ROAD SAFETY AUDIT. Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) City of Lowell. October 5, Prepared For: MassDOT.

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1 ROAD SAFETY AUDIT Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) City of Lowell October, 2017 Prepared For: MassDOT Prepared By: Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc 101 Walnut Street Watertown, MA 02472

2 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Table of Contents Contents Background...1 Project Data...1 Project Location and Description...2 Relevant RSA Data... Traffic Volumes... Crash History... Audit Observations and Potential Safety Enhancements...8 Safety Issue #1: Pedestrian Accommodations... 8 Safety Issue #2: Intersection Geometry... 9 Safety Issue #3: Pavement Markings Safety Issue #4: Access Management Safety Issue #: Intersection Infrastructure Safety Issue #6: Lighting Safety Issue #7: Traffic Signal Condition Safety Issue #8: Emergency Response... 1 Summary of Road Safety Audit...1 Page i

3 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. List of Figures Figure 1: Locus Map... 4 List of Tables Table 1: Participating Audit Team Members...2 Table 2: Traffic Volume Summary... Table 3: Intersection Crash Rate... Table 4: Intersection Crash Summary: January 2012 December Table : Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown...16 Table 6: Potential Safety Enhancement Summary...17 List of Appendices Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data Appendix D. Additional Information Appendix E. Road Safety Audit References Page ii

4 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Background Defined by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team, a road safety audit (RSA) investigates safety issues and identifies potential safety improvements. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), requires an RSA for HSIPeligible locations. The outcome of an RSA can be evaluated and included as part of any future or current design process. Any short-term, low cost potential improvements should be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to any significant reconstruction efforts. The intersection of Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge has been identified as a high crash location for the years of , which puts it within the top five percent of locations within the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG) region. This crash cluster has a calculated Equivalent Property Damage Score (EPDO) of 108. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has requested an RSA be performed at this location prior to the design phase. Project Data An RSA was conducted on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 for this location with pre- and post-audit meetings held at Lowell City Hall. The specific agenda for the day can be found in Appendix A. In total, twelve (12) team members participated in the RSA, and as indicated in Table 1, representatives were present from State, Regional and Local agencies and included a cross-section of engineers, planners, operations, and enforcement expertise. A complete list of contact information for the participants may be found in Appendix B. Prior to the day of the RSA, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) compiled crash data for the intersection using crash reports from January 2012 through December 2014 obtained from MassDOT and the City of Lowell. From this data, a collision diagram was prepared and the crash history was summarized in tabular and chart format. This material was distributed to all RSA invitees. A detailed discussion of crash history along the corridor is provided herein and all backup crash data are included in Appendix C. A pre-audit meeting was held at Lowell City Hall, located at 37 Merrimack Street, on the morning of the RSA prior to the site walk with all participants to review the materials provided by VHB. Participants were reminded that the RSA was a collaborative effort to ensure a thorough understanding of the intersection deficiencies and safety concerns. As an active discussion, participants provided an initial list of specific issues and concerns. After discussion, the audit team visited the intersection to review safety issues identified in the premeeting to identify additional concerns. Following the site walk, participants held a post-meeting to discuss potential short-term and intermediate/long-term countermeasures for each safety concern. Page 1

5 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Table 1: Participating Audit Team Members Audit Team Member Paul LaChance Justin Howard Bonnie Polin Kush Bhagat Kathleen Keen Kirsten Braun Sara Timoner John Ta Cisco Maldonado Alex Normandin Nicolas Bosonetto Yovani Baez-Rose Agency/Affiliation Lowell Fire/OEM NMCOG MassDOT MassDOT VHB VHB MassDOT D4 Traffic MassDOT D4 Projects Lowell Police MassDOT D4 Projects Lowell Lowell Project Location and Description Lowell is a Massachusetts municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 (2010 US Census) located in Middlesex County. Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) and Rourke Bridge both provide connections through the city and connect to other major arterials including Interstate 49 and Route 3. Both roadways provide access to residential areas as well as to several shopping centers located south of Rourke Bridge on Wood Street and Drum Hill Road. Pawtucket Boulevard, which is under the City of Lowell jurisdiction at the intersection, consists of a mix of residential and commercial uses. Pawtucket Boulevard is classified as an urban principal arterial east of Rourke Bridge while west of Rourke Bridge it is classified as an urban minor arterial. The posted speed limit on Pawtucket Boulevard is 4 miles per hour (mph). The Rourke Bridge is a temporary structure under MassDOT jurisdiction and is classified as an urban principal arterial. The posted speed limit on the Rourke Bridge is 2 mph. The roadway cross section of Pawtucket Boulevard consists of two lanes in each direction and the roadway cross section of the Rourke Bridge consists of one lane in each direction, in the vicinity of the intersection. At the intersection, the Pawtucket Boulevard eastbound approach consists of an exclusive u-turn lane, two through lanes, and an exclusive right-turn lane. The Pawtucket Boulevard westbound approach consists of an exclusive left-turn lane and two through lanes. The Rourke Bridge provides one northbound travel lane that widens approximately 100 feet south of the intersection to provide dual left turn lanes and a channelized right-turn lane. The lane line striping on the northbound approach was extremely faded. Page 2

