ROAD SAFETY AUDIT. Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street Town of Granby

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1 ROAD SAFETY AUDIT Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street Town of Granby March 2013 Prepared for: Massachusetts Department of Transportation Prepared by: Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates 38 Chauncy Street Boston, MA 02111

2 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table of Contents Background... 2 Project Location Description... 5 Road Safety Audit Observations... 9 Location 1: Route 202/School Street Location 2: Route 202/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street (Five Corners) Potential Safety Enhancements List of Appendices Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data Appendix D. Additional Information List of Figures Figure 1. Locus Map... 3 Figure 2. Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street... 6 Figure 3. Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street and Amherst Street... 7 List of Tables Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members... 4 Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements Page 1

3 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Background The Road Safety Audit (RSA) focused on two locations along Route 202 in Granby, Massachusetts: the intersection of Route 202 at School Street and the intersection of Route 202 at Pleasant Street and Amherst Street (known locally as the Five Corners ). Both locations are ranked within the Top 5% of High Crash Locations within the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) area. The RSA study area is illustrated in Figure 1. Approximately six years ago, the Town of Granby restriped and narrowed the School Street southbound approach at the Route 202/School Street intersection so that vehicles would no longer form two lanes and block each others sightlines. MassDOT also recently removed a line of trees along the north side of Route 202, just west of the intersection, in order to improve the sightlines to the west of the intersection. Additional short-term, low-cost improvements are scheduled to be completed by MassDOT at this intersection in the summer of 2013 through the Federal Highway Administration s Low-Cost Safety Enhancements for Stop-Sign Controlled Intersections program. These improvements include removing the westbound passing zone on Route 202 in the vicinity of the intersection, providing improved regulatory and warning signage, and trimming trees to improve sightlines. Meanwhile, the Five Corners intersections have also undergone several changes in recent years. In 2005, left-turn lanes were added on the Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches to the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection, and a left-turn lane was also added to the Route 202 eastbound approach to the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection. Then, in 2009, protected left-turn signal indications were added to allow protected and permissive left-turn phasing on the Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches. Finally, in 2011, the Pleasant Street northbound and southbound right-turn slip lanes were converted from signal control to yield control. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has determined that the Town of Granby would be eligible to receive Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding for reconstruction of these intersections if a RSA were conducted and the proposed design incorporated the safety improvements identified in the RSA. In general, the RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and included as part of future design efforts for future reconstruction. The short-term, low-cost potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to reconstruction, as appropriate. Page 2

4 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Figure 1. Locus Map RSA Study Area SCHOOL STREET R O U T E ( E AST STATE STREET ) PL E A S AN T STREET A M H E R S T STREET ROUTE 202 (WEST STATE STREET) PLEASANT STREET Source: MassGIS Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc. Not to scale.

5 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Project Data The audit team conducted an RSA at Route 202/School Street and the Five Corners intersections in Granby on Tuesday, March 26, The RSA agenda appears in Appendix A. Table 1 lists the audit team members and their affiliations. Appendix B provides contact information for all team members. Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the team reviewed collision diagrams and a crash detail summary based on crash records supplied by the Granby Police Department for the corridor. Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the study area. Speed regulations are shown in Appendix D. Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members Audit Team Member Agency/Affiliation Gary Roux Pioneer Valley Planning Commission David Desrosiers Granby Highway Department Russ Anderson Granby Fire Department Al Wishart Granby Police Rebecca Fricke Representative Ellen Story s Office Steve Griffin The MacDuffie School Peter Calves MassDOT Highway Division Qing Qing You MassDOT Highway Division Chunxia Feng MassDOT Highway Division John Hillman MassDOT Highway Division District 2 Lisa Schletzbaum MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section Mike Tremblay Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates Joe SanClemente Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates According to the data provided by the Granby Police Department, 18 crashes were reported at the intersection of Route 202/School Street between January 2008 and December Of the 18 crashes, eleven involved vehicles traveling from School Street southbound, including nine angle crashes. Only one crash (6%) occurred on wet pavement or rainy conditions, and 14 crashes (78%) occurred during daylight hours. Forty-three percent of the drivers involved in crashes were under the age of 30. Six of the 18 crashes (33%) resulted in personal injury. During the same time period, 45 crashes were reported between January 2008 and December 2011 at the Five Corners intersections. Eleven crashes (24%) involved vehicles turning left into or out of the Dunkin Donuts or Cumberland Farms driveways, and four (9%) crashes involved vehicles attempting to cut across Route 202 from the Dunkin Donuts driveway to the Cumberland Farms entrance driveway. Four crashes involving vehicles exiting Dunkin Donuts were courtesy crashes, where an uninvolved vehicle stopped in order to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle exiting the Dunkin Donuts driveway, which was subsequently hit by an unsuspecting westbound vehicle on Route 202. A majority of crashes (40, or 89%) Page 4

