ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Damon Road
City of Northampton
October 2013
Prepared for:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
38 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table of Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Data ................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Location Description ..................................................................................................... 5
Road Safety Audit Observations and Potential Enhancements ........................................... 10
Location A: King Street at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive................................. 11
Safety Issue #1: Signal Timing and Delay....................................................................................... 11
Safety Issue #2. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................. 15
Safety Issue #3. Access Management.............................................................................................. 17
Safety Issue #4. Intersection Geometry ........................................................................................... 19
Safety Issue #5. Pavement Markings ............................................................................................... 22
Safety Issue #6. Signage .................................................................................................................. 24
Location B: Damon Road at Curve near River Run Road............................................................... 26
Safety Issue #1. Intersection Geometry ........................................................................................... 26
Safety Issue #2. Access Management.............................................................................................. 28
Safety Issue #3. Vehicle Speeds ...................................................................................................... 29
Safety Issue #4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................. 30
Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 31
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Speed Regulations
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Figure 3.
Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 4
Location A: North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road, Bridge
Road, and Industrial Drive ..................................................................................................... 7
Location B: Damon Road at Curve near River Run Road ..................................................... 8
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 3
Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements ....................................................................... 36
Page 1
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Background
The intersection of North King Street and King Street (U.S. Route 5 and State Route 10) at Damon Road,
Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive is identified as a high crash location by the Massachusetts Department
of Transportation (MassDOT). The Damon Road corridor is also included in the study area due to its
location between Exits 19 and 20 of Interstate 91 (I-91). A curved section of Damon Road, along this
corridor, at its intersection with River Run Road is identified as a location of concern that is included in
the study area. Reconstruction of Damon Road between North King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) and the
vicinity of Old Water Street is a MassDOT design contract that has been evaluated since 2006. MassDOT
has determined that Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding would be allowed for
reconstruction of the intersection if a Road Safety Audit (RSA) were conducted and a proposed design
incorporated the safety improvements identified in the RSA. The corridor is currently identified as a
proposed project (MassDOT Project #180525) and is currently at 25% Design. The project is listed on
the 2016 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), but construction is not yet scheduled.
In general, the RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and
included as part of the design process for the future reconstruction of the area. The short-term, low-cost
potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for immediate implementation
prior to reconstruction, as appropriate. The RSA study area is illustrated in Figure 1.
Project Data
The audit team conducted an RSA for the intersection of North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and
S.R. 10) at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive, and the intersection of Damon Road at a
curve near River Run Road. 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.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Agency/Affiliation
Ned Huntley
David Veleta
Wayne Feiden
Russ Sienkiewicz
Khyah Parmar
Lisa Schletzbaum
Corey O’Connor
Laurie Scarbrough
Bao Lang
Greg Russell
David Matton
James Turnbull
Northampton Department of Public Works
Northampton Department of Public Works
Northampton Planning
Northampton Police Department
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
MassDOT Headquarters - Highway Safety
MassDOT Headquarters - Highway Safety
MassDOT District 2 Office
MassDOT District 2 Office
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
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Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Figure 1.
Locus Map
RSA Study Area
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the audit team reviewed collision
diagrams and a crash detail summary for the intersections of North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5
and S.R. 10) at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive; and Damon Road at a curve near River
Run Road based on crash records supplied by the Northampton Police Department to the MassDOT
Registry of Motor Vehicles.
From 2010-2012, 69 police documented crashes were reported at the intersection of North King Street
and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive. Of those
crashes, 28 (or 41%) were angle-type crashes, 25 (36%) were rear-end crashes, nine (13%) were
sideswipes in the same direction, three (4%) were head-on crashes, three (4%) were single vehicle
crashes, and one (1%) was a sideswipe in the opposite direction. The crashes mostly occurred during
daylight conditions (63 or 91%) and on dry pavement (52 or 75%). Twenty-six (37%) of the crashes
occurred during cloudy or rainy conditions with 16 (3%) involving wet roadway surfaces. Of the 69
crashes, 18 (26%) resulted in personal injury, including one crash (1%) involving a pedestrian and one
crash (1%) involving a cyclist. A high percentage of motorists involved in 35 of the 69 crashes (51%)
were between the ages of 15-29, and 18 crashes (26%) occurred during the months of September and
October. The age group of motorists and the months that many of the crashes occur may be attributed to
the proximity of the intersection to nearby universities, and students who are unfamiliar with the area.
From 2010-2012, 23 police documented crashes were reported on Damon Road at a curve near River Run
Road. Of those crashes, nine (or 39%) were rear-end crashes, six (26%) were angle-type crashes, four
(18%) were single vehicle crashes, two (9%) were head-on crashes, one (4%) was a sideswipe in the same
direction, and one (4%) was a sideswipe in the opposite direction. The crashes mostly occurred during
daylight conditions (17, or 74%) and on dry pavement (17, or 74%). Nine (41%) of the crashes occurred
during cloudy or rainy conditions, with four (17%) citing wet roadway surfaces. Two crashes (8%) cited
icy or slushy roadway surface conditions. Of the 23 crashes, four (17%) resulted in personal injury,
including one crash (4%) involving wildlife.
Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the area. Speed regulations for North King Street and
King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) and Damon Road are presented in Appendix D.
Project Location Description
The RSA focused on the Damon Road corridor as two abutting study areas in the City of Northampton.
North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road and Bridge Road is a signalized
intersection with four approaches. The Bridge Road eastbound approach consists of a left-turn lane, a
through lane, and a right-turn lane. The North King Street southbound approach consists of a shared left­
turn/through lane and a shared right turn/through lane. The Damon Road westbound approach consists of
an exclusive left-turn lane, a through lane, and an exclusive right-turn lane. The King Street northbound
approach consists of a shared left-turn/through lane and a shared right-turn/through lane. A CSX railroad
crossing is located about 300 feet east of the intersection of King Street and Damon Road with a crossing
signal that is coordinated with the intersection. Pedestrian sidewalks are only provided on a portion of the
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
southerly side of Bridge Road and Damon Road, and on either side of King Street. No ADA-compliant
wheelchair ramps or crosswalks are provided at this intersection. The pavement is in fair condition, while
the lane markings are faded due to queuing. There are no marked bicycle accommodations at the
intersection.
Damon Road at Industrial Drive is a stop-controlled T-intersection with three approaches. The Damon
Road eastbound approach consists of a single travel lane. The Damon Road westbound approach consists
of a left-turn lane and a through lane. The Industrial Drive northbound approach consists of a single
travel lane for left and right turns. Pedestrian sidewalks, ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps, and
crosswalks are not provided at this intersection. The pavement is in fair condition the lane markings are
faded due to turning trucks onto Industrial Drive and is in need of restriping. There are no marked bicycle
accommodations at the intersection.
Since the intersection of Damon Road and Industrial Drive is located just 500 feet east of the intersection
of North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road and Bridge Road, this report
will discuss this area as a single intersection. These intersections are shown in Figure 2.
Damon Road at curve near River Run Road is a section of Damon Road with one eastbound travel lane
and one westbound travel lane. River Run Road intersects Damon Road on the northerly side of the curve
at a non-stop controlled intersection. On the southerly side of the curve in Damon Road lies a strip mall
with three main driveways which produce a significant amount of left turns entering and exiting on the
apex of the curve. Damon Road is superelevated through the curve and the pavement and lane markings
appeared to be in fair condition.
These intersections are the junctions of the following roadways, which are categorized according to
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning functional classifications:
North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) is classified as an urban minor arterial and falls
under MassDOT jurisdiction on North King Street, and City jurisdiction on King Street. The portion of
U.S. Route 5 that runs through Massachusetts is a north-south roadway that originates at the Connecticut
border to the south, runs alongside I-91 up the Connecticut River, and terminates near the Vermont state
line to the north. Route 10 is a north-south roadway that also originates at the Connecticut border to the
south, runs concurrently with Route 5 from Northampton to Bernardston, before crossing the Connecticut
River and terminating near the New Hampshire state line to the north. Within the study area, Route 5 and
Route 10, locally referred to as King Street, consists of two travel lanes in each direction, and the speed
limit is 40 miles per hour (mph). King Street is an accessible roadway, where pedestrians and bicyclists
are allowed. Sidewalks are discontinuous along King Street, and bicycle accommodations are limited to a
paved shoulder in most areas.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Figure 2.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location A: North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road,
Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Figure 3.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location B: Damon Road at Curve Near River Run Road
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Damon Road is classified as an urban minor arterial and falls under City of Northampton jurisdiction.