6 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. There are sidewalks along the north side of Pawtucket Boulevard and along the west side of the Rourke Bridge. There are no crosswalks through the intersection. The Vandenberg Esplanade, which is part of Lowell Heritage State Park and owned by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), is located to the south of Pawtucket Boulevard. The park includes a path system (the Riverwalk) that travels along the Merrimack River and has a connection with the sidewalk along the west side of the Rourke Bridge. The site locus map can be seen in Figure 1. The current traffic signal is running actuated-uncoordinated with no pedestrian phasing. The signal had recently been upgraded to an adaptive signal, however, Lowell police noted that a motor vehicle crash damaged the controller. All approaches to the intersection operate under protected phasing. All approaches had two signal heads, either mounted overhead on span wires or pole mounted. The traffic signals mounted overhead on span wires were yellow and the traffic signal heads on pole mounts were black. All the traffic signal heads had visors, with the exception of the westbound left-turn red arrow signal indication mounted overhead on the span wire. None of the traffic signal heads had retroreflective back plates. In addition, the yellow ball indication for the westbound approach right lane was out. No pedestrian accommodations, including crosswalks and ADA compliant wheelchair ramps, were provided at the intersection. This location is equipped with emergency vehicle pre-emption capabilities. Page 3

7 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Figure 1: Locus Map Page 4

8 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Relevant RSA Data Traffic Volumes Traffic volume data collected for the Rourke Bridge Study 1 in 2012 was reviewed and is detailed in Table 2. The Rourke Bridge carries approximately 27,000 vehicles per day while Pawtucket Boulevard carries approximately 12,900 vehicles per day. Table 2: Traffic Volume Summary Location Average Weekday Daily Traffic Volume 1 Peak Hour Peak Hour Traffic Volume 2 K-Factor 3 Directional Distribution Rourke Bridge south of AM 2, % 39% Northbound 27,000 Pawtucket Boulevard PM 1,96 7.3% 3% Northbound Pawtucket Boulevard AM 1,19 9.3% 4% Eastbound 12,900 west of Old Ferry Road PM 1,01 7.9% 3% Eastbound 1 Average Weekday Daily Traffic (AWDT) volume in vehicles per day (vpd). 2 Peak hour traffic volumes in vehicles per hour (vph). 3 K-Factor is the percent of daily traffic occurring during the peak hour, expressed as a percentage. Crash History Crash data was obtained from the MassDOT and the City of Lowell from January 2012 through December 2014 and are provided in Appendix C. As mentioned previously, this intersection is listed as a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) vehicle crash cluster based on MassDOT s data, the most recent MassDOT data available. A tool to measure the relative safety of an intersection is the comparison of a calculated crash rate with the State and District average. Using standard MassDOT formulas, Table 3 summarizes the crash rates, in the unit of crashes per million entering vehicles, calculated for the audit area intersection. The current official statewide crash rate is 0.77 for signalized intersections. The District 4 average (The MassDOT District designation for Lowell) crash rate for signalized intersections is As is shown in Table 3 below, the crash rate for audit intersection is above both the State and District averages. Table 3: Intersection Crash Rate Intersection Pawtucket Boulevard at Rourke Bridge Crash Rate Intersection Control Compared to State Rate Compared to District Rate 2.0 Traffic Signal Above Above 1 Corridor Study and Feasibility Analysis, Rourke Bridge, Wood Street, Westford Street, and Drum Hill Road, VHB, Inc., November Page

9 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Crash trends and contributing factors to the collisions can be identified through the analysis of the crash reports. The collision diagram VHB prepared prior to the RSA, and provided in Appendix C, was used to perform an in-depth analysis of the reported crashes. Table 4 summarizes the crashes by type, severity, time-of-day, pavement conditions and lighting conditions. Following the table is a breakdown of the crashes for trends and possible contributing factors. Page 6

10 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Table 4: Intersection Crash Summary: January 2012 December 2014 Pawtucket Boulevard at Rourke Bridge Year Total 64 Collision Type Angle 7 Rear-end 39 Sideswipe, same direction 7 Sideswipe, opposite direction 1 Single vehicle crash 7 Not Reported 3 Crash Severity Non-fatal injury 11 Property damage only (none injured) 2 Not Reported 1 Time of Day Weekday, 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Weekday, 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 12 Weekday, other time 3 Weekend, other time 12 Pavement Conditions Dry 42 Wet 13 Ice 2 Snow 3 Not Reported 4 Lighting Conditions Daylight 40 Dusk 1 Dark Lighted Roadway 23 Non-Motorist (Bike, Pedestrian) 1 Page 7