6 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA occurred on dry pavement, 39 (or 87%) occurred during the daylight hours, and 14 (or 31%) resulted in personal injury. No fatal crashes were reported during this time period. Project Location Description The RSA focused on the intersections of Route 202/School Street and the Five Corners intersections (Route 202/Pleasant Street and Route 202/Amherst Street), shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, respectively. Route 202/School Street is an unsignalized four-way intersection. The Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches allow for free movement through the intersection, while the School Street northbound and southbound approaches are stop-controlled. Route 202 westbound traffic is permitted to pass in the vicinity of the intersection. There is a horizontal curve in the Route 202 roadway alignment approximately 500 feet east of School Street. The Granby Café is located at the northwest corner of the intersection, with driveways on both Route 202 and School Street. There are no pedestrian sidewalks or crosswalks in the vicinity of the intersection. The MacDuffie School is located on School Street, approximately one quarter mile north of the intersection, and the Granby Junior-Senior High School is located on Route 202, approximately one mile west of the intersection. The MacDuffie School moved to this location in 2011 and has approximately 62 employees and 240 students. RSA team members noted that School Street is a popular route used to access Interstate 90 and Interstate 291, and that traffic on School Street can be significant, particularly during commuter and school peak periods. Route 202/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, known locally as Five Corners, consists of two closely spaced, but separate intersection locations. The eastern intersection, Route 202/Amherst Street, is unsignalized and has four approaches, including the Cumberland Farms east driveway. The Route 202 eastbound approach consists of a left-turn lane, with a storage length of approximately 60 feet, and a shared through/right-turn lane. The Route 202 westbound approach consists of a single travel lane, however; a gored median approximately 10 feet wide is often used as an informal left-turn lane. The Amherst Street southbound approach operates under stop sign control and consists of a single travel lane. The Cumberland Farms driveway is offset from the Amherst Street southbound approach by approximately 20 feet to the west. The western intersection, Route 202/Pleasant Street, located approximately 250 feet west of Amherst Street, is a signalized intersection with four approaches. The Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches each consist of a 60-foot long exclusive left-turn lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. Protected and permissive left-turn phasing is provided on the Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches. The Pleasant Street northbound and southbound approaches each consist of a shared leftturn/through lane and a yield-controlled right-turn slip lane. The right-turn slip lanes had been signalcontrolled, but were replaced with yield-control in Team members noted that a quarry located on Amherst Street approximately 4 miles north of Route 202 generates significant heavy vehicle traffic through the area, typically traveling between Pleasant Street, south of Route 202, and Amherst Street. Sidewalks are provided only along the southwest corner of the intersection, adjacent to CVS Pharmacy. Page 5

7 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Figure 2. Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street SCHOOL STREET Granby Cafe ROUTE 202 (EAST STATE STREET) Source: MassGIS Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc. Not to scale.

8 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Figure 3. Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street PLEASANT STREET Dunkin Donuts A M H E R S T STREET ROUTE 202 (WEST STATE STREET) Florence Savings Bank Cumberland Farms Post Office ROUTE 202 (WEST STATE STREET) CVS PLEASANT STREET Source: GoogleMaps Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc. Not to scale.

9 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Driveways for Cumberland Farms and Dunkin Donuts are located along Route 202, approximately halfway between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street. The driveway to Cumberland Farms is entranceonly, but both directions of travel are permitted at the Dunkin Donuts driveway. These intersections are the junction of the following roadways, which are categorized according to MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning functional classifications: East State Street (Route 202) is classified as a rural minor arterial and falls under MassDOT jurisdiction. East State Street generally runs in an east-west direction between the Belchertown Town Line to the east, where it becomes State Street, and West Street to the west, where it becomes West State Street. East State Street consists of one travel lane in each direction. Passing is permitted along the roadway in most locations. The speed limit on East State Street is posted at 45 mph in each direction in the vicinity of School Street. West State Street (Route 202) is classified as a rural minor arterial and falls under MassDOT jurisdiction. West State Street generally runs in an east-west direction between West Street to the east, where it becomes East State Street, and the South Hadley Town Line to the west, where it becomes Granby Road. West State Street consists of one travel lane in each direction. Passing is permitted on East State Street in most locations. The speed limit on West State Street is posted at 40 mph in each direction in the vicinity of Pleasant Street and Amherst Street. School Street is classified as a rural minor collector and falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of Granby. School Street runs in a north-south direction between Batchelor Street to the north and Chicopee Street to the south. School Street consists of one travel lane in each direction. Pleasant Street is classified as a rural major collector south of Route 202, and as a rural minor collector north of Route 202, and is under the jurisdiction of the Town of Granby. Pleasant Street runs in a northsouth direction, between Morgan Street to the north and East Street to the south. Pleasant Street consists of one travel lane in each direction. Amherst Street is classified as a rural major collector and falls under the jurisdiction of the Town of Granby. Amherst Street runs in a north-south direction between Amherst Road to the north and Route 202 to the south. Amherst Street consists of one travel lane in each direction. Page 8

