MMSW Site Modification_Traffic Memo MEMORANDUM
www.sr fconsulting.com
3701 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 | Minneapolis, MN 55416-3791 | 763.475.0010
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
SRF Project No. 20247.00
To: Paul Bourgeois, CPA
Minnetonka Independent School District 276
From: Collin Schroeder, PE
Date: February 27, 2026
Subject: Minnetonka Middle School West Site Additions and Alterations
Engineer’s Traffic Memorandum
Introduction
The Minnetonka Independent School District 276 is seeking approval from the City of Chanhassen for
a building addition and site alteration on the Minnetonka Middle School West (MMSW) property. The
intersection providing access to MMSW is located on TH 41 (Hazeltine Blvd) and currently operates as
a side-street-stop controlled intersection. The purpose of this memorandum is to document the
anticipated impacts the proposed building additions and site alterations have on the traffic operations
at the TH 41 and MMSW intersection. The existing MMSW property and its connection to TH 41 is
shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Existing Site
Minnetonka
Middle School
Paul Bourgeois, CPA February 27, 2026
Minnetonka Indepenent School District 276 Page 2 of 5
Site Plan
The proposed site plan includes an 8,300 square-foot science lab addition on the northwest side of
the existing building and a 14,500 square-foot gymnasium and stage addition on the far east side of
the existing building. The gymnasium and stage addition will provide bleacher seating for school
performances with a capacity of 750 seats. The proposed building additions are shaded in grey in
Figure 2.
Figure 2. Proposed Building Additions
As part of the site modifications, alterations are also being proposed to the parking lot and circulation
for parent drop-off and pick-up before and after school. The alterations to the parking lot and
circulation result in an additional four parking spaces and an additional 33 feet for vehicle storage in
the circulation loop. To accommodate the parking lot and circulation alterations, the track loop and
Paul Bourgeois, CPA February 27, 2026
Minnetonka Indepenent School District 276 Page 3 of 5
field are being rotated and relocated east of the school parking lot. The proposed site alterations are
shaded in grey in Figure 3 and differences in the parking lot circulation are shown in Figure 4.
Figure 3. Proposed Site Alternations
Figure 4. Parking Lot Circulation
Paul Bourgeois, CPA February 27, 2026
Minnetonka Indepenent School District 276 Page 4 of 5
The purpose of the additions and alterations are to expand the school’s curriculum opportunities.
There will be no additions to school enrollment or staff associated with the proposed site additions
and alterations. There are also no additional events associated with the site modifications beyond the
typical, existing events hosted at the school.
Traffic Analysis
The TH 41 and MMSW intersection has been evaluated through previous projects with the data,
analysis methodology, and results documented in Intersection Control Evaluation (ICE) Reports. For
the purposes of this analysis, results from the previous projects will be referenced to identify the
anticipated impacts the site modifications have on the traffic operations at the TH 41 and MMSW
intersection.
As mentioned previously, the site additions and alterations will not result in additional school
enrollment or staff. Therefore, there will be no adjustments or additions to the traffic volumes used to
evaluate the operations at the intersection as part of the previous analysis.
Intersection Control Alternatives
The previous analysis identified three reasonable intersection control alternatives at the TH 41 and
MMSW intersection:
1. Side-Street Stop Control
2. Traffic Signal Control
3. Single-Lane Roundabout Control
The existing intersection operates as side-street stop control. The traffic signal control was identified
as a suitable temporary intersection control alternative to better accommodate traffic through the
intersection during the TH 5 construction, which is planned to begin in April 2026. The traffic signal is
planned to be a temporary intersection control solution and will be removed upon the completion of
the TH 5 construction. The single-lane roundabout was identified as the recommended long-term
intersection control alternative.
Operations
Traffic operations analysis identifies a Level-of-Service (LOS) which indicates how well an intersection
is operating based on average delay per vehicle. Delay is calculated based on procedures outlined in
the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). Intersections are given a ranking from LOS A to LOS F. LOS A
indicates the best traffic operation and LOS F indicates the intersection is over capacity. The three
alternatives have been evaluated using year 2045 forecasted traffic volumes for the school’s morning
and afternoon peak hours. Results from the year 2045 traffic analysis for each of the control alternatives
are shown in Table 1.
Paul Bourgeois, CPA February 27, 2026
Minnetonka Indepenent School District 276 Page 5 of 5
Table 1. Traffic Operations Analysis
Alternative
AM Peak Hour PM Peak Hour
Delay
(sec/veh) LOS Delay
(sec/veh) LOS
Side-Street Stop Control1 28 / > 2 min D / F 76 / > 5 min F / F
Traffic Signal Control1 11 / 54 B / D 16 / 37 B / D
Single-Lane Roundabout Control2 12 / 14 B / B 18 / 24 B / C
Note: overall intersection results are followed by the worst-approach results.
1. Results are reported from Synchro/SimTraffic.
2. Results are reported from RODEL.
Conclusions
Based on a review of the site plans, the additions and alterations are not anticipated to impact the
traffic operations at the TH 41 and MMSW intersection. There is not anticipated to be additional traffic
entering and exiting the school because there is no additional student enrollment or staff employment
associated with the site plan.
Based on a review of the previous traffic analysis, the side-street stop control alternative is anticipated
to be over capacity in the forecast year 2045. Both the traffic signal and single-lane roundabout control
alternatives improve operations. The single-lane roundabout results in the largest reduction in vehicle
delays for traffic exiting the school, providing more opportunities for vehicles to make their desired
movement.
MMSW Site Modification_Traffic Memo.docx