11 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. From January 2012 through December 2014, there were sixty-four (64) reported crashes at the signalized intersection of Pawtucket Boulevard and Rourke Bridge. Notable summaries include: The majority of crashes were rear-end collisions (39), followed by sideswipes (14). Approximately 69 percent of the rear-end collisions (27 out of 39) occurred on the Rourke Bridge northbound approach. Approximately 63 percent of crashes (40 out of 64) occurred during daylight hours. Approximately 81 percent of crashes (2 out of 64) occurred on weekdays. Approximately 22 percent of crashes (14 out of 64) occurred between the hours of 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Audit Observations and Potential Safety Enhancements At the pre-audit meeting held prior to the site walk, materials provided by VHB were reviewed and participants provided an initial list of specific issues and concerns. After discussing issues, concerns and the Safety Review Prompt List, the audit team walked the area surrounding the intersection to point out the safety issues identified in the pre-meeting and expanded the list to include additional items. Safety Issue #1: Pedestrian Accommodations There is a lack of pedestrian accommodations at the intersection of Pawtucket Boulevard and Rourke Bridge which creates a safety concern for pedestrians wishing to cross the intersection. Sidewalks are provided along the north side of Pawtucket Boulevard and the west side of the Rourke Bridge. The Riverwalk connects with the sidewalk along the west side of the Rourke Bridge. No crosswalks or pedestrian phases are provided at the intersection. The Rourke Bridge is the only river crossing in the area, with the next bridge to the west located approximately 4. miles away and the next bridge to the east located approximately 1. miles away. The Rourke Image 1: Worn footpath at Bridge provides a connection between the residential area north of Riverwalk connection. the Merrimack River to the commercial area south of the Merrimack River. It should be noted there were no crashes reported involving pedestrians. Observations during the field walk noted a worn footpath on the south side of Pawtucket Boulevard to the west of the Riverwalk connection, as can be seen in Image 1. In addition, the audit team noted that there was no lighting along the Riverwalk where it travels under the Rourke Bridge. This may discourage use of the Riverwalk and encourage pedestrians to cross Rourke Bridge at the intersection, which does have street level lighting, however there are no existing pedestrian accommodations. The participants also Page 8

12 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. observed a non-compliant wheelchair ramp on the southwest corner of the intersection which does not lead into a crosswalk. Enhancements Consider providing ADA compliant wheelchair ramps and crosswalks across the western and southern legs of the intersection and pedestrian signal phasing to allow for safe pedestrian crossings. Consider constructing a new ADA compliant sidewalk along the south side of Pawtucket Boulevard west of the intersection to accommodate the pedestrian desire line to the Riverwalk. Consider providing lighting underneath the Rourke Bridge for pedestrians on the Riverwalk. Consider geometric changes to the intersection to allow for a wider median island on Pawtucket Boulevard to serve as a pedestrian refuge and to improve pedestrian accommodations. Safety Issue #2: Intersection Geometry Traffic volumes were reviewed during the pre-walk meeting. It was noted by audit team members that volumes traveling eastbound and westbound through the intersection were low, therefore potentially not warranting two through lanes in both directions. This lane configuration creates a wider intersection than is needed. During the field-walk the audit team observed that the shoulders along the north side of Pawtucket Boulevard, as shown in Image 2, and along the south side of Pawtucket Boulevard west of the intersection are wide. Some audit members familiar with the intersection noted that during peak hours the shoulder on the south side of Pawtucket Boulevard, west of the Image 2: Wide shoulders along the intersection, is often used as queuing area beyond the provided storage north side of Pawtucket Boulevard. length for the dedicated eastbound right turn lane. The wide shoulders may cause difficulty for drivers to differentiate between the shoulders and travel lanes. A high number of rear-end collisions were reported on the northbound approach of the Rourke Bridge (27 rear-end crashes) and in the westbound left-turn lane of Pawtucket Boulevard (6 rear-end crashes). During the field walk, the audit team noted that the Rourke Bridge northbound approach to the intersection is skewed with the single lane from Rourke Bridge feeding into the leftmost northbound left-turn lane. In addition, review of traffic volumes at the intersection indicated heavy vehicular westbound left-turn and northbound left-turn movements. The audit group noted that since these movements are conflicting, it limits the signal timing and phasing flexibility at the intersection. The audit group also discussed potential geometric changes to the intersection and its approaches to alleviate congestion, including a roundabout or replacing the bridge. A Corridor Study and Feasibility Analysis of Rourke Bridge, Wood Page 9

13 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Street, Westford Street, and Drum Hill Road was prepared by VHB, Inc. in November The focus of the study was to determine whether replacing the Rourke Bridge with a permanent structure is feasible (including whether the existing location is the most suitable) and to develop a series of recommendations that will improve overall mobility and safety for residents, businesses, and visitors. The study identified and evaluated a number of alternatives for the Rourke bridge alignment. Replacing the bridge would address congestion related issues associated with its current design. By alleviating congestion at the intersection, congestion related crashes, including rear-end crashes, may be reduced. Enhancements Review traffic volumes at the intersection to evaluate the need for two through lanes and dedicated turn lanes along Pawtucket Boulevard in each direction. Based on the results of the evaluation, consider removing lane(s) along Pawtucket Boulevard and shifting the intersection north, allowing for more queue storage on the northbound approach. This also reduces the crossing width for pedestrians across Pawtucket Boulevard. Consider using reallocating the shoulder width as a bike lane, or visually blocking off the wide shoulders with gore markings to reduce driver confusion. Evaluate the feasibility of a roundabout to help alleviate congestion and potentially rear-end and sideswipe crashes. Consider replacing the Rourke Bridge with a new structure that aligns better with the intersection and provides more capacity and queuing space to reduce congestion and rear-end crashes on the northbound approach, and is consistent with the recommendations provided in the Rourke Bridge Study. Safety Issue #3: Pavement Markings Observations during the field walk noted faded pavement markings through the whole intersection, particularly on the northbound approach for the dual left-turn lanes, and that not all lanes had lane use arrows indicating allowed movements. Six sideswipe crashes were reported for vehicles traveling in the leftmost westbound through lane attempting to make a leftturn. In addition, there were no track marks to help guide the northbound dual left-turn movement, as shown in Image 3. The lack of track marks may cause sideswipe collisions between vehicles making northbound left-turns, although none were reported. Image 3: No track marks through the intersection. During the field walk, the audit team members observed vehicle movements through the intersection, particularly on the Rourke Bridge northbound approach. The observations showed an unbalanced lane 2 Corridor Study and Feasibility Analysis, Rourke Bridge, Wood Street, Westford Street, and Drum Hill Road, VHB, Inc., November Page 10