10 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Road Safety Audit Observations Based on field observations on Tuesday, March 26, 2013, the RSA team determined that the study area intersections have the following issues that affect safety: Congestion and Driver Frustration; Speed and Sight Distance; Intersection geometry; Signage; Turning Lanes; Signal Indications and Clearance Intervals; Access management; and Pedestrian Accommodations. The following sections describe in more detail the safety issues and potential enhancements determined during the RSA. Several of these issues require further study and engineering judgment to determine the feasibility of implementing the improvements to address them. Page 9

11 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Location 1: Route 202/School Street The intersection of Route 202/School Street experienced 18 crashes between January 2008 and December Nine of the 18 crashes (5) were angle crashes between School Street southbound vehicles and vehicles traveling along Route 202. A team member noted that 43% of the motorists involved in crashes at the Route 202/School Street intersection were under the age of 30. In the summer of 2013, the intersection is scheduled to receive low-cost, short-term improvements that include new intersection warning signs, Stop Ahead signs, improved pavement markings, and trimming over overgrown vegetation to improve sightlines. The passing zone along Route 202 within the vicinity of School Street will also be removed and replaced with a double yellow centerline. Observations: The RSA team made the following observations with respect to congestion and driver frustration, speed and sight distance, intersection geometry, signage, and pedestrian accommodations: Congestion and Driver Frustration RSA team members noted that vehicles at the School Street northbound and southbound stop-controlled approaches often have difficulty finding acceptable gaps, particularly during peak commuter and school periods, when School Street is used as a popular local cut-through to access Interstates 90 and 291 as well as the nearby schools. Team members commented that traffic volumes at the intersection have further increased since the MacDuffie School opened on School Street in According to team members, this results in long queues and delays at the School Street approaches, and driver willingness to accept smaller gaps in traffic, which may contribute to Vehicles on School Street have difficulty finding acceptable gaps on Route 202. the occurrence of angle crashes at this intersection. Angle crashes between Route 202 and School Street traffic may be indications of excessive delay, and in turn, more aggressive driver behavior, of traffic on the School Street northbound and southbound approaches. Page 10

12 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Speed and Sight Distance A horizontal curve on Route 202 east of School Street obscures sightlines east of School Street. A horizontal curve in the Route 202 roadway alignment is located approximately 500 feet east of School Street, and limits the sightlines to the east of the intersection. Team members questioned whether there was adequate sight distance at the intersection, given that prevailing travel speeds on Route 202 often exceed the 45 mph speed limit. The presence of the horizontal curve, combined with higher travel speeds, may make it difficult for motorists to judge when it is safe to enter the intersection and may contribute to the occurrence of angle crashes at the intersection. For example, in one angle crash involving a Route 202 westbound vehicle and a School Street northbound vehicle, one of the motorists reportedly did not see the other vehicle. During field observations, team members noted that a fence located at the southwest corner of the Route 202/School Street intersection had been recently hit. Public safety officials stated that the vehicle was traveling too fast on School Street southbound and lost control of the vehicle. The stop bar on School Street northbound is currently set back from the intersection by approximately 35 feet. The placement of the stop bar may have been intentional to allow for trucks to safely turn from Route 202 onto School Street southbound. However, a line of evergreen trees at the southwest corner of the intersection along Route 202 obstructs sightlines west of the intersection. Vehicles were observed stopping well past of the stop bar to wait for a gap in Route 202 traffic. These trees are scheduled to be trimmed in the summer of 2013 as part of the low-cost improvements project. Similarly, several years ago, trees along the north side of Route 202, west of School Street, were removed, resulting in improved sightlines at the School Street southbound approach. Intersection Geometry The School Street southbound approach intersects Route 202 at a slightly skewed angle, making it harder for motorists to look left to see oncoming Route 202 westbound traffic. As a result, RSA team members observed School Street southbound vehicles stopping on top of the double yellow centerline when waiting for a gap in Route 202 traffic. However, this may make it more difficult for heavy vehicles to turn onto School Street. One crash involved a School Street southbound vehicle and a vehicle turning right onto School Street from Route 202 westbound. Page 11