Damon Road runs northwest from Bridge Street (Route 9) to King Street. Within the study area, Damon
Road consists of one travel lane in each direction and the speed limit is 30 miles per hour (mph) near
populated areas and 35 miles per hour (mph) in rural areas. Damon Road is currently used as the
connecting road between Interchange 19 on it easterly end, which services an I-91 northbound off-ramp
and a southbound on-ramp, and Interchange 20 on its westerly end, which services an I-91 southbound
off-ramp and a northbound on-ramp. The RSA team identified Damon Road is currently listed and used
as a urban minor arterial, but it lacks the infrastructure and appears as a local road to motorists. Damon
Road is an accessible roadway, where pedestrians and bicyclists are allowed. The Norwottuck Rail
Trail lies south of the study area on Damon Road in the vicinity of Old Water Street and provides
an important mixed-use path connection between Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst Sidewalks
are not provided along Damon Road, and bicycle accommodations are limited to a paved shoulder in most
areas.
Bridge Road is classified as an urban minor arterial and falls under City of Northampton jurisdiction.
Bridge Road runs east to west from North Main Street (Route 9) to King Street. Within the study area,
Bridge Road consists of one travel lane in each direction and the speed limit is 30 miles per hour (mph)
near populated areas and 35 miles per hour (mph) in rural areas. Bridge Road is an accessible roadway,
where pedestrians and bicyclists are allowed. Sidewalks are not provided along Bridge Road near the
study area, and bicycle accommodations are limited to a paved shoulder.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit Observations and
Potential Enhancements
Based on RSA team discussions on Monday, October 21st, 2013 the RSA team determined that
intersections of North King Street and King Street (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and
Industrial Drive and Damon Road at a curve near River Run Road have the following issues that affect
safety:
Location A: King Street at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Signal Timing, Queuing, and Delay;
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations;
Access Management;
Intersection Geometry;
Pavement Markings and Lane Use; and
Signage.
Location B: Damon Road at Curve near River Run Road
1.
2.
3.
4.
Intersection Geometry
Vehicle Speed;
Access Management; and
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations.
The following sections describe in more detail the safety issues and enhancements determined during the
RSA. Several of these issues require further study and engineering judgment to determine the feasibility
of implementing enhancements to address them.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location A: King Street at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and
Industrial Drive
Safety Issue #1: Signal Timing and Delay
Observations:
Of the 69 crashes analyzed at the intersection
of King Street at Damon Road and Bridge
Road, 25 (or 36%) involved rear-end crashes.
21 (or 30%) of these rear-end crashes
specifically cited failure to stop in queued
traffic or driver inattention. This data
suggests that driver inattention may be a
result of delay at the intersection. According
to RSA team members, delay occurs
frequently on the Damon Road westbound
and the Bridge Road eastbound approaches to
the intersection.
Vehicles queuing on Damon Road westbound;
both the westbound-left and westbound-right
turning lanes are inaccessible.
According to an RSA team member, during
the morning peak, the primary movements at the intersection are the Bridge Road eastboundthrough movement and the North King Street southbound-left movement heading onto the
Damon Road corridor. During the evening peak, the opposite occurs; the primary movements are
the Damon Road westbound through movement to Bridge Road and the Damon Road westboundright movement to North King Street.
A Bridge Road eastbound-left-turn lane and a Damon Road westbound-left turn lane are provided
with leading protected phases that run concurrently with one another, followed by a permitted
left-turn phase. Due to the volume of traffic making the through movement at the intersection,
the Bridge Road eastbound-left turn lane and the Damon Road westbound-left turn lane are
frequently obstructed by the queued through vehicles. In turn, Bridge Road eastbound-left­
turning vehicles and Damon Road
westbound-left-turning vehicles are not
able to enter the left-turn lane during the
dedicated left-turn phase.
The Damon Road westbound queuing is extensive; it
blocks turning lanes, a railroad crossing, driveways,
and traffic exiting Industrial Drive.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
A similar situation occurs with Damon
Road westbound protected right-turns. The
Damon Road westbound-right turn phase
runs concurrently with the North King
Street southbound split phase, while the
Damon Road westbound through movement
has a red indication. The Damon Road
westbound through movement queue
renders this protected right turn green time
very ineffective, as the right-turn lane is
usually blocked by queues in the through
lane during the evening peak. An analogous A Damon Road westbound ambulance crosses
situation occurs during the morning peak on onto eastbound side during an emergency vehicle
preemption phase.
Bridge Road. During the protected right
turn phase, which runs concurrently with the King Street northbound split phase, Bridge Road
eastbound through traffic blocks the right turn lane, resulting in unused green time for the rightturn lane.
Queues on the Damon Road westbound approach frequently extend past the CSX railroad
crossing to the east of the King Street intersection causing a safety issue. There is a direct
connection between the railroad crossing and the signal located at the King Street intersection.
North King Street southbound left turns onto Damon Road gridlock the intersection when the
railroad crossing is active. An RSA member noted that railroad crossings would become more
frequent during peak hours due to planned improvements for a commuter rail line along the
north-south running “Knowledge Corridor.” Increased railroad crossings may increase delay
overall at the King Street and Damon Road intersection.
Emergency vehicle preemption during the morning and evening peak periods is also a safety
concern. There is frequent ambulance traffic on Damon Road westbound through the intersection
towards the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton. The ambulances have preemption
through the intersection, which gives a red signal to all other approaches and maintains a green
for Damon Road westbound through
traffic. Due to the single traffic lane
queuing on Damon Road westbound,
ambulances frequently have to cross
the double yellow centerline into the
eastbound lane, go around the splitter
island, and through the intersection.
King Street northbound queuing and an obstructed
signal face.
The King Street northbound approach
and the North King Street southbound
approach each experience significant
queuing. The road is classified as an
urban minor arterial, and no left turn
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
lanes are provided on either approach. The King Street northbound through and northbound-left
movements run on a split phase independent of a separate split phase for the North King Street
southbound through and southbound-left turn movement. According to RSA team members, the
existing conditions and Right of Way have limited the provision of marked turning lanes with
corresponding protected left-turn phases on North King Street and King Street.
Team members noted that signal mast arms and posts are provided, which increase visibility.
However, on the King Street northbound approach, there is a signal head located on a mast which
is not visible due to encroaching vegetation. Retro reflective signal back plates are also not
provided on all of the signal faces at the intersection.
The delay and subsequent queuing on Damon Road westbound carry over to the intersection of
Industrial Drive and Damon Road. Industrial Drive is a stop-controlled intersection that primarily
services heavy vehicles. Trucks use Damon Road for access to I-91 from the industrial park
located on Industrial Drive. A Damon Road westbound left turn storage lane is provided at
Industrial Drive for vehicles to queue. Short headway between cars on Damon Road eastbound
during the morning peak delay Damon Road westbound left-turns and Industrial Drive
northbound left-turns, especially for heavy vehicles. Queuing on Damon Road in the westbound
direction during the evening peak causes delay for the Industrial Drive northbound left-turns and
the Damon Road westbound left-turn storage lane is regularly blocked by queued through
vehicles.
Enhancements:
1. Increase police enforcement for distracted driving and driver inattention during peak
hours to help prevent rear-end accidents in the large eastbound and westbound queues.
2. Install a Variable Message Sign on Damon Road and Bridge Road to remind drivers “No
Texting While Driving.” or “Heavy Traffic, Stay Alert.”, etc. Variable Message Signs
can act as an additional measure combined with enforcement to reduce driver
inattentiveness.
3. Increase visibility of signal heads from the westbound approach of Damon Road and the
northbound approach of King Street by removing brush and tree branch obstructions.
4. In the long term, analyze the capacity of turning lanes on the Bridge Road eastbound and
Damon Road westbound approaches. Consider updating the loop detectors and adjusting
split time for primary turning movements during peak hours.
5. Evaluate the capacity of the Bridge Road eastbound through movement during a.m. peak
and the Damon Road westbound through movement during p.m. peak. Dedicating more
split time to concurrent through movements may result in smaller vehicle queues.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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Smaller vehicle queues on these through movements will allow better access to the
turning lanes already provided on Bridge Road and Damon Road.