14 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. usage of the northbound dual left-turn lanes, with vehicles favoring the rightmost northbound left-turn lane. The queue from the rightmost northbound left-turn lane blocked the leftmost northbound left-turn lane and northbound right-turn lane, creating congestion and an even longer queue on the Rourke Bridge. Two sideswipe crashes were reported on the Rourke Bridge northbound approach, which may be attributed to vehicles attempting to travel around the queue to access the northbound right-turn lane. The Rourke Bridge channelized northbound right-turn lane transitions into an acceleration lane along Pawtucket Boulevard, which does not require vehicles making a northbound right-turn to yield. Drivers who are unfamiliar with this maneuver may be inclined to yield, whereas drivers familiar with the intersection are not expecting to stop, leading to rear-end collisions. A total of 12 rear-end collisions were reported in the northbound right-turn channelized lane. In addition, audit team members noted the striping delineating the acceleration lane was faded and that no signage indicating the acceleration lane or to merge at the end of the acceleration lane was present. One sideswipe crash was reported on the eastbound departure of the intersection, which may be attributed to lack of awareness of the acceleration lane. Enhancements Consider re-striping the existing pavement markings within the intersection and provide lane use arrows on all approaches to provide better lane definition and clarify which movements can be made from each lane. Also, consider providing lane use signage on the intersection approaches. Consider providing track markings through the intersection for the northbound dual left-turns from the Rourke Bridge to delineate travel paths through the intersection. Consider restriping the acceleration lane on Pawtucket Boulevard for the Rourke Bridge northbound right-turns to be a solid line to increase visibility. Also, consider adding MUTCD compliant lane ends signage at the end of the acceleration lane. Safety Issue #4: Access Management The audit group noted concerns with weaving maneuvers between the Brunswick Bowling Alley driveway (located to the north of the intersection) and the break in the median island along Pawtucket Boulevard for u-turns west of the intersection, shown in Image 4. This maneuver needs to be accomplished in a short distance (approximately 300 feet) leading to a potential for sideswipe crashes. The audit group noted that the peak period of Brunswick Bowling Alley is likely different than the commuter peak hours, which may be why there were no reported crashes involving this weaving movement. In addition, the audit group noted any future site driveway placement should consider the proximity to the westbound u- turn and be positioned in a way to limit weaving movements. Image 4: Brunswick Bowling Alley driveway and its proximity to the break in median for westbound u-turns. Page 11

15 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Enhancement Review driveway locations and access to businesses adjacent to the intersection and consolidate where feasible. Providing connections between businesses north of Pawtucket Boulevard may eliminate the need for the u-turn lanes along Pawtucket Boulevard and, as a result, eliminate the weaving maneuver. Safety Issue #: Intersection Infrastructure The audit team noted concerns associated with the infrastructure of the intersection. Traveling north over Rourke Bridge sightlines to the intersection are poor. The height of the bridge side-walls and the short distance from the end of the bridge to the intersection impede the driver s ability to see the intersection, queued vehicles, and signal heads. A total of 27 rear-end crashes were reported on the northbound approach from the Rourke Bridge. The existing Rourke Bridge was constructed as a temporary bridge and is meant to be replaced by a permanent structure. However, while a study 3 was conducted of the feasibility for reconstructing and building a permanent bridge, at this time there are no plans to replace the bridge. Audit team members suggested that due to the poor condition of the Rourke Bridge surface, the bridge surface may become slippery during inclement weather. This may result in an increased amount of rearend crashes. Other various concerns related to intersection geometry were noted by the audit team at this intersection, including: The directional sign on the median island separating the Rourke Bridge northbound left-turn lanes and right-turn lane was not MUTCD compliant. The keep right sign on the median island separating Rourke Bridge northbound and southbound travel lanes was incorrectly located at the end of the island. The location and placement of all median islands at the intersection should be evaluated with respect to truck turns, particularly the islands on the Rourke Bridge northbound approach. The guardrail on the southwest corner of the intersection had a buried end and was in disrepair, as shown in Image. This may pose as a tripping hazard to pedestrians and may also cause vehicles to flip or overturn in crashes. Image : Guardrail on the southwest corner of the intersection. 3 Corridor Study and Feasibility Analysis, Rourke Bridge, Wood Street, Westford Street, and Drum Hill Road, VHB, Inc., November Page 12