13 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Signage Team members observed that there are no advanced Stop Ahead (W3-1) warning signs along the School Street northbound approach to the Route 202/School Street intersection; pavement markings indicating Stop Ahead are provided, but are badly worn and illegible. It was also suggested that the intersection warning signage (W2-1) on Route 202 westbound may be too close to the intersection of Route 202/School Street for motorists to perceive and react to given the prevailing travel speeds. Short-term improvements scheduled to occur in the summer of 2013 will place improved intersection warning signage (W2-1) and Stop Ahead (W3-1) signage in the appropriate locations. Team members noted that the street name plaque, located at the southeast corner of the intersection, is difficult to read due to its size and placement with respect to the edge of the roadway. Meanwhile, a street name sign for School Street is not provided on the north side of the intersection. One rear-end crash was reported involving vehicles traveling along Route 202 eastbound, which may have occurred because a vehicle stopped or slowed unexpectedly at the intersection. Pedestrian Accommodations There are currently no pedestrian accommodations at the intersection. Potential Enhancements: 1. Collect motor vehicle speed data along School Street and Route 202 in the vicinity of the Route 202/School Street intersection, to identify the most appropriate times of day for increased enforcement. Evaluate safety conditions after the short-term improvements are implemented in the summer of Collect traffic volume data at the intersection of Route 202/School Street to determine if a change in intersection control (e.g. traffic signal or roundabout) is warranted and feasible. 3. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility and safety benefits of changing the intersection control, either through introduction of a traffic signal or roundabout, if warranted according to traffic volume data. Consider heavy vehicle traffic, pedestrian accommodations, and sight distance limitations east of the intersection due to the horizontal curve of the roadway. 4. Consider providing safety education for young drivers at The MacDuffie School and the Granby Junior-Senior High School, specifically noting the high-crash locations and emphasizing safe driving techniques. 5. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility of realigning the School Street southbound approach to intersect Route 202 at a right angle and ensure that it is narrow enough to preclude vehicles from forming two lines and obstructing each other s sight lines while accommodating turning radius requirements for heavy vehicles.. Page 12

14 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA 6. Consider installing street name signage for the north leg of School Street at the intersection. 7. Relocate street name signage at the southeast corner of the intersection so that it is visible from Route 202. Replace signage as appropriate to meet current MassDOT standards. Page 13

15 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Location 2: Route 202/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street (Five Corners) Observations: The Five Corners intersections consist of two separate but closely spaced intersections; the intersection of Route 202/Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms east driveway is located approximately 250 feet east of the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection. At the Five Corners intersections, 45 crashes were reported between January 2008 and December Eight of the 45 crashes reported (18%) involved vehicles turning left into or out of the Dunkin Donuts driveway, or cutting across Route 202 to the Cumberland Farms west driveway. Four of these crashes were reported to have been courtesy crashes, where a westbound vehicle stopped to allow a vehicle to exit the Dunkin Donuts driveway, but an unsuspecting vehicle entering the adjacent left-turn lane struck the exiting vehicle. Seven of the 45 crashes reported at the Five Corners intersections (16%) involved vehicles turning left from Route 202 westbound into the Cumberland Farms east driveway. Four rear-end crashes occurred on the Route 202 westbound approach to the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection, and one rear-end crash occurred along the Route 202 eastbound approach to the intersection. Three angle crashes involved vehicles turning left from Route 202 onto Pleasant Street. The RSA team made the following observations with respect to turning lanes, signal indications and timing, access management, signage, and pedestrian accommodations: Turning Lanes At the unsignalized intersection of Route 202/Amherst Street, an approximately 60-foot long dedicated left-turn lane is provided at the Route 202 eastbound approach, but a left-turn lane is not provided to Route 202 westbound traffic. RSA team members noted that vehicles making a left turn into Cumberland Farms from Route 202 typically use the painted gore area. Using this gore area gives turning vehicles a dedicated place to wait for an acceptable gap in opposing traffic, but also provides a better angle to view oncoming Route 202 eastbound traffic, since vehicles Vehicles use the gore area on Route 202 westbound to wait for a gap in Route 202 waiting in the opposing left-turn lane may eastbound traffic before turning left into obscure sightlines. According to the crash Cumberland Farms. data, one crash involving a Route 202 eastbound vehicle and a Route 202 westbound left-turning vehicle reportedly occurred because of Page 14