6. Capacity analysis of the Bridge Road eastbound approach and Damon Road westbound
approach may warrant geometric improvements at the intersection. Consider providing
dual through lanes or two-receiving lanes for Bridge Road eastbound and dual through
lanes or two receiving lanes for Damon Road westbound. Evaluate lengthening the
Bridge Road eastbound left and right-turn lanes and the Damon Road westbound left and
right-turn lanes to increase queued vehicle storage space.
7. Evaluate the effectiveness of signal coordination between the CSX railroad crossing
signal and the signalized intersection of King Street and Damon Road. Consider
restricting North King Street southbound left-turns onto Damon Road when the railroad
crossing signal is active. Coordination of the two signals may reduce vehicle queues on
the Damon Road westbound approach and reduce gridlock.
8. Emergency vehicle preemption can be improved by reducing vehicles queued in the
Damon Road westbound through lanes. Consider widening the shoulder width to allow
queued vehicles more space to pull over in an emergency situation.
9. Reevaluate the existing split phase turning movements on the King Street northbound and
North King Street southbound approaches. Consider the addition of left turn lanes and a
protected left turn phase to extend green time for concurrent northbound and southbound
through movements.
10. Evaluate the safety benefits of providing a traffic signal at the intersection of Damon
Road at Industrial Drive, which should be coordinated with the intersection of Damon
Road at King Street.
11. Provide retro reflective back plates on all existing signal faces at the intersection of King
Street and Damon Road and the CSX railroad crossing signals.
12. Consider relocating existing signal indications on the mast arms at the King Street and
Damon Road intersection to align with the center of each corresponding receiving lane.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #2. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Observations:
Sidewalks and ADA-compliant pedestrian
ramps are not consistently provided at the
intersection of King Street at Damon Road
and Bridge Road. One crash (1%) involved a
pedestrian at the intersection, and one crash
(1%) involved a cyclist, from 2010-2012.
During the RSA, the Northampton Chief of
Police noted that there was a pedestrian
fatality near this location that was not
included in the crash data.
RSA team members noted that there is a clear
pedestrian desire line going eastbound from
An inaccessible sidewalk is installed at the
Bridge Road through the intersection to
intersection of U.S. 5 and S.R. 10 at Damon Road
Damon Road. During the RSA site visit,
and Bridge Road. There are no crosswalks or
pedestrians were seen running east across
ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps.
King Street through queued traffic to the Gas
Station/Dunkin Donuts on the southeast corner of the intersection. To the west of the
intersection, there are multiple apartment complexes and schools on Bridge Road, which would
indicate a need for adequate pedestrian accommodations at the intersection. Meanwhile, there are
multiple retail business developments being constructed along the easterly side of King Street,
which may contribute to the increased pedestrian presence at this intersection.
Northampton Planning and the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) also have planned
bicycle connectivity from Bridge Road eastbound along Damon Road to the Norwottuck Rail
Trail. Currently, no adequate shoulder or painted bicycle lanes exist on Bridge Road or Damon
Road to provide accommodation to cyclists in the eastbound and westbound directions to make
this connection.
A cyclist negotiates Damon Road eastbound at
Industrial Drive.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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Enhancements:
1. Conduct pedestrian counts at the intersection to determine volume of pedestrians and
what facilities are required. A lower volume of pedestrians may easily be served in this
area by a push button pedestrian signal running north/south across Bridge Road and
east/west across King Street. On the contrary, a large volume of pedestrians may require
the installation of a four-way pedestrian signal with concurrent phasing.
2. Consider the safety benefits of providing a traffic officer or crossing guard at the
intersection in the short-term to help pedestrians cross during peak hours.
3. Provide ADA-compliant sidewalks and wheelchair ramps as part of long-term design and
reconstruction efforts in order to improve accessibility for pedestrians. Ensure that all
pedestrian facilities are continuous and connecting.
4. Consider implementing concurrent pedestrian crossings, where possible, to increase
pedestrian convenience. If possible, allow for concurrent crossings across all intersection
approaches so that the exclusive pedestrian phase may be removed from the signal cycle
entirely, which would decrease overall delay for all users of the intersection.
5. Identify locations where bicycle facilities, such as bike boxes, bicycle lanes, and shared
lane markings, can be added to improve cyclist safety and comfort. Prioritize bike lane
placement on inclines to create climbing lanes, which allow cyclists to travel more
comfortably while allowing faster-moving vehicles to pass.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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Safety Issue #3. Access Management
Observations:
Of the 69 crashes analyzed at the intersection of
King Street at Damon Road, Bridge Road and
Industrial Drive, 19 crashes (28%) referenced
turning into, or out of, a nearby driveway. Of
those, 10 crashes (15%) were specifically
referred to as courtesy crashes. A “courtesy
crash” is a term used to describe a crash that
occurs when a non-involved mainline motorist
gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the
road, to another vehicle entering or exiting a side
street or driveway, and that vehicle is hit by
another, unsuspecting vehicle in the adjacent
A vehicle turning left out of the northerly
D’Angelo’s curb cut through queued
lane. “Courtesy crashes” typically occur in
easterly traffic on Bridge Road.
locations where there is a large queue of vehicles
in multiple lanes of traffic. An operator’s line of
sight can be obstructed when entering or exiting a driveway that is located in the queuing area of
an intersection.
Seven angle crashes occurred at the northerly driveway for D’Angelo’s in the Bridge Road
eastbound queuing area, with one resulting in personal injury. Eight angle crashes occurred at the
westerly driveway for Pride Fuels in the King Street northbound queuing area, with one resulting
in personal injury. Finally, five angle crashes also occurred at the northerly driveway for Pride
Fuels in the Damon Road westbound queuing area. It should be noted that Pride Fuels also shares
space with a Dunkin Donuts drive-thru window, which generates considerable traffic entering the
westerly driveway on King Street and exiting via the northerly driveway on Damon Road.
During the RSA site visit, which occurred during the morning peak, operators were observed
incorrectly yielding right of way to those
making turns in and out of these driveways.
Some operators were also observed making left
turns into and out of these driveways by
intentionally obstructing oncoming through
traffic.
Vehicles exiting the drive-thru at Dunkin
Donuts into queued traffic.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. Determine the effectiveness of placing No Left Turn (R3-2) signage at the curb cuts for
Pride Fuels and the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru to reduce the occurrence of courtesy
crashes. Restricting left-turns in and out of the Pride Fuels and Dunkin Donuts curb cuts
may simply move the increased occurrence of angle-type crashes to another location
where these turns are permitted, evaluate locations where this may occur.
2. Evaluate the feasibility of extending the splitter islands on the King Street northbound
approach past the westerly driveway for Pride Fuels, and on the Damon Road westbound
approach past the driveway exit for the Dunkin Donuts drive-through, to physically limit
the driveways to right-in/right-out turning movements.
3. Work with property owners to eliminate the northerly curb cut for D’Angelo’s located in
the Bridge Road eastbound queuing area to eliminate the occurrence of courtesy crashes.
On the easterly side of the property, there are two other curb cuts that are accessible by
King Street southbound.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #4. Intersection Geometry
Observations:
The lengths of both the Damon Road eastbound rightturn lane and the Damon Road westbound left-turn
lane are limited to about 75 feet. Consequently, queues
in the Damon Road eastbound through lane can block
the Damon Road eastbound right-turn lane, and queues
in the Damon Road westbound through lane can block
the Damon Road westbound left-turn lane, in the
evening peak period. This can create longer queues, as
vehicles intending to enter the left-turn or right-turn
lane must wait for the through lane queue to clear. It
can also cause Damon Road westbound motorists to
cross the centerline to enter the left-turn lane.
A three-axle truck occupies most of the
Damon Road westbound left-turn lane and
needs to encroach on the westbound through
lane to make the turn.
Six (or 9%) of the 69 crashes compiled were
sideswipes on the Damon Road westbound approach that cited entering the left-turn, through, and rightturn lanes as a point of contact. This approach is about 30-35 feet wide at the stop line; which provides
insufficient width for the frequent heavy vehicle traffic observed on the Damon Road westbound
approach. The sideswipe crashes at this location may also be attributed to lane use issues, which are a
product of insufficient storage lane length and advanced lane designation signage. Due to the length of
queuing observed by the RSA team on the Damon Road westbound through movement, it appears that a
single through lane and receiving lane are inadequate. There also is no presence of a usable shoulder on
the Damon Road westbound approach. Two buildings on the northerly side of Damon Road limit the
right of way that is currently available for the westbound approach.