16 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. The guardrail on the eastbound and westbound approachesof Pawtucket Boulevard consist of buried ends, as shown in Image 6. This poses a flipping or overturning hazard for vehicles that crash into the guardrail. The catch basin located on the southwest corner of theintersection had a grate facing the wrong direction. Thiscreates a hazard for bicyclists where their wheel could getcaught in the grate. Enhancements Image 6: Buried end on the eastbound approach to the intersection. Consider updating the directional signage on the median island separating the Rourke Bridge northbound left-turn lanes and right-turn lane to be MUTCD compliant. Consider relocating the keep right sign on the median island separating Rourke Bridge northbound and southbound travel lanes to the correct placement at the front of the island. Evaluate the location of all median islands at the intersection giving consideration to the truck turning radii. Consider upgrading the guardrail on all approaches to remove buried ends to reduce the flipping or overturn hazard and provide attenuators for crash protection. Rotate the catch basin grate on the southwest corner of the intersection to remove the hazard for bicyclists. Safety Issue #6: Lighting During the field-walk it was noted that the lighting at the intersection should be evaluated at night. Approximately one third of the total crashes at the intersection occurred during the evening hours, most of which were rear-end type or fixed-object collisions. Upon evaluation, it was noted that nighttime lighting at the intersection is limited, as shown in Image 7. The western leg of the intersection does not have any street level lighting, making it difficult to see the traffic signal post on the median as well as the buried end to the guardrail. The audit team noted there was street level lighting present but no pedestrian level lighting. In addition, there is no lighting along the Riverwalk where it travels under the Rourke Bridge. Image 7: Poor lighting on the eastbound leg of the intersection. Enhancements Conduct a lighting evaluation and consider installing additional street and pedestrian level lights to improve lighting at the intersection and reduce fixed-object collisions. Page 13

17 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Consider installing lighting on the eastbound leg of the intersection to make the guardrail buried end and signal post more visible to drivers. Consider installing lighting on the Riverwalk under the Rourke Bridge to increase pedestrian safety (consistent with pedestrian level lighting issue identified in Safety Issue #1). Safety Issue #7: Traffic Signal Condition The existing traffic signal is currently running actuated-uncoordinated. It was noted in the pre-walk meeting the traffic signal controller was damaged recently due to a vehicular crash and the adaptive signal system no longer works, as shown in Image 8. The traffic signal heads at the intersection were either mounted overhead on span wires or pole mounted. All the traffic signal heads had visors, with the exception of the westbound left-turn red arrow signal indication mounted overhead on the span wire. None of the traffic signal heads had retroreflective back plates, and it was noted that the adjacent Brunswick Bowling building color (red) may cause distraction. In addition, the yellow ball indication for the westbound approach right lane was out which may cause drivers to run through red lights. Image 9: Narrow median island on Pawtucket Boulevard. Two pole mounted signals are located on the median islands on Pawtucket Image 8: Damaged traffic signal controller. Boulevard, as shown in Image 9. These median islands are narrow (less than five feet), and there were three reported crashes where vehicles struck these signal poles. It should be noted that all three of these crashes occurred at night. During the field-walk participants noted that the traffic signals located on the median islands were black and did not have retroreflective back plates on the signal heads, limiting visibility for motorists. Additionally, there was no protective barrier around the traffic signals preventing fixed-object collisions and damage to the signal. Three crashes involving the post signals were reported. The audit team members also noted the Rourke Bridge northbound approach traffic signal heads were ball indications, not arrows, which may contribute to driver confusion. Enhancements Consider implementing back plates with retroreflective borders on all signal heads to improve visibility and reduce fixed-object collisions with the traffic signal posts on the medians Consider installing visors on all signal heads to improve signal visibility. Page 14

18 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Replace the existing damaged traffic signal controller to provide adaptive signal control at the intersection. Ensure working detection and modify signal timings as needed. Consider widening the median islands along Pawtucket Boulevard to provide additional protection and separation from vehicles for the pole mounted traffic signals. This enhancement may prevent fixed-object collisions and could also provide a pedestrian refuge space. Consider installing a protective barrier around each of the traffic signals located on the median islands along Pawtucket Boulevard. Consider updating the Rourke Bridge northbound approach traffic signal heads to provide left-turn arrows instead of balls help reduce driver confusion. This enhancement may prevent sideswipe and rear-end collisions on the Rourke Bridge approach. Safety Issue #8: Emergency Response The intersections located on either end of the Rourke Bridge, Pawtucket Boulevard at Rourke Bridge, and Middlesex Street/Wood Street at Rourke Bridge, are both equipped with emergency pre-emption. It was noted by the fire department that Rourke Bridge was recently approved as an emergency route for the ladder fire truck. However, the two intersections are currently unable to coordinate emergency pre-emption. In order for a ladder truck to travel across the bridge, it requires that one travel lane be cleared. The lack of coordination between the two intersections and narrow width of the bridge, as shown in Image 10, limit the ability of for the bridge to clear and in turn respond to an emergency situation in a timely manner. Image 10: Narrow width of the Rourke Bridge. Enhancements Consider upgrading the existing emergency pre-emption system to provide coordination between the two intersections ensuring that one lane of travel clears out to allow the safe travel of the emergency vehicles over the Rourke Bridge. Consider providing an advanced emergency pre-emption receiver at a point along the bridge where it can clearly trigger the override at the traffic signal. Summary of Road Safety Audit Following the field walk, participants returned to the meeting room to review the safety issues identified on the walk and to recommend potential countermeasures. Participants were challenged to come up not only with long term improvements (greater than three years in the future) that could be incorporated into the design project (or future projects), but also to identify short-term (less than one year) or intermediate Page 1

