Brimfield – Route 20 Resurfacing and Safety

Brimfield – Route 20
Resurfacing and
Safety Improvements
Project No. 608022
Public Information Meeting
February 9, 2016
Project Location
The project begins at the intersection of New Holland Road
and extends east into Sturbridge to just west of Galileo Drive,
approximately 4.06 miles.
Existing Typical Section – Route 20
Four Lanes Each 11’ Wide – No Shoulders
Funding & Schedule
Funding
80% Federal and 20% State Funds
$3.6 million Total Cost
Schedule
Advertising date - Early 2016
Construction expected to begin Fall 2016 or Spring 2017
Purpose of Project
Implement
safety improvements to
address crashes
Resurface
the pavement
Design Process to Date:
Safety
Analyzed crash records
Conducted a Road Safety Audit
Analyzed proven safety measures for applicability to Route 20
Speeds
Recorded traffic speeds
Traffic Volumes
Obtained traffic volume counts from permanent counting station
Studied special event traffic - Brimfield Flea Market
Additional
Multiple site visits to evaluate project area
Met with Brimfield Select Board
Developed detailed design plans for the project
Town Request for Safety Improvements
August 2014 Select board letter to MassDOT requesting
safety features
Concerns:
High speeds
Fatalities
No breakdown lanes
Crash Rate Findings
There have been 4 crashes involving fatalities
from 2006 - 2015 (5 total fatalities)
The fatal crash rate for Route 20 is 4 times higher
than the statewide average for rural roads
4.70 fatalities per hundred million vehicles miles
traveled
Crash Rate Findings (Continued)
Data Summary
There were 17 crashes
from 2011 – 2013
Majority single vehicle
0.48 crashes per
million vehicle miles
traveled
0.90 crashes per
million vehicle miles
traveled, statewide
average for rural roads
Road Safety Audit
What is the RSA?
Formal safety examination of
roadway by multidisciplinary team
Purpose
To identify safety issues and
possible improvements
considering all roadway users
Route 20 RSA
Conducted Nov 18, 2014
Representatives from:
Fire Dept. & EMS
Selectboard
State & Local Police
Brimfield Hwy Dept.
Bike Trail Committee
MassDOT Hwy
Design & Traffic
Safety
Pioneer Valley
Planning Commission
Safety Issues Identified
During the Road Safety Audit
Lack of shoulders
No separation between EB/WB lanes
Sight distance issues
No Left Turn accommodations
High speeds
No pedestrian or bicycle accommodations
Lack of lighting/delineation
Inclement weather build up
Sunken drainage structures
Traffic Speed Study
Placed at EB Route 20, near
Grand Trunk Trail, 55 mph
Display “ON” 12/20-12/22/15
Average:
85th percentile:
Maximum:
52.26 mph
57.52 mph
77.00 mph
With Display “OFF” 12/24-12/28/15
Source: www.ru2systems.com
Average:
54.32 mph
85th percentile: 59.51 mph
Maximum:
94.00 mph
Numerous recorded speeds in the 80mph – 95mph
Traffic Volumes
Average Daily Traffic
7,977 veh/day
2013 MassDOT permanent
traffic collection station
Observations During
Special Event Traffic – Brimfield Flea Market
Seasonal Peak Traffic
15,969 veh/day
Friday May 17, 2013
MassDOT permanent traffic
collection station
Seasonal Peak Traffic Hour Traffic
Observations During
Brimfield Flea Market -Thursday May 14, 2015 AM
Rte 19
Traffic
Signal
Begin
Project
Traffic Backup Observed (Westbound AM):
1.7 miles east of signalized intersection of
Wales Road/Route 19 & Route 20
1.2 miles east of beginning of the project
Maximum WB
Queue Observed
Thurs May 14, 2015
At 9:17 AM
Observations During
Brimfield Flea Market -Thursday May 14, 2015 PM
End
Project
Maximum EB
Queue Observed
Thurs May 14, 2015
At 3:28 PM, 4:15 PM
& 5:21 PM
Traffic Backup Observed (Eastbound PM):
0.9 miles west of signalized intersection of
Holland Road/Route 148 & Route 20
0.5 miles west of end of the project
Rte 148
Traffic
Signal
Analysis of Safety Measures