As previously stated, a similar queuing situation occurs on the Bridge Road eastbound through movement
during the morning peak. The Bridge Road eastbound left and right-turning lanes are blocked by the
queuing for the through lane until it clears. No sideswipe accidents occurred on this approach during the
study period; however four (6%) rear end crashes occurred in queued through lane traffic. The width of
the eastbound approach is also about 30-35 feet at the stop line and the length of the turning lanes are
about 75 feet. RSA members observed a single eastbound through lane and receiving lane for this
approach also appears to be inadequate for the amount of queued traffic during the morning peak. Right
of way on the north and south side of Bridge Road does not appear to be as limited as Damon Road.
The medians along all of the approaches appear to extend past the stop line and into the intersection. The
length of the medians causes heavy vehicles to make sweeping left turns. This may prevent the North
King Street southbound left-turn split phase, which is one of the major movements during the morning
peak, from running concurrently with the King Street northbound left turn-movement.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Industrial Drive northbound right-turns have
an obstructed sightline while stopped.
Right-turning heavy vehicles are also
impeded by an acute angle with a small curb
radius.
Industrial Drive intersects the southern side of Damon
Road on an angle about five-hundred feet east of King
Street. Industrial Drive has significant heavy vehicle
traffic entering and exiting the industrial park to access
nearby businesses and a Coca-Cola plant. Damon Road
eastbound right-turn movements onto Industrial Drive are
provided a large turning radius on an obtuse angle.
Industrial Drive northbound right-turn movements onto
Damon Road are inhibited by an obstructed sightline and
an acute turning angle. The RSA team observed
Industrial Drive northbound right-turning trucks
encroaching over the double yellow centerline, and
mounting the asphalt curbing to make the turn.
Enhancements:
1. Evaluate safety benefits of lengthening the Damon Road westbound left turn-lane and the
Damon Road westbound right-turn lane at King Street. Longer storage lanes for turning
movements on Damon Road westbound would allow more vehicles to clear from the
Damon Road westbound through queue. Consider current lack of right-of-way and the
possible need for permanent takings from adjacent properties if turning lanes are
extended.
2. Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Damon Road westbound through lane
or an additional westbound receiving lane on Bridge Road. Reducing the delay caused
by the Damon Road westbound through movement queuing during the evening peak
would improve signal performance.
3. Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Bridge Road eastbound through lane
or an additional westbound receiving lane on Damon Road. Reducing the delay caused
by the Bridge Road eastbound through movement queuing during the morning peak
would improve signal performance.
4. Evaluate the existing lane widths along the Bridge Road eastbound approach and Damon
Road westbound approach to determine if they are wide enough to accommodate existing
heavy vehicle traffic. Widening the shoulder may also aid emergency vehicles during the
preemption phase, by giving queued vehicles more room to pull over. Consider current
lack of right-of-way and the possible need for permanent takings from adjacent properties
if approach is widened.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
5. Consider reducing the lengths of the medians at all approaches at the intersection of
Damon Road/Bridge Road/King Street to increase capacity at the intersection and allow
for concurrent protected left-turn phasing on the King Street northbound and North King
Street southbound approaches. This would require the addition of exclusive left-turn
lanes to both approaches.
6. Consider widening the existing medians to six feet or wider, where possible, to provide a
refuge area for pedestrians to safely wait for a gap in traffic.
7. Remove excess vegetation on the Industrial Drive northbound approach to allow for
adequate sight distance for exiting vehicles.
8. At the stop-controlled Industrial Drive northbound right-turn movement, determine the
feasibility of providing a larger turning radius appropriate for trucks turning on an acute
angle. An RSA member also stated that the industrial park entrance sign and vegetation
obstructing the sightline for this movement was within the Right of Way for Industrial
Drive. The existing entrance sign should be relocated and vegetation should be removed
or cut back.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #5. Pavement Markings
Observations:
The RSA team observed that the pavement
markings on all approaches to the King Street at
Damon Road and Bridge Road were partially
faded and in need of restriping. On the Bridge
Road eastbound approach, left and right turn lane
directional legends were faded as well as the solid
white lane lines. No marked lane designation text
(e.g. left turn arrow legend with “ONLY”)
accompanied the turning lane directional legends
in the eastbound-left and eastbound right-turn
lanes. Solid white lane lines are also not long
enough to effectively store more than three car
lengths. No solid white edge line is provided on
this approach due to the lane limited widths.
On the Bridge Road eastbound
approach, turning arrow legends and
lane markings were partially faded.
The Damon Road westbound approach has similar issues with the way turning lanes are marked.
No lane designation text accompanies any of the turning lane legends. The solid white lane lines
are not long enough to be effective in queued traffic, and no solid white edge line is provide due
to the lack of a usable shoulder.
At the intersection of King Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road, the stop lines on all
approaches appeared to be too far into the intersection to provide crosswalks and pedestrian
improvements. The stop line location paired with the median geometry appeared to make many
vehicles take sweeping left turns.
At the intersection of Industrial Drive and Damon Road, on the Industrial Drive northbound
approach, the stop line is located about fifty feet
behind where vehicles need to be to have a clear
line of sight for merging into traffic.
Presumably, this is to accommodate heavy
vehicles in the Damon Road westbound leftturning movement.
No crosswalk markings are provided at the King
Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road
intersection or the Industrial Way at Damon
Road intersection. Bicycle lane markings are
not currently on any of the approaches.
The Industrial Drive northbound right-turn
stop line is located about fifty feet back from
where most vehicles actually stopped.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. In general, restriping longitudinal lane markings on all approaches to the King Street
intersection may increase driver compliance.
2. Consider developing longer turning lane markings in association with geometric changes
to the Damon Road westbound approach and the Bridge Road eastbound approach to
increase queued vehicle storage.
3. Lane designation text “ONLY” is a feasible addition on the Damon westbound approach
and the Bridge Road eastbound approach if the lengths of turning movement storage
lanes are increased.
4. Evaluate adding a usable shoulder to the roadway for emergency use. A usable shoulder
also provides space for cyclist use.
5. Consider pulling the stop lines back on all approaches from within the intersection at
King Street to provide easier left-turn movements. This enhancement will also provide
space for pedestrian crosswalks.
6. At the Industrial Drive and Damon Road intersection, adjust the stop line in unison with
any geometric improvements made to the Industrial Drive northbound approach.
7. Add MassDOT standard crosswalk markings with the installation of ADA-compliant
wheelchair ramps and sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety at the intersection.
8. Evaluate the feasibility of adding bike lane markings to the Damon Road eastbound and
westbound lanes to encourage the planned bicycle connection previously mentioned in
the RSA.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #6. Signage
Observations:
The RSA team noted at Location A that warning signage is obstructed and regulatory signage is
inconsistent. The team made the following observations with respect to signage:
Guide Signage
� On the Damon Road westbound
approach, guide signs for King Street
(U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) and for I-91 are
partially obstructed by tree branches.
� On the King Street northbound approach,
guide signs for I-91 are partially
obstructed by overgrown vegetation.
� No guide signage is provided opposite
vehicle operators on the northbound
Industrial Drive approach.
Damon Road westbound guide signage for
King Street (Route 5/10) and I-91 is
obstructed by tree limbs.
Warning Signage
� A warning sign is provided on the
Damon Road westbound approach
stating a “No Passing Zone” (W14-3)
located on the southerly side of Damon
Road out of view to most vehicle
operators. This sign is unnecessary as
there are not any permitted passing
zones on any part of Damon Road.
� No other advanced warning signagefor
the railroad crossing or the signal is
provided at any of the approaches.
Warning signage for “No Passing Zone”
(W14-3).
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Regulatory Signage
�
A “Left Lane Must Turn Left” (R3­
7l) lane designation sign appears to
be missing.
� In general, graphic lane use signage
(R3-8 series) in the intersection is
lacking.
Lane designation signage is present but appears
to be incomplete.
Enhancements:
1. In the short term, reduce operator confusion by clearing overgrown vegetation from
obstructing guide signage on the Damon Road westbound approach and the King Street
northbound approach.
2. Consider installing I-91 guide signage opposite the Industrial Drive northbound approach
for added clarity.
3. Remove unnecessary W14-3 signage on the south side of Damon Road at Industrial
Drive. Consider installing signal and railroad crossing warning signage such as (W3-3,
W3-4, and W10-1) on the northerly side of the Damon road westbound approach.