19 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. improvements (one to three years into the future) that could be implemented as soon as possible and before the reconstruction effort begins. All potential improvements were categorized by the following time frames: short-term, intermediate, and long-term. Enhancements were also assigned a cost category, as identified in Table. Table : Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown Time Frame Short-Term <1 Year Mid-Term 1-3 Years Long-Term >3 Years Costs Low <$10,000 Medium $10,001-$0,000 High >$0,000 Recommendations for improving safety are summarized in Table 6 and are categorized based on estimated safety payoff, time frame and cost for implementation. The jurisdiction for further action is identified as well. Safety payoff estimates can be subjective and are based on the relative percent of crashes that may be reduced by the improvement. For major improvements, crash reduction factors are often available to assess the safety payoff; however, for many minor enhancements a more subjective approach must be used. To provide a general assessment of how a recommended improvement would impact crash occurrences, countermeasures have been assigned a Low, Medium, or High value using professional engineering judgement as it relates to potential crash reduction. Countermeasures detailed in the summary tables involve engineering, maintenance, enforcement, educational, and/or behavioral modifications beginning with overall interchange considerations and continuing with location-specific items for consideration. Selected potential countermeasures have been identified as short-term, intermediate (maintenance projects) and/or long term. Page 16

20 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Table 6: Potential Safety Enhancement Summary Safety Issue Pedestrian Accommodations Pedestrian Accommodations Pedestrian Accommodations Pedestrian Accommodations Intersection Geometry Intersection Geometry Potential Safety Enhancement Providing ADA compliant wheelchair ramps and crosswalk across the western and southern legs of the intersection and pedestrian signal phasing to allow for safe pedestrian crossings. Construct a new ADA compliant sidewalk along the south side of Pawtucket Boulevard west of the intersection to accommodate the pedestrian desire line to Riverwalk. Provide lighting underneath the Rourke Bridge for pedestrians on the Riverwalk Construct a wider median island on Pawtucket Boulevard to serve as a pedestrian refuge island. Reduce the intersection cross-section by removing lane(s) on both the eastbound and westbound approaches and move the intersection north. Reallocate the excess shoulder width on Pawtucket Boulevard as a bike lane of visually block off the wide shoulders with gore markings. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Jurisdiction Med ST Low City Low MT Med City Low ST Med City/DCR Med LT High City High LT High City Low ST Low City Intersection Geometry Evaluate the feasibility of a roundabout. High LT High City Intersection Geometry Replace the Rourke Bridge with a new structure that provides more capacity and queuing space and does not impede sightlines. High LT High MassDOT Pavement Markings Restripe all existing pavement markings within the intersection. Med ST Low City Pavement Markings Pavement Markings Provide tracking markings through the intersection for the northbound dual left-turns from the Rourke Bridge. Restripe the acceleration lane on Pawtucket Boulevard for the Rourke Bridge northbound right-turns as a solid line. In addition, add MUTCD compliant lane ends signage. Med ST Low City High ST Low City Access Management Review driveway locations and provide interconnections between businesses. Med MT Med City/Affected Private Parties Page 17

21 Road Safety Audit Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Lowell, MA Prepared by VHB, Inc. Safety Issue Intersection Infrastructure Intersection Infrastructure Intersection Infrastructure Intersection Infrastructure Potential Safety Enhancement Update directional signage on the Rourke Bridge northbound median island. Relocate the keep left sign on the median island to the correct placement at the front of the island. Based on evaluation, relocated median islands giving consideration to truck turning radii. Upgrade guardrail on all approaches to remove buried ends and provide attenuators. Rotate the catch basin grate on the southwest corner of the intersection to be the proper direction for bicyclists. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Jurisdiction Low ST Low City Med MT High City Low ST Med City Low ST Low City Lighting Conduct a lighting evaluation and install additional street and pedestrian level lighting. Med ST Med City Lighting Install additional lighting on the eastbound leg of the intersection. Med ST Med City Traffic Signal Condition Install back plates with retroreflective borders on all signal heads. Med ST Low City Traffic Signal Condition Install visors on all signal heads. Med ST Low City Traffic Signal Condition Replace the existing damaged traffic signal controller to provide adaptive signal control at the intersection. High ST High City Traffic Signal Condition Widen the median islands along Pawtucket Boulevard. Med MT Med City Traffic Signal Condition Install a protective barrier around each of the traffic signals located on the median islands along Pawtucket Boulevard. Low ST Med City Traffic Signal Condition Emergency Response Update the Rourke Bridge northbound approach traffic signal heads to provide left turn arrows instead of balls. Upgrade the existing emergency pre-emption system to provide coordination between the intersections of Rourke Bridge and Middlesex Street and Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard. Med MT Med City High MT Med City Emergency Response Provide an advanced emergency pre-emption receiver at a point along the bridge where it can clearly trigger the override at the traffic signal. High MT Med MassDOT/ City Page 18