16 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA obstructed visibility. Team members stated that using the gore area to make left turns is so common that westbound vehicles may not expect vehicles slowing or stopping in the travel lane to make a left turn. One triple rear-end crash occurred on the Route 202 westbound approach to this intersection. Meanwhile, vehicles approaching Amherst Street on Route 202 eastbound were observed entering the short left-turn pocket, without using their directional, and then quickly turning onto Amherst Street. Team members commented that the left-turn lane combined with the short distance between the Pleasant Street and Amherst Street intersections may not give motorists adequate time to realize they need to shift into the turning lane to access Amherst Street. Thus, vehicles traveling along Route 202 westbound may not have adequate time to react. Similarly, team members noted that the left-turn lanes along the Route 202 eastbound and westbound approaches to the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection are only long enough to hold two to three vehicles; likely due to the limited cross-section of the roadway. Signal Indications and Timing In 2009, post-mounted left-turn signal indications were added to the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection to allow for protected and permissive leftturn phasing for Route 202 eastbound and westbound. A team member noted that the locations of these signal indications may cause confusion, as left-turning vehicles may expect overhead left-turn indications. The visibility of these post-mounted signals may also be obscured by opposing Vehicles exiting the Dunkin Donuts driveway may cut across three travel lanes on Route 202 to access Cumberland Farms. traffic or heavy vehicles. Team members also noted that the length of the left-turn phases on Route 202, when called, are relatively short, and may cause drivers to be aggressive when turning. Two angle crashes involved vehicles turning left from Route 202 onto Pleasant Street that were the result of motorist failure to yield. In addition, four rear-end crashes occurred along the Route 202 westbound approach to the intersection; driver indecision over whether to turn left during the permitted left turn phase may have contributed to these crashes. An RSA team member also questioned whether the clearance intervals at the intersection may have contributed to these rear-end crashes. Page 15

17 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Access Management In the vicinity of the Dunkin Donuts driveway, the Route 202 westbound approach transitions from one to two travel lanes to accommodate a left-turn lane. According to the crash records, four courtesy crashes were reported involving vehicles exiting the Dunkin Donuts driveway and vehicles traveling along Route 202 westbound. Thus, a motorist traveling along Route 202 westbound may stop to allow a vehicle to turn out of the Dunkin Donuts driveway; however, a vehicle in the other westbound lane may not expect, or be able to perceive and react to, a turning vehicle exiting the driveway. Additionally, vehicles exiting the Dunkin Donuts driveway may attempt to weave through queued vehicles, which may not be expected by Route 202 westbound vehicles entering the left-turn lane. RSA team members noted that vehicles often cut through commercial driveways in order to avoid the congestion and confusion on the segment of Route 202 between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street. According to team members, vehicles often enter the Dunkin Donuts parking lot from Amherst Street, travel behind the building, and exit onto Pleasant Street. Similarly, vehicles also cut through Cumberland Farms by turning right from Pleasant Street, cutting through the parking lot, and turning right onto Route 202 eastbound. One crash involved a turning vehicle that turned left out of the Florence Savings Bank onto Route 202, even though the driveway is restricted to right-only. Intersection Geometry During field observations at the Pleasant Street northbound slip lane, RSA team members noted that large heavy vehicles have difficulty making right turns onto Route 202 eastbound and often need to cross the double yellow centerline on Route 202 and/or run over the inside curb in the slip lane. Team members also observed that the Yield and Do Not Enter signage that had been mounted on the old signal post had been knocked down. Four crashes occurred in the Pleasant Street northbound rightturn slip lane between January 2008 and December 2011; two of these crashes involved vehicles hitting the signal post located on the inside of the slip lane. Signage Heavy vehicles have difficulty making right turns from Pleasant Street onto Route 202. On the Route 202 eastbound approach to the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection, a Do Not Block Driveway (R10-7m) sign obscures a guide sign for Breezy Acres Farm. Motorists on Page 16

18 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Route 202 eastbound may not be able to see the guide sign, or may divert their attention from the roadway to read the sign. One rear-end crash was reported along Route 202 eastbound in the vicinity of these signs. The signs are also in close proximity to an upstream Left Lane Must Turn Left (R3-7) sign. RSA team members noted that signs indicating street names for streets that can be accessed from Amherst Street or Pleasant Street are located along Amherst Street northbound, just north of Route 202; Pleasant Street northbound, just north of Route 202; and along Pleasant Street southbound, just south of Route 202. These signs are not standard and have small text, making them difficult for motorists to read without stopping in the travel lane. An RSA team member noted that the Yield (R1-2) and Do Not Enter (R5-1) signs that had previously been posted on Regulatory signage obstructs guide signage along Route 202 eastbound. an old signal post in the Pleasant Street northbound right-turn slip lane at the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection had been struck and knocked down. A Do Not Pass (R4-1) sign was also struck on the Route 202 westbound approach to the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection, resulting in a bent sign post. The Stop (R1-1) sign at the Amherst Street southbound approach to the Route 202/Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms east driveway intersection was also struck, resulting in a slightly bent sign post. Pedestrian Accommodations The intersection of Route 202/Pleasant Street currently has sidewalks along the southwest corner of the intersection, adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy. Crosswalks are also provided across the two CVS driveways. However, this is the only location in the area where sidewalks are provided. There are no crosswalks or pedestrian ramps that connect to other local businesses. Pedestrian accommodations adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy end without making local connections. Page 17