4. Install a “Left Lane Must Turn Left” (R3-7l) in the splitter island on the Bridge Road
eastbound left-turn approach.
5. Install graphic lane use signs (R3-8 series) in unison with the existing lane use signage
(R3-7 series) on all approaches.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location B: Damon Road at Curve near River Run Road
Safety Issue #1. Intersection Geometry
Observations:
East of the intersections of Damon Road at
King Street and Damon Road at Industrial
Drive, lays a large radius horizontal curve in
the alignment of Damon Road. On the
southerly side of the curve, or the Damon Road
eastbound side, lies a residential and retail
development with three driveways. On the
northerly side of the curve, or the Damon Road
westbound side, lay four driveways and River
Run Road. 18 (or 77%) of the crashes at this
East of the King Street intersection, Damon
location were rear-end or angle-type crashes.
Road is a two lane road with superelevation.
Parked cars can obstruct horizontal sight
10 (43%) of these crashes specifically cited
distance
on Damon Road eastbound.
one of the vehicle operators making a turn into
or out of one of these driveways. 5 (22%) of the rear-end crashes cited failure to stop for queued
traffic that was residually backed up from the King Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road
intersection.
This crash data suggests that there may be a horizontal sight-distance issue at this curve in Damon
Road. In some instances, Damon Road westbound through traffic is not able to see queued traffic
backed up from the King Street intersection, or vehicles exiting driveways and River Run Road
with enough distance to stop safely. A similar situation occurs with Damon Road eastbound
through traffic not always being able to see vehicles turning into and out of the residential/retail
driveways on the southerly side of the curve in Damon Road. This usually occurs when there is a
sight obstruction between a horizontal curve and its geometrical chord. The RSA team observed
that parked cars in the retail/residential development may be obstructing driver sight lines on the
southerly apex of the curve in Damon Road.
The RSA team also noted that brush encroached
on the Damon Road westbound lane leading into
the curve.
River Run Road intersects Damon Road
westbound at the point of tangency of the
curve.
The curve in Damon Road is also designed with
a significant superelevation. This may
encourage higher vehicle speeds and the driver
misconception that the speed limit is higher than
the posted 35 mph. RSA team members noted
that this section of Damon Road, from a driver’s
perspective, looks like a rural local road.
Meanwhile, its functional classification is
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
actually an urban minor arterial.
River Run Road intersects Damon Road westbound
at the exit of the curve. An RSA member noted
that River Run Road was originally built as a
private way for industrial use. Curb radii are large
and the intersection is wide to accommodate trucks.
Now the road is a publicly used way serving
residential and retail use. The large curb radii
originally intended for truck traffic allow Damon
Road westbound right-turning cars to turn into
River Run Road in a fast sweeping motion. River
Run Road southbound right-turning cars are not
stop-controlled and can turn onto Damon Road
westbound in a similar sweeping fashion.
The River Run Road southbound
approach is wide and not stopcontrolled.
Enhancements:
1. In general, reducing queued residual traffic from the King Street at Damon Road and
Bridge Road intersection will reduce the frequency of rear end accidents at this location.
2. In the short-term, cut back vegetation from the Damon road westbound lane to increase
visibility.
3. Consider restriping parking spaces at the retail/residential development on the southerly
side of the curve so parked vehicles do not obstruct horizontal line of site.
4. Consider shortening the length of the horizontal curve and re-grading the superelevation
on Damon Road to encourage lower vehicle speeds.
5. Provide a stop line and stop sign on the River Run Road southbound approach.
6. Examine a reduction of the curb radii at the intersection of River Run Road and Damon
Road. A smaller curb radius will prevent vehicles from entering River Run Road
northbound in a fast sweeping motion. In conjunction, realign the intersection so River
Run Road intersects Damon Road perpendicularly.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #2. Access Management
Observations:
4 (17%) angle-type crashes involved a vehicle
exiting the residential/retail development on
the southerly side of the curve in Damon Road.
The western-most driveway for this
development is not immediately visible to
oncoming traffic on the Damon Road
eastbound through movement. The RSA team
observed that there were no pavement
markings or signage to designate a specific
entrance or exit for this development from one
of the three driveways accessing Damon Road.
The residential/retail development on the
southern apex of the curve in Damon Road.
Enhancements:
1. Consider closing the westernmost driveway at the residential/retail development located
on the southerly apex of the curve. Of the remaining two driveways, one can be
designated as an entrance and one can be designated as an exit with signage or pavement
markings.
2. Evaluate whether providing a left-turn storage lane on Damon Road westbound for leftturning traffic into the residential/retail development entrance is needed.
Page 28
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #3. Vehicle Speeds
Observations:
The roadway geometric features allow
passenger car traffic to maintain speed through
the curve in Damon Road. RSA team members
observed some vehicles that appeared to be
exceeding the posted 35 mph speed limit on
this section of Damon Road. 2 (9%) rear end
crashes that involved stopped or turning traffic
resulted in personal injury, including one crash
where a vehicle burst into flames on impact.
This type of crash severity does not usually
occur unless the vehicle was traveling at a high
rate of speed.
Eastbound approach to the curve on Damon
Road.
Enhancements:
1. In the short-term, post a speed radar trailer near the curve in Damon Road to increase
driver awareness.
2. Increase enforcement and post clearer speed-limit signage before the curve on both the
eastbound and westbound approach.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #4. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Observations:
No ADA sidewalks are provided on either
side of Damon Road at this curve. This was
a concern to RSA team members with the
area becoming increasingly more residential.
An RSA team member from the
Northampton Planning Department noted
that there are future developments proposed
along River Run Road that would include
office and recreational space. An RSA team
member from the Pioneer Valley Planning
Commission also noted that a planned
A pedestrian walking in the shoulder of Damon
connection to the Norwottuck Rail Trail on
Road westbound.
the Damon Road westbound (northerly) side
of the curve is also located along this route. There are currently no marked bicycle lanes
provided, but there is a wide shoulder on the eastbound and westbound sides of Damon Road.
Enhancements:
1. Consider providing a sidewalk on the eastbound (southerly) side of Damon Road to
provide pedestrian connectivity with the intersection of King Street at Damon Road and
Bridge Road.
2. Consider installing a pushbutton signalized crosswalk near the entrance to the residential
retail development on the south side of the curve in Damon Road. This would provide
pedestrian access to the retail stores and connectivity to the mixed-use path and could be
developed in unison with a left-turn lane. If a pushbutton pedestrian signal is not
warranted, installation of a rectangular rapid flashing crosswalk beacon (RRFB’s) or a
High-intensity activated crosswalk beacon (HAWK) should be considered.
3. Evaluate whether painted bicycle lanes or a cycle track are feasible. A pushbutton
crossing would also benefit cyclists trying to access the mixed-use path on northerly side
of Damon Road.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Recommendations
Based on its review of data, on-site field observations, and group discussion, the RSA team identified
the following possible enhancements that could improve safety at Location A: King Street at Damon
Road and Bridge Road and Location B: Damon Road at a Curve near River Run Road. Further study
and design work will be need to be conducted to determine the feasibility of making some of the
improvements.
Table 2 summarizes the 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). Long-term improvements are typically
considered to be substantial improvements with an expected time frame for implementation greater
than 3 years. The costs are categorized as low (<$10,000), medium ($10,001 to $50,000), or high
(>$50,000).
Location A: King Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road
Short-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:
� Increase police enforcement for distracted driving and driver inattention during peak hours in the
large eastbound and westbound queues.
� Install a Variable Message Sign on Damon Road and Bridge Road to remind drivers “No Texting
While Driving.” or “Heavy Traffic, Stay Alert.”, etc.
� Increase visibility of signal heads from the westbound approach of Damon Road and the
northbound approach of King Street by removing brush and tree branch obstructions.
� Consider the safety benefits of providing a traffic officer or crossing guard at the intersection in
the short-term to help pedestrians cross during peak hours.
� Conduct pedestrian counts at the King Street intersection to determine the volume of pedestrians
and identify what facilities are required.
� Remove excess vegetation on the Industrial Drive northbound approach to allow for adequate
sight distance for exiting vehicles and consider relocating the Industrial Park entrance sign.
�
� Remove unnecessary W14-3 signage on the south side of Damon Road at Industrial Drive.
Consider installing warning signage such as (W3-3, W3-4, and W10-1) on the northerly side of
the Damon road westbound approach to warn vehicle operators of oncoming railroad crossing
and signals.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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� Install a “Left Lane Must Turn Left” (R3-7l) in the splitter island on the Bridge Road eastbound
left-turn approach.