22 Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda

23 Type of meeting: Attendees: Please bring: Road Safety Audit Lowell Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge Meeting Location: Lowell City Hall Mayor s Reception Room, 2 nd Floor 37 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 0182 August 29, :00 AM 11:00 AM High Crash Location Road Safety Audit Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team Thoughts and Enthusiasm!! 9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions 9:1 AM Review of Site Specific Material Crash & Volume Summaries provided in advance Existing Geometries and Conditions 10:00 AM Visit the Site Drive to Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) at Rourke Bridge As a group, identify areas for improvement 10:30 AM Post Visit Discussion / Completion of RSA Discuss observations and finalize findings Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations 11:00 AM Adjourn for the Day but the RSA has not ended Instructions for Participants: Before attending the RSA on August 29, 2017 participants are encouraged to drive through the intersection and complete/consider elements on the RSA Prompt List with a focus on safety. All participants will be actively involved in the process throughout. Participants are encouraged to come with thoughts and ideas, but are reminded that the synergy that develops and respect for others opinions are key elements to the success of the overall RSA process. After the RSA meeting, participants will be asked to comment and respond to the document materials to assure it is reflective of the RSA completed by the multidisciplinary team.

24 Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List

25 Participating Audit Team Members Date: August 29, 2017 Location: Lowell, MA Audit Team Members Agency/Affiliation Address Phone Number Paul W. LaChance Lowell Fire/OEM Justin Howard NMCOG x121 Bonnie Polin MassDOT Traffic Safety Kush Bhagat MassDOT Traffic Safety Kathleen Keen VHB Kirsten Braun VHB Sara Timoner MassDOT D4 Traffic John Ta MassDOT D4 Projects Cisco Maldonado Lowell Police Alex Normandin MassDOT D4 Projects Nicolas Bosonetto Lowell City Engineer Yovani Baez-Rose Lowell Planning

26 Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data

27 Shirley Avenue \\mawatr\ts\ RMD Lowell Pawtucket\graphics\FIGURES\Collision Diagram dwg TYPES OF COLLISION SYMBOLS SEVERITY ACCIDENT SUMMARY TRAFFIC CONTROL REAR END MOVING VEHICLE FATAL ACCIDENT DAYLIGHT NIGHT TOTALS HEAD ON BACKING VEHICLE INJURY ACCIDENT SIDE SWIPE OUT OF CONTROL LEFT TURN RIGHT ANGLE PARKED VEHICLE FIXED OBJECT TYPE FATAL INJURY PROP. DAM. FATAL INJURY PROP. DAM. FATAL INJURY PROP. DAM. ANGLE REAR-END TOTAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL STOP SIGN YIELD SIGN PEDESTRIAN HEAD-ON NOTES BICYCLIST ANIMAL Night Time Crash SIDESWIPE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH SUMMARY JANUARY DECEMBER 2014 UNKNOWN TOTAL S 2. LIMITS OF RSA AREA Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) Townsend Avenue S Rourke Bridge Feet Collision Diagram Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) Lowell, Massachusetts

28 Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) 2012 to 2014 Month # % January 9 14% February 8% March 4 6% April 7 11% May 14 22% June 1 2% July 1 2% August 4 6% September 6 9% October 8% November 4 6% December 4 6% 2% 20% 1% 10% % 0% 14% 8% 6% 11% 22% Month 2% 2% 6% 9% 8% 6% 6% Day of Week # % Monday 9 14% Tuesday 8 13% Wednesday 1 23% Thursday 9 14% Friday 11 17% Saturday 7 11% Sunday 8% 30% 20% 10% 0% Day of the Week 23% 14% 13% 14% 17% 11% 8% Time of Day # % 6am- 8am 1 2% 8am- 10am 4 6% 10am- 12pm 7 11% 12pm- 2pm 8% 2pm- 4pm 7 11% 4pm- 6pm 14 22% 6pm- 8pm 11 17% 8pm- 10pm 13 20% 10pm -12am 0 0% 12am - 2am 0 0% 2am - 4am 1 2% 4am - 6am 1 2% 2% 20% 1% 10% % 0% 2% 6% 11% Time of Day 22% 20% 17% 11% 8% 0% 0% 2% 2% Manner of Collision # % Single 7 11% Rear-End 39 61% Angled 7 11% Sideswipe SD 7 11% Sideswipe OD 1 2% Head on 0 0% Not Reported 3 % Unknown 0 0% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 11% Manner of Collision 61% 11% 11% 2% 0% % 0% Light Condition # % Daylight 40 63% Dusk 1 2% 23 36% Dark - unlit 0 0% Not Reported 0 0% Unknown 0 0% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 63% 2% Light Condition 36% Daylight Dusk Dark - lighted 0% 0% 0% Dark -unlit Not Reported Unknown Weather Condition # % Clear 36 6% Cloudy 14 22% Rain 7 11% Snow 4 6% Not Reported 3 % Unknown 0 0% 100% 0% 0% 6% Weather 22% 11% 6% % 0% Clear Cloudy Rain Snow Not Reported Unknown Road Surface # % Dry 42 66% Wet 13 20% Snow 3 % Ice 2 3% Not Reported 4 6% Unkown 0 0% 100% 0% 0% 66% 20% Road Surface % 3% 6% 0% Dry Wet Snow Ice Not Reported Unkown Ages of Drivers Involved # % % % % % % % % % >84 0 0% Unknown 11 9% 2% 20% 1% 10% % 0% 1% Ages of Drivers Involved 22% 18% 14% 9% 8% % 1% 0% 9%