19 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Potential Enhancements: 1. Consider the safety benefits of formalizing a left-turn lane on Route 202 westbound at Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms east driveway in order to formalize a safe, dedicated place for vehicles to make a left turn. 2. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider signalizing the Route 202/Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms intersection and coordinating with the Route 202/Pleasant Street signalized intersection if safety conditions do not improve as a result of adding the left-turn lane. 3. As part of long-term planning efforts, consider replacing the existing mast arms with longer mast arms to align signal faces with the travel lanes and provide redundancy of signal indications to improve visibility. 4. Evaluate the length of the protected left-turn phase and clearance intervals for protected left turns at the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection to ensure that there is adequate time for vehicles to safely exit the intersection before a conflicting movement is given the right-ofway. Consider the safety benefits of implementing protected-only left-turn phasing. 5. Consider the feasibility of lengthening the left-turn lanes on the Route 202 eastbound approach at the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection and on the Router 202 approach at the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection as part of long-term reconstruction efforts. 6. Restrict left turns with signage at the Dunkin Donuts and the Cumberland Farms entrance driveway on Route 202 to reduce the occurrence of angle-type crashes. 7. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility of constructing a raised median on Route 202 between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street to prevent left turns at driveways if turn restrictions through signage are deemed ineffective or create an enforcement issue. 8. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider realigning Amherst Street westerly so that it aligns with the Cumberland Farms driveway, which would facilitate left turns from Route 202 onto Amherst Street and Cumberland Farms. 9. Consider the feasibility and appropriateness of either removing or modifying the geometry of the right-turn slip lanes on Pleasant Street to accommodate heavy vehicles as part of longterm reconstruction efforts. 10. Reduce sign clutter along Route 202 eastbound. Ensure there is adequate spacing between signs and remove unnecessary signage, as appropriate. 11. Remove the nonstandard street name signage on Pleasant Street and on Amherst Street northbound. Page 18

20 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA 12. Reinstall the Yield (R1-2) and Do Not Enter (R5-1) signage on the Pleasant Street northbound slip lane away from the curb line and remove the unused signal post so that it is not struck by turning heavy vehicles. 13. Repair or replace sign posts for the Do Not Pass (R1-4) sign on Route 202 westbound and the Stop sign on Amherst Street southbound to improve sign visibility. 14. Consider options to discourage or eliminate cut-through traffic between Amherst Street and Pleasant Street via the adjacent businesses driveways either through turn restrictions or by modifying access to parcels as they are redeveloped. 15. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, evaluate the feasibility of providing additional pedestrian facilities in the area, and form connections with the pedestrian facilities that already exist, to encourage visitors to walk between the businesses in the Five Corners area. Page 19

21 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Potential Safety Enhancements Based on its observations and discussions, the RSA team identified the issues and possible enhancements that could improve safety at Route 202/School Street and the Five Corners intersections in Granby, MA. Short-term enhancements include, but are not limited to: Continued enforcement; Provide driver safety education at the area schools; Restrict left turns at the Dunkin Donuts and Cumberland Farms driveways; Replace missing, damaged, or outdated signage; Evaluate clearance intervals; and Formalize a left-turn lane at the Route 202 westbound approach to the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection. To enhance the safety of the corridor, the long-term enhancements are to: Evaluate the benefits of changing the intersection control at Route 202/School Street; Realign the School Street southbound approach so that it intersects Route 202 at a right angle; Lengthen the left-turn lanes on Route 202 between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street; Evaluate the feasibility of a median on Route 202 between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street; Modify the geometry of the Pleasant Street slip lanes to better accommodate heavy vehicles; Evaluate the safety benefits of signalizing the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection; and Provide pedestrian facilities where needed. Page 20

22 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table 2 summarizes these safety issues, possible enhancements, estimated safety payoff, time frame, cost, and responsibility. Safety payoff estimates are based on engineering judgment and are categorized as low, medium, and high. The time frame is categorized as short-term (<1 year), mid-term (1 to 3 years), or long-term (typically >3 years). The costs are categorized as low (<$10,000), medium ($10,000 to $50,000), or high (>$50,000). It is the responsibility of MassDOT to ensure that the designer incorporates the relevant safety enhancements identified as part of this RSA. The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and included as part of the design process for future reconstruction efforts. The short-term lowcost potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to reconstruction. Page 21