� Install graphic lane use signs (R3-8 series) in unison with the existing lane use signage (R3-7
series) on all approaches.
To enhance the safety of the corridor, the long-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:
� Analyze the capacity of turning lanes on the Bridge Road eastbound and Damon Road westbound
approaches. Consider updating the loop detectors and adjusting timing.
� Evaluate the capacity of the Bridge Road eastbound through movement during a.m. peak and the
Damon Road westbound through movement during p.m. peak. Adjusting signal timing may
result in smaller vehicle queues.
� Consider widening the shoulder width on the Damon road westbound approach to allow queued
vehicles more space to pull over during emergency vehicle preemption.
� Evaluate signal coordination between the CSX railroad crossing and the signalized intersection of
King Street and Damon Road. Consider restricting North King Street southbound left-turns onto
Damon Road when the railroad crossing signal is active to reduce gridlock.
� Reevaluate the existing split phase turning movements on the King Street northbound and North
King Street southbound; consider the addition of left turn lanes and a concurrent protected left
turn phase.
� Evaluate the safety benefits of providing a coordinated traffic signal at the intersection of Damon
Road at Industrial Drive.
� Provide retro reflective back plates on all existing signal faces at the intersection of King Street
and Damon Road and the CSX railroad crossing signals.
� Consider relocating existing signal indications on the mast arms at the King Street and Damon
Road intersection to align with the center of each corresponding receiving lane.
� Provide ADA-compliant sidewalks and wheelchair ramps at the King Street intersection.
� Consider implementing concurrent crosswalks with pedestrian signals at the King Street
intersection.
� Identify locations where bicycle facilities, such as bike boxes, bicycle lanes, and shared lane
markings, can be added to improve cyclist safety and comfort.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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� Consider placing No Left Turn (R3-2) signage at the curb cuts for Pride Fuels and the Dunkin
Donuts drive-thru to reduce the occurrence of courtesy crashes.
� Justify whether extending the splitter islands on the King Street northbound approach past the
westerly driveway for Pride Fuels, and on the Damon Road westbound approach past the
driveway exit for the Dunkin Donuts drive-through is beneficial to safety.
� Contact property owners to consider eliminating the northerly curb cut for D’Angelo’s located in
the Bridge Road eastbound queuing area.
� Evaluate the safety benefits of lengthening the Damon Road westbound left turn-lane and the
Damon Road westbound right-turn lane at the King Street intersection. Consider the impacts to
Damon Road westbound approach abutters.
� Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Damon Road westbound through lane or an
additional westbound receiving lane on Bridge Road.
� Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Bridge Road eastbound through lane or an
additional westbound receiving lane on Damon Road.
� Evaluate the existing lane widths along the Bridge Road eastbound approach and Damon Road
westbound approach to determine if they are wide enough to accommodate existing heavy vehicle
traffic.
� Consider reducing the lengths of the medians extending into the intersection on all approaches at
the King Street intersection to allow for concurrent left-turns.
� Consider widening the existing medians to six feet or wider, where possible, to provide a refuge
area for pedestrians to safely wait for a gap in traffic.
� Determine the feasibility of providing a larger turning radius appropriate for trucks on the
Industrial Drive northbound right-turn movement.
� Restripe the longitudinal lane markings on all approaches to the King Street intersection.
� Consider developing longer turning lane markings in association with geometric changes to the
Damon Road westbound approach and the Bridge Road eastbound approach.
� Evaluate adding lane designation text pavement markings to the Bridge Road eastbound approach
and the Damon road westbound approaches
� Consider pulling the stop lines back on all approaches from within the intersection at King Street
to provide easier left-turn movements.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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� At the Industrial Drive and Damon Road intersection move the stop line on Industrial Drive
closer to Damon Road to increase compliance.
� Add MassDOT standard crosswalk markings with the installation of ADA-compliant wheelchair
ramps and sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety at the King Street intersection.
� Evaluate the feasibility of adding bike lane markings to the Damon Road eastbound and
westbound lanes.
�
Consider installing I-91 guide signage opposite the Industrial Drive northbound approach.
Location B: Damon Road at a Curve near River Run Road
Short-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:
� Cut back vegetation from the Damon Road westbound lane to increase visibility.
� Provide a stop line and stop sign on the River Run Road southbound approach.
� Post a speed radar trailer near the curve in Damon Road on both approaches to increase driver
awareness.
� Increase enforcement and post clearer speed-limit signage before the curve on both the eastbound
and westbound approach.
To enhance the safety of the corridor, the long-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:
� Consider working with property owners to restripe and relocate parking spaces at the
retail/residential development on the southerly side of the curve.
� Consider shortening the length of the horizontal curve and re-grading the superelevation on
Damon Road to encourage lower vehicle speeds.
�
Examine a reduction of the curb radii at the intersection of River Run Road and Damon Road. In
conjunction, realign the intersection so River Run Road intersects Damon Road perpendicularly.
� Consider closing the westernmost driveway at the residential/retail development located on the
southerly apex of the curve. Place pavement marking on the remaining two driveways for an
entrance and exit.
� Evaluate whether providing a left-turn storage lane on Damon Road westbound for left-turning
traffic into the residential/retail development entrance is needed.
� Consider providing a sidewalk on the southerly side of Damon Road to provide pedestrian
connectivity with the intersection of King Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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� Consider installing a pushbutton signalized, RRFB, or HAWK crosswalk near the entrance to the
residential retail development on the south side of the curve in Damon Road.
� Evaluate whether painted bicycle lanes or a cycle track on Damon Road are feasible.
The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and included as part
of the design process for a reconstruction project. The short-term, low-cost potential improvements could
be considered by the responsible agency for immediate implementation, as appropriate.
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Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
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Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements
Location A: North King Street and King Street (U.S. Route 5 and State Route 10) at Damon Road, Bridge Road, and Industrial Drive
Safety Issue
Queuing and
Delay
Safety Enhancement
Increase police enforcement for distracted driving and driver
inattention during peak hours in the large eastbound and
westbound queues.
Install a Variable Message Sign on Damon Road and Bridge
Road to remind drivers “No Texting While Driving.” or “Heavy
Traffic, Stay Alert.”, etc.
Increase visibility of signal heads from the westbound
approach of Damon Road and the northbound approach of
King Street by removing brush and tree branch obstructions.
Analyze the capacity of turning lanes on the Bridge Road
eastbound and Damon Road westbound approaches.
Consider updating the loop detectors and adjusting timing.
Evaluate the capacity of the Bridge Road eastbound through
movement during a.m. peak and the Damon Road
westbound through movement during p.m. peak. Adjusting
signal timing may result in smaller vehicle queues.
Consider widening the shoulder width on the Damon road
westbound approach to allow queued vehicles more space to
pull over during emergency vehicle preemption.
Evaluate signal coordination between the CSX railroad
crossing and the signalized intersection of King Street and
Damon Road. Consider restricting North King Street
southbound left-turns onto Damon Road when the railroad
crossing signal is active to reduce gridlock.
Reevaluate the existing split phase turning movements on the
King Street northbound and North King Street southbound;
consider the addition of left turn lanes and a concurrent
protected left turn phase.
Evaluate the safety benefits of providing a coordinated traffic
signal at the intersection of Damon Road at Industrial Drive.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Short-term
Medium
City of Northampton
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Page 36
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Provide retro reflective back plates on all existing signal faces
at the intersection of King Street and Damon Road and the
CSX railroad crossing signals.
Consider relocating existing signal indications on the mast
arms at the King Street and Damon Road intersection to align
with the center of each corresponding receiving lane.
Consider the safety benefits of providing a traffic officer or
crossing guard at the intersection in the short-term to help
pedestrians cross during peak hours.
Pedestrian and
Bicycle
Accommodations
Access
Management
Intersection
Geometry
Conduct pedestrian counts at the King Street intersection to
determine the volume of pedestrians and identify what
facilities are required.
Provide ADA-compliant sidewalks and wheelchair ramps at
the King Street intersection.
Consider implementing concurrent crosswalks with
pedestrian signals at the King Street intersection.
Identify locations where bicycle facilities, such as bike boxes,
bicycle lanes, and shared lane markings, can be added to
improve cyclist safety and comfort.
Consider placing No Left Turn (R3-2) signage at the curb cuts
for Pride Fuels and the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru to reduce
the occurrence of courtesy crashes.
