addition to potential safety and traffic flow p associated with vehicles stopping on roadways , create issues with force protection and anti‐ter 2011 , the DoD encourages vehicle queuing on i reduce the threat risk of terrorist acts .
Vehicular traffic currently enters and exits the installation through four gates : White Avenue Main Gate , Meadows Drive Gate , Pass Road Gate , and the Commercial Gate . Presently , both White Avenue Gate and Meadows Gate have an inadequate lane capacity . At White Avenue Gate , traffic queuing creates traffic onto Irish Hill Drive , which can consequently also create standstills on US Highway 90 for those waiting for access onto White Avenue . Traffic queuing at Meadows Gate creates traffic onto Forrest Avenue . This congestion generally occurs during peak hours , such as morning rush hour , lunch time , and evening rush hour . Currently , 45 percent of traffic entering the installation goes through Meadows Gate , while 41 percent goes through White Avenue Gate .
In addition to peak hour vehicular traffic outside of the installation gates , the CSX rail also crosses over White Avenue with approximately 15 trains traversing this line per day . Trains that pass through the area in the morning create excessive traffic queuing as vehicles must wait for trains to pass before entering the White Avenue Gate . This creates further delays with traffic stacking outside the installation , contributing to traffic congestion on Irish Hill Drive .
When traffic congestion occurs , military mission activities may be delayed , resulting in lost productive hours . In addition , traffic congestion can also affect the surrounding community if vehicle queuing at the gate extends out to public roads and intersections causing traffic delays . For example , Biloxi Junior High School , located on Irish Hill Drive begins student drop off at 7:30 a . m . and has their first class at 7:50 a . m . These times coincide with the peak hours at Keesler AFB , which can affect the student ’ and their families ’ weekly commute to school .
Within an entry control or gate , the Approach Z queuing , though the amount of area afforded fo based on the amount of available land . The inte excessive queuing of vehicles on adjacent highw Approach Zone is also used for vehicle sorting , i vehicles , and for accommodating traffic calming temporary barricades to reduce high‐speed thr
Compatibility Assessment The streets surrounding Keesler AFB contribute the community as well as accessibility into Kees are affected by Keesler AFB congestion are liste classification . These classifications identify the throughout the community :
• White Avenue – Minor Arterial
• Irish Hill Drive ‐ Minor Arterial
• Meadows Drive – Non‐Classified Local Str
Forrest Avenue ‐ CollectorTraffic on White Aven and U . S . Highway 90 is rated by the Gulf Region ( GRPC ) as LOS “ D . In addition , Forest Avenue , f Division Street is at LOS “ C ” and projected to re described in Table 5‐8 , under “ D ” LOS , speeds b increased density and the ability to maneuver w noticeably limited . LOS “ C ” represents a traffic free‐flow speed of the freeway . There is notice
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