Proposed Actions
Issue: Lack of shoulders
Proposed action: Provide usable shoulders & shoulder
rumble strips
Issue: No Separation between EB/WB lanes
Proposed action: Provide centerline rumble strips
Issue Sight distance issues
Proposed action: Cut back trees, brush, provide
shoulders, & provide advanced warning signs for
intersections
Issue: No Left Turn accommodations
Proposed action: Provide Left Turn storage at key
intersections and commercial driveways
Proposed Actions
Issue: High speeds
Proposed action: Convert 4-Lanes to 2-Lane cross
section, install reduced speed limit ahead sign, install
dynamic speed feedback sign (entering Brimfield)
Issue: No pedestrian or bicycle accommodations
Proposed action: Provide paved shoulders/bike lane &
bike friendly shoulder rumble strips
Issue: Lack of lighting/delineation
Proposed Action: Provide reflectorized delineators,
durable wet reflective pavement markings & slotted
pavement markers
Proposed Actions
Issue: Inclement weather build up
Proposed Action: Remove drainage structure sediment,
clear debris from shoulders & ditches, replace deficient
structures
Issue: Sunken Drainage Structures
Proposed Action: Adjust drainage structures, install
bike friendly grates & install shoulders so grates are no
longer in travel lane.
The primary safety improvement on the
project is to reduce Route 20 to 1 lane
in each direction
Example Two Lane Roadway
With Rumble Strips & Buffered Bike Lane
Route 5, Holyoke
Source: Google Maps
Shoulder Rumble
Strips
Typical Section
Painted Buffer
Source: Bing Maps Streetview
Typical Left Turn Lane
Example Left Turn Lane
Benefits of Shoulders
Reduces numerous crash types
Head (15%-75% reduction)
Sideswipe (15%-41%)
Fixed Object (29%-49%)
Pedestrian walking along roadway (71%)
Provides emergency stopping space for
broken down vehicles
Improves drainage & reduces shoulder
maintenance
Provides space for maintenance operations
and snow storage
Increases effective turning radii at ints.
Provides space for variable message signs
Provides an increased comfort for cyclists
Provides stable surface off roadway for
peds
Source: FHWA
FHWA Safety Program – “Road Diets”
Similar 2-Lane Highways
Average
Daily Traffic
Route 20 Sturbridge, east of Route 148
Route 20 Wilbraham
Route 131 Southbridge
Route 20 Auburn, east of South Street
Route 20
Auburn
Source: Google Maps Streetview
18,000 (2011)
15,600 (2003)
16,000 (2014)
20,500 (2014)
Route 20
Wilbraham
Source: Google Maps Streetview
Brimfield Flea Market – Option for Special
Traffic Management Plan
Allow shoulder use
during event
Use temporary variable
message signs or
permanent roadside
“flip” signs to alert
drivers
Traffic police directing
traffic
Source: www.wanco.com
Source: www.haltonpolice.ca
Source: www.roadsafetraffic.com
BEGIN
PROJECT
BEGIN
PROJECT
2 Lanes of
Storage
1 Lane of
Storage
Summary of Design Concept
Proposed Responses to Safety
Concerns
Road Diet (reduction from 4 lanes
to 2 lanes)
Wider Travel Lanes & Shoulders
Left Turn storage
Passing lane near campground
(steep grade)
Rumble strips (centerline & shoulder)
Driver feedback sign
Source: Utah DOT
Summary of Design Concept (Continued)
General Maintenance
Resurfacing
Durable wet reflective recessed pavement
markings & pavement markers
New signs & delineators
Upgrade traffic data collection station
Tree clearing, trimming & excavation of earth
mound at New Holland Road/Route 20
Adjusting/rebuilding drainage structures &
ditch cleaning/clearing
Bike friendly frame & grates
New HMA berm & curb
New buried in back slope guardrail, replace
damaged & reset all guardrail to proper height
Next Steps
Finalize design plans January/February 2016
Advertise construction project Early 2016
Goal is to begin construction by Fall 2016/Spring 2017
Follow-up speed & safety study
QUESTIONS
OR
COMMENTS