Justify whether extending the splitter islands on the King
Street northbound approach past the westerly driveway for
Pride Fuels, and on the Damon Road westbound approach
past the driveway exit for the Dunkin Donuts drive-through is
beneficial to safety.
Contact property owners to consider eliminating the northerly
curb cut for D’Angelo’s located in the Bridge Road eastbound
queuing area.
Remove excess vegetation on the Industrial Drive
northbound approach to allow for adequate sight distance for
exiting vehicles and consider relocating the Industrial Park
entrance sign.
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
Medium
Short-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT / City of
Northampton
Medium
Long-term
Low
MassDOT
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
Page 37
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Pavement
Markings and
Lane Use
Evaluate the safety benefits of lengthening the Damon Road
westbound left turn-lane and the Damon Road westbound
right-turn lane at the King Street intersection. Consider the
impacts to Damon Road westbound approach abutters.
Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Damon
Road westbound through lane or an additional westbound
receiving lane on Bridge Road.
Examine the safety benefits of adding an additional Bridge
Road eastbound through lane or an additional westbound
receiving lane on Damon Road.
Evaluate the existing lane widths along the Bridge Road
eastbound approach and Damon Road westbound approach
to determine if they are wide enough to accommodate
existing heavy vehicle traffic.
Consider reducing the lengths of the medians extending into
the intersection on all approaches at the King Street
intersection to allow for concurrent left-turns.
Consider widening the existing medians to six feet or wider,
where possible, to provide a refuge area for pedestrians to
safely wait for a gap in traffic.
Determine the feasibility of providing a larger turning radius
appropriate for trucks on the Industrial Drive northbound
right-turn movement.
Restripe the longitudinal lane markings on all approaches to
the King Street intersection.
Consider developing longer turning lane markings in
association with geometric changes to the Damon Road
westbound approach and the Bridge Road eastbound
approach.
Evaluate adding lane designation text pavement markings to
the Bridge Road eastbound approach and the Damon road
westbound approaches.
Consider pulling the stop lines back on all approaches from
within the intersection at King Street to provide easier left-turn
movements.
At the Industrial Drive and Damon Road intersection move
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Low
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Medium
Long-Term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-Term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-Term
Medium
City of Northampton
Page 38
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Signage
the stop line on Industrial Drive closer to Damon Road to
increase compliance.
Add MassDOT standard crosswalk markings with the
installation of ADA-compliant wheelchair ramps and
sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety at the King Street
intersection.
Evaluate the feasibility of adding bike lane markings to the
Damon Road eastbound and westbound lanes.
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Remove unnecessary W14-3 signage on the south side of
Damon Road at Industrial Drive. Consider installing warning
signage such as (W3-3, W3-4, and W10-1) on the northerly
side of the Damon road westbound approach to warn vehicle
operators of oncoming railroad crossing and signals.
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Install a “Left Lane Must Turn Left” (R3-7l) in the splitter
island on the Bridge Road eastbound left-turn approach.
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Install graphic lane use signs (R3-8 series) in unison with the
existing lane use signage (R3-7 series) on all approaches.
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Consider installing I-91 guide signage opposite the Industrial
Drive northbound approach.
Medium
Short-term
Medium
MassDOT
Page 39
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location B: Damon Road at a Curve near River Run Road
Safety Issue
Intersection
Geometry
Vehicle Speed
Access
Management
Pedestrian and
Bicycle
Accomodations
Safety Enhancement
Cut back vegetation from the Damon Road westbound lane
to increase visibility.
Provide a stop line and stop sign on the River Run Road
southbound approach.
Consider working with property owners to restripe and
relocate parking spaces at the retail/residential development
on the southerly side of the curve.
Consider shortening the length of the horizontal curve and re­
grading the superelevation on Damon Road to encourage
lower vehicle speeds.
Examine a reduction of the curb radii at the intersection of
River Run Road and Damon Road. In conjunction, realign
the intersection so River Run Road intersects Damon Road
perpendicularly.
Post a speed radar trailer near the curve in Damon Road on
both approaches to increase driver awareness.
Increase enforcement and post clearer speed-limit signage
before the curve on both the eastbound and westbound
approach.
Consider closing the westernmost driveway at the
residential/retail development located on the southerly apex
of the curve. Place pavement marking on the remaining two
driveways for an entrance and exit.
Evaluate whether providing a left-turn storage lane on Damon
Road westbound for left-turning traffic into the
residential/retail development entrance is needed.
Consider providing a sidewalk on the southerly side of
Damon Road to provide pedestrian connectivity with the
intersection of King Street at Damon Road and Bridge Road.
Consider installing a pushbutton signalized, RRFB, or HAWK
crosswalk near the entrance to the residential retail
development on the south side of the curve in Damon Road.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT / City of
Northampton
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
High
City of Northampton
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Northampton
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Page 40
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Evaluate whether painted bicycle lanes or a cycle track on
Damon Road are feasible.
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT / City of
Northampton
Page 41
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Northampton, MA
Damon Road
Meeting Location: Northampton Department of Public Works
125 Locust St, Northampton, MA
Monday, October 21st, 2013
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Type of meeting:
High Crash Location – Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
10:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
10:15 AM
Discussion of Safety Issues
• Crash history, Speed Regulations – provided in advance
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
11:00 AM
Site Visit
• Drive to Damon Road
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:45 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
• Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
• Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
12:30 PM
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
• Before attending the RSA on October 21st, participants are encouraged to
drive/walk through the corridor 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.
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
Monday, October 21, 2013
Audit Team Members
Agency/Affiliation
Ned Huntley
David Veleta
Wayne Feiden
Russ Sienkiewicz
Khyah Parmar
Lisa Schletzbaum
Corey O’Connor
Laurie Scarbrough
Bao Lang
Greg Russell
David Matton
James Turnbull
Location:
Northampton Department of Public Works, Northampton, MA
Phone Number
Email Address
Northampton Department of Public Works
Northampton Department of Public Works
Northampton Planning
Northampton Police Department
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
MassDOT Headquarters - Highway Safety
MassDOT Headquarters - Highway Safety
MassDOT District 2 Office
MassDOT District 2 Office
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
413-587-1570
413-587-1570
413-587-1265
413-587-1120
413-781-8045
857-368-9634
857-368-9638
413-582-0591
413-582-0547
508-752-1001
617-348-3319
617-348-3316
nhuntley@northamptonma.gov
dveleta@northamptonma.gov
wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
rsienkiewicz@northamptonma.gov
kparmar@pvpc.org
lisa.schletzbaum@dot.state.ma.us
corey.oconnor@dot.state.ma.us
laurie.scarbrough@dot.state.ma.us
bao.lang@dot.state.ma.us
grussell@vhb.com
dmatton@hshassoc.com
jturnbull@hshassoc.com
Road Safety Audit
Damon Road, Northampton, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
Crash Data Summary Table
North King St and King St (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Rd and Bridge Rd, Northampton, MA
January 2010 - December 2012
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
Crash
Date
Time of Day
m/d/y
Manner of Collision
Type
Light Condition
Type
Weather
Condition
Type
Road Surface
Type
Driver Contributing Code
Type
D1
Ages
D2
Comments
D3
V1 could not stop in time at red light.
Courtesy Crash.* Uninvolved vehicle waived V2 into traffic
Both vehicles were turning at same time
V1 scraped V2 while turning left. It was noted that lanes are narrow.
V1 did not see V2
V1 pressed gas pedal instead of brake and rear-ended V2. V1 then put her
38 car into reverse instead of in park and backed into V3.
V1 was passing queue on left while V2 turned into Pride Gas
1
2
3
4
5
1/11/10
1/16/10
1/19/10
1/19/10
3/5/10
11:55 PM
11:22 AM
9:02 AM
3:55 PM
11:57 AM
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Snow
Rain
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Dry
Other improper action
Visibility Obstructed
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Inattention
27
26
45
32
17
21
56
45
43
53
6
7
3/6/10
3/11/10
5:05 PM
10:37 AM
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Other improper action
Failed to yield right of way
58
35
41
69
8
9
4/1/10
5/1/10
7:45 PM
6:07 AM
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Dark - lighted roadway Clear
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Inattention
48
45
51
10
5/7/10
3:14 PM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Inattention
61
39
11
6/28/10
7:58 AM
Rear-end
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
46
61
12
13
7/16/10
7/17/10
4:01 PM
4:50 PM
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
manner
Inattention
V2 stopped to allow vehicle turn left into gas station, V1 rear-ended V2
V1 look away for a second and hit a sign in the median island
V1 (WB) turned left through a break in traffic to hit V2 (EB) traveling in right
turn lane
V2 looked away for a second then saw V1 stopped and could not stop in
time
21
19
18
46
V1 left D'Angelo quickly and entered intersection on yellow light. V2 claims
to have had green left turn arrow.