29 Rourke Bridge at Pawtucket Boulevard (Route 113) Collision Diagram ID 2012 Date Crash Month Crash Day Time of Day Manner of collision Light Condition Type Weather Condition Type Road Surface Type Type Description 1 1/1/2012 January Sunday :10 AM Angle roadway Cloudy Wet 2 1/19/2012 January Thursday 10:40 AM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry 3 1/19/2012 January Thursday 3:20 PM Angle Daylight Cloudy Dry Sideswipe, same 4 1/30/2012 January Monday 1:00 PM direction Daylight Clear Dry Property damage only V2 was traveling eastbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. V1 was traveling westbound on Pawtucket (none injured) Boulevard attempting to turn left onto Rourke Bridge. V2 struck V1. V2 fled the scene. V2 went through a red light. Property damage only V2 was traveling behind V1 traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. V1 stopped at the traffic (none injured) light and was rear ended by V2. Property damage only V1 and V2 were traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard attempting to make a left turn. V2 was to the right of V1. (none injured) Both vehicles claim the other cut them off. V2 and V1 collided in the intersection. Property damage only V1 and V2 were traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge toward Pawtucket Boulevard. V1 sideswiped the driver's side of (none injured) V2. 2/29/2012 February Wednesday 6:1 PM Rear-end roadway Snow Snow Non-fatal injury V1 was behind V2 behind V3 traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. The vehicles were in the left turn lane. Vehicles were stopped at the light. V1 claims his foot slipped off the brake and he rearended V2 which caused V2 to rear-end V3. 6 3/3/2012 March Saturday 11:29 AM Rear-end Daylight Rain Wet Property damage only (none injured) V1 was traveling behind V2 traveling behind V3 traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. V2 and V3 were stopping/slowing for the traffic signal when V1 rear-ended V2 causing V2 to hit V3. 7 4/10/2012 April Tuesday 2:16 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry 8 4/12/2012 April Thursday 4:0 PM Rear-end Daylight Rain Wet 9 /1/2012 May Tuesday 9:32 PM Rear-end roadway Rain Wet 10 /4/2012 May Friday 3:00 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry Property damage only V1 was traveling behind V2 traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge attempting to merge onto Pawtucket Boulevard (none injured) eastbound. V2 slowed down and was rear-ended by V1. Property damage only V1 and V2 were traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge attempting to merge onto Pawtucket Boulevard eastbound. V2 (none injured) was behind V1. V2 rear-ended V1. Property damage only V1 was stopped at the red light on Pawtucket Boulevard traveling westbound toward Rourke Bridge. V2 was traveling (none injured) behind V1 and rear-ended V1. V2 claims she reacted to the vehicle next to her who drove through the red light. Property damage only V2 was traveling behind V1 traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard when V1 was rear-ended by V2. V2 fled the (none injured) scene. 11 /16/2012 May Wednesday 8:18 PM Angle Daylight Cloudy Dry 12 /16/2012 May Wednesday 6:10 PM Rear-end roadway Clear Dry Property damage only V1 was stopped at the light at Rourke Bridge on Pawtucket Boulevard heading eastbound. V2 (Fire truck) came up on V1's (none injured) left side to make a U-turn. V1 was unable to move far enough to the right and V2 struck V1, Property damage only V2 was traveling behind V1 traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. V2 rear-ended V1 and (none injured) fled the scene. 13 /16/2012 May Wednesday 8:00 PM Single vehicle crash Dusk Clear Dry Non-fatal injury V1 was exiting the parking lot of 647 Pawtucket Boulevard/ V1 stopped to let P1 go but did not see that C1 was following in the breakdown lane. V1 struck C1 as V1 pulled out of the parking lot. V1 was traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge attempting to turn left onto Pawtucket Boulevard. V2 was traveling Sideswipe, same Property damage only westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard toward Rourke Bridge. Both vehicles claim they had a green light. V2 hit V1 from 14 /27/2012 May Sunday 6:20 PM direction Daylight Clear Dry (none injured) behind. 1 /28/2012 May Monday :1 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry Property damage only (none injured) V1 and V2 were traveling westbound on Pawtucket Boulevard stopped at a red light. V1 was behind V2. V1 rear-ended V /9/2012 August Thursday :00 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry Property damage only (none injured) V3 was traveling behind V2 behind V1 traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge toward Pawtucket Boulevard. V1 and v2 were stopped in traffic when V3 rear-ended V2 causing V2 to hit V /9/2012 August Thursday :30 PM Sideswipe, same direction Daylight Clear Dry Property damage only (none injured) 18 9/17/2012 September Monday 6:30 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry Non-fatal injury V2 was approaching Pawtucket Boulevard preparing to take a left from Rourke Bridge when V2 was sideswiped by V1. V1 left the scene and turned right onto Pawtucket Boulevard. V1 was traveling behind V2 traveling northbound on Rourke Brdige toward Pawtucket Boulevard. V2 was stopped in traffic when V1 rear-ended him. V1 claims traffic was moving slow and his brakes failed. V2 attempted to swerve into the bridge to avoid hitting V2 but hit the right rear corner of V //2012 October Friday 9:4 PM Rear-end roadway Clear Dry Property damage only (none injured) V2 was traveling behind V1 traveling northbound on Rourke Bridge attempting to merge on Pawtucket Boulevard eastbound. V1 stopped and was rear-ended by V2.