23 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements Location Location 1: Route 202/School Street Safety Enhancement Collect motor vehicle speed data along School Street and Route 202 in the vicinity of the Route 202/School Street intersection, to identify the most appropriate times of day for increased enforcement. Evaluate safety conditions after the short-term improvements are implemented in the summer of Collect traffic volume data at the intersection of Route 202/School Street to determine if a change in intersection control (e.g. traffic signal or roundabout) is warranted and feasible. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility and safety benefits of changing the intersection control, either through introduction of a traffic signal or roundabout, if warranted according to traffic volume data. Consider heavy vehicle traffic, pedestrian accommodations, and sight distance limitations east of the intersection due to the horizontal curve of the roadway. Consider providing safety education for young drivers at The MacDuffie School and the Granby Junior-Senior High School, specifically noting the high-crash locations and emphasizing safe driving techniques. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility of realigning the School Street southbound approach to intersect Route 202 at a right angle and ensure that it is narrow enough to preclude vehicles from forming two lines and obstructing each other s sight lines while accommodating turning radius requirements for heavy vehicles. Consider installing street name signage for the north leg of School Street at the intersection. Relocate street name signage at the southeast corner of the intersection so that it is visible from Route 202. Replace signage as appropriate to meet current MassDOT standards. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Responsible Party Low Short-term Low Low Short-term Low MassDOT/Town of Granby MassDOT/Town of Granby High Long-term High MassDOT Low Short-term Low Town of Granby Low Long-Term High MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT Page 22

24 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued) Location Location 2: Route 202/Pleasant Street and Route 202/Amherst Street Safety Enhancement Consider the safety benefits of formalizing a left-turn lane on Route 202 westbound at Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms east driveway in order to formalize a safe, dedicated place for vehicles to make a left turn. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider signalizing the Route 202/Amherst Street/Cumberland Farms intersection and coordinating with the Route 202/Pleasant Street signalized intersection if safety conditions do not improve as a result of adding the left-turn lane. As part of long-term planning efforts, consider replacing the existing mast arms with longer mast arms to align signal faces with the travel lanes and provide redundancy of signal indications to improve visibility. Evaluate the length of the protected left-turn phase and clearance intervals for protected left turns at the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection to ensure that there is adequate time for vehicles to safely exit the intersection before a conflicting movement is given the right-of-way. Consider the safety benefits implementing protected-only left-turn phasing. Consider the feasibility of lengthening the left-turn lanes on the Route 202 eastbound approach at the Route 202/Amherst Street intersection and on the Router 202 approach at the Route 202/Pleasant Street intersection as part of long-term reconstruction efforts. Restrict left turns with signage at the Dunkin Donuts and the Cumberland Farms entrance driveway on Route 202 to reduce the occurrence of angle-type crashes. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider the feasibility of constructing a raised median on Route 202 between Pleasant Street and Amherst Street to prevent left turns at driveways if turn restrictions through signage are deemed ineffective or create an enforcement issue. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Responsible Party High Short-term Low MassDOT High Long-term High MassDOT Medium Long-term High MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT High Long-term High MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT High Long-term High MassDOT Page 23

25 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued) Location Location 2: Route 202/Pleasant Street and Route 202/Amherst Street Safety Enhancement Consider the feasibility and appropriateness of either removing or modifying the geometry of the right-turn slip lanes on Pleasant Street to accommodate heavy vehicles as part of long-term reconstruction efforts. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider realigning Amherst Street westerly so that it aligns with the Cumberland Farms driveway, which would facilitate left turns from Route 202 onto Amherst Street and Cumberland Farms. Reduce sign clutter along Route 202 eastbound. Ensure there is adequate spacing between signs and remove unnecessary signage, as appropriate. Remove the nonstandard street name signage on Pleasant Street and on Amherst Street northbound. Reinstall the Yield (R1-2) and Do Not Enter (R5-1) signage on the Pleasant Street northbound slip lane away from the curb line and remove the unused signal post so that it is not struck by turning heavy vehicles. Repair or replace sign posts for the Do Not Pass (R1-4) sign on Route 202 westbound and the Stop sign on Amherst Street southbound to improve sign visibility. Consider options to discourage or eliminate cut-through traffic between Amherst Street and Pleasant Street via the adjacent businesses driveway either through turn restrictions or by modifying access to parcels as they are redeveloped. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Responsible Party Medium Long-term High MassDOT Medium Long-term High MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT Low Short-term Low Town of Granby Low Short-term Low MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT Low Short-term Low MassDOT/Town of Granby Page 24

26 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued) Location Location 2: Route 202/Pleasant Street and Route 202/Amherst Street Safety Enhancement As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, evaluate the feasibility of providing additional pedestrian facilities in the area, and form connections with the pedestrian facilities that already exist, to encourage visitors to walk between the businesses in the Five Corners area. Safety Payoff Time Frame Cost Responsible Party High Long-term High MassDOT Page 25

27 Cranberry Highway (Routes 6 and 28), Granby, MA Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda

28 Granby, MA Route 202 (East State St)/School Street & Route 202 (West State St)/Pleasant St/Amherst St Meeting Location: Granby Police Department 259 A East State Street, Granby, MA Tuesday, March 19, :00 AM 12:00 noon Type of meeting: Attendees: Please bring: High Crash Locations Road Safety Audit Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team Thoughts and Enthusiasm!! 9:00 AM Welcome and Introductions 9:15 AM Discussion of Safety Issues 10:00 AM Site Visit Crash history, Speed Regulations provided in advance Existing Geometries and Conditions Drive to the intersections of Route 202 at School St and Route 202 at Pleasant St/Amherst St As a group, identify areas for improvement 11:00 AM Discussion of Potential Improvements Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations 12:00 noon Adjourn for the Day but the RSA has not ended Instructions for Participants: Before attending the RSA on March 19th, participants are encouraged to drive/walk through the intersections 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.

29 Cranberry Highway (Routes 6 and 28), Granby, MA Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List

30 Route 202 (East State Street)/School Street & Route 202 (West State Street)/Pleasant Street/Amherst Street, Granby, MA Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data

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32 Crash Data Summary Table East State Street and School Street, Granby, MA 1/1/ /31/2011 Crash Diagram Crash Date Time of Day Manner of Collision Light Condition Weather Condition Road Surface Driver Contributing Code Ages Comments Ref # m/d/y Type Type Type Type Type D1 D2 D3 D4 1 1/25/08 6:41 AM Sideswipe, opposite direction Dawn Cloudy Dry No Improper Driving Vehicle 1 diverted and collided with Vehicle 2 in a side-swipe manner 2 4/8/08 2:07 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Inattention /26/08 4:59 PM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry Inattention /26/08 5:27 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Inattention Police officer directing through traffic, Vehicle 1 turns left without signaling 5 7/8/08 6:29 PM Angle Daylight Cloudy Dry Inattention /19/08 8:32 PM Angle Dusk Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way /6/08 11:15 AM Angle Daylight Cloudy Dry Inattention /3/08 8:07 AM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Glare /23/09 6:28 PM Sideswipe, same direction Daylight Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way 37 unk Hit and run, drivers diverted vehicles and collided in a side-swipe manner 10 1/30/09 8:45 AM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Inattention /7/09 8:20 PM Rear-end Dusk Rain Wet No Improper Driving /22/09 3:30 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way Driver in vehicle 2 stated that he didn't see vehicle /2/10 8:31 AM Rear-end Daylight Clear Dry No Improper Driving Unable to be located. 30 ft east of MECO pole # /3/11 5:03 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way Vehicle 2 didn't see vehicle /16/11 3:03 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry No Improper Driving /17/11 1:02 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Inattention /20/11 5:11 PM Sideswipe, opposite direction Dark, unknown roadway lighting Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way /26/11 2:50 PM Angle Daylight Clear Dry Failed to yield to right of way Vehicle 2 entered the westbound travel lane while turning to go eastbound Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Granby Police Department

33 Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts East State Street and School Street, Granby, MA 25% 2 15% 1 5% CRASH MONTH 22% 22% 17% 17% 11% 6% 6% J F M A M J J A S O N D 3 28% CRASH DAY OF WEEK 28% 28% 2 1 6% 6% 6% Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday % 6AM 8AM 17% 8AM 10AM 6% 6% 10AM 12PM CRASH TIME OF DAY 12PM 2PM 22%22% 2PM 4PM 4PM 6PM 11% 11% 6PM 8PM 8PM 10PM 10PM 12AM 12AM 2AM 2AM 4AM 4AM 6AM Single Vehicle Crash 17% CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION 67% 6% Rear-end Angle Sideswipe, same direction 11% Sideswipe, opposite direction Head on Rear to Rear Unknown E STATE ST AND SCHOOL ST.xlsx 1 of 3 3/1/2013

34 % Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts East State Street and School Street, Granby, MA 6% 11% CRASH LIGHT CONDITION Daylight Dawn Dusk Dark Lighted Roadway 6% Dark Roadway not lighted Dark unknown roadway lighting Other Unknown % Clear 17% Cloudy CRASH WEATHER CONDITION 6% Rain Snow Sleet, Hail, Freezing Rain Fog, Smog, Smoke Severe Crosswinds Blowing sand, snow Other Unknown % CRASH ROAD SURFACE 6% Dry Wet Snow Ice Sand, mud, dirt, oil, gravel 19% 24% CRASH DRIVER AGES 14% 8% Water (standing, moving) 16% 8% Slush Other 11% Unknown 80+ E STATE ST AND SCHOOL ST.xlsx 2 of 3 3/1/2013

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