Courtesy Crash.* Uninvolved vehicle waived V1 into traffic
14
15
9/1/10
9/2/10
4:03 PM
3:11 PM
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
46
56
50
63
V2 stopped at red light. V1 was looking at radio and could not stop in time
Courtesy Crash.* Uninvolved vehicle waived V1 into V2
16
17
18
19
9/3/10
9/7/10
9/20/10
9/24/10
1:32 PM
3:47 PM
3:41 PM
8:28 AM
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Other
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
26
21
33
35
74
31
29
54
When light turned green, V2 attempted to pass V1 on the left
Courtesy Crash.* Uninvolved vehicle waived V1 into traffic
20
21
22
23
24
25
9/29/10
10/27/12
11/8/10
12/1/10
12/8/10
12/9/10
5:55 AM
10:53 AM
4:23 PM
9:51 AM
8:09 AM
1:28 PM
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Cloudy
Rain
Rain
Rain
Clear
Clear
Wet
Wet
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Visibility Obstructed
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Inattention
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
Followed too closely
Inattention
No Improper Driving
Other improper action
Followed too closely
43
62
58
48
23
26
17
26
55
56
26
52
26
27
28
12/19/10 10:14 AM
12/27/10 2:04 PM
1/20/11 2:58 PM
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Cloudy
Other
Dry
Dry
Ice
Inattention
No Improper Driving
Other improper action
41
22
44
21
30
38
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
2/9/11
2/9/11
4/17/11
4/20/11
5/25/11
6/4/11
6/7/11
7/8/11
7/15/11
7/25/11
8/5/11
8/29/11
3:37 PM
4:02 PM
10:22 AM
3:24 PM
7:36 AM
2:35 PM
3:57 PM
7:08 AM
4:32 PM
10:09 AM
2:40 PM
12:20 PM
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Rain
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Unknown
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Made an improper turn
Failed to yield right of way
Other improper action
Inattention
Inattention
Inattention
Inattention
Inattention
67
58
23
17
26
59
22
22
21
38
53
45
40
47
67
50
44
39
23
48
46
49
31
45
41
9/2/11
7:53 AM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
No Improper Driving
21
V2 struck rear of V1 (queuing in traffic) while turning left into Goodwill
V2 (SB) ran red light
37 V3 stopped for a vehicle pulling out of driveway. V1 hit V2 into V3.
V2 slowing and stopping for red light, V1 could not stop in time
V1 stopped in traffic, V2 could not stop in time
V1 misjudged the amount of room she had to pass on the left
V1 began to move forward then stopped abruptly
V2 stopped to turn left into gas station, V1 looked down and could not stop
in time
V2 was distracted by phone and did not see V1
V2 claimed green left arrow while V1 claimed green ball. After V1 and V2
collided, V2 got pushed into V3.
V2 slowed with traffic, V1 did not
V2 did right turn on red
V1 "took eyes off road for a second" and rear ended V2 in traffic
V1 attempted to turn left into gas station from center lane
Courtesy Crash.*
V1 exited gas station in a hurry to make green light at King St
V1 changed lanes from behind TT and struck V2
V1 (TT) traveled down left turn lane striking V2 in center lane
Courtesy Crash.*
V2 stated she looked down at cell phone and moved forward into V1
V1 waiting to turn right with blinker on. As light turned green, bicyclist
attempted to go straight while V1 turned right.
Crash Data Summary Table
North King St and King St (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Rd and Bridge Rd, Northampton, MA
January 2010 - December 2012
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
42
43
44
Crash
Date
Time of Day
m/d/y
10/2/11 2:41 PM
10/14/11 8:07 AM
10/15/11 2:17 PM
Manner of Collision
Type
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Light Condition
Type
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
45
11/3/11
Head on
Daylight
46
11/16/11 6:57 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
47
48
49
11/23/11 12:57 AM
1/19/12 12:35 PM
2/7/12
1:53 PM
50
51
2/13/12
2/21/12
52
53
54
7:56 AM
Weather
Condition
Type
Clear
Cloudy
Cloudy
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
Road Surface
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Type
Dry
Inattention
Dry
No Improper Driving
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
D1
Ages
D2
Comments
D3
62
37
23
40
61
35
V2's foot slipped off brake pedal
V2 stopped for TT exiting Industrial Drive, V1 did not
V1 (EB) possibly OUI
49
V1 turned in front of V2
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
41
Dark - lighted roadway Rain
Wet
67
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Dark - lighted roadway Rain
Daylight
Clear
Daylight
Cloudy
Wet
Wet
Dry
Inattention
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
Inattention
Visibility Obstructed
22
41
30
21
28
23
5:39 PM
12:33 PM
Rear-end
Rear-end
Dark - lighted roadway Other
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Dry
30
58
31
48
3/25/12
4/24/12
5/8/12
9:47 PM
7:54 AM
3:53 PM
Sideswipe, same direction
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Dark - lighted roadway Clear
Daylight
Cloudy
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
Wet
Cellular telephone
Followed too closely
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
manner
Other improper action
No Improper Driving
20
58
42
32
48
74
55
56
5/18/12
6/2/12
12:59 PM
2:53 PM
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Other
Rain
Dry
Wet
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
No Improper Driving
26
26
29
64
57
58
6/4/12
6/13/12
1:07 PM
5:57 PM
Sideswipe, opposite direction
Head on
Daylight
Daylight
Rain
Cloudy
Wet
Dry
No Improper Driving
Inattention
18
27
43
55
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
6/17/12
6/20/12
7/2/12
8/7/12
8/7/12
9/13/12
10/10/12
10/12/12
10/17/12
1:45 PM
3:07 PM
5:16 PM
8:18 AM
6:48 PM
5:01 PM
7:42 AM
9:01 AM
6:45 AM
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Other
Clear
Rain
Rain
Clear
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Dry
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Glare
Inattention
Driving too fast for conditions
Unknown
Failed to yield right of way
58
28
16
17
28
28
29
23
42
51
59
56
44
30
43
63
21
23
68
10/19/12 2:00 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Rain
Wet
73
69
10/26/12 8:14 AM
Head on
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
No Improper Driving
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
46
V1 did not observe the median island and ran into sign
63
V1 had green right arrow. V2 (NB) claims that light was still yellow
Courtesy Crash*
V3 and V2 stopped at red light, V1 rear-ends V2 into V3. V1 texting while
34 driving
54 V2 and V3 stopped for vehicles in traffic, V1 did not
V1 attempted to turn onto Damon Road from left lane and did not see V2
V2 turning into Industrial l Drive, V1 attempted to pass on right
V1 stopped in traffic, V2 attempted to turn into gas station but hit V1
V1 was passing queue on left just as V2 (motorcycle) decided to change
lanes
V2 entered intersection on yellow left arrow, V1 claims green ball
V1 "fish tailed" and struck trailer of V2 while attempting to turn into Industrial
Drive during heavy rain
Courtesy Crash*
V1 and V2 stopped at red light, V3 was not paying attention and hits V2 into
60 V1
Courtesy Crash*
43 V3 and V2 stopped at red light, V1 rear-ends V2 into V3.
V2 stopped in traffic, V1 did not see V2 stopped due to sun glare
V2 stopped for traffic, V1 did not
V2 stopped in traffic, V1 skidded on wet pavement
Courtesy Crash*
Vehicle vs. pedestrian. Ped crossing King St. Ped made contact with police
after collision
V1 was swerving all over road (for unknown reason) and crossed yellow
hatching to hit V2
*Courtesy Crash - A term used to describe a crash that occurs subsequent to a non-involved mainline driver who gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the road, to another driver.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Northampton Police Department
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
North King St and King St (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Rd and Bridge Rd, Northampton, MA
CRASH MONTH
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
13%
13%
12%
9%
9%
7%
J
7%
F
6%
6%
M
A
7%
6%
M
J
J
6%
A
S
O
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
25%
20%
15%
20%
14%
20%
14%
12%
12%
10%
7%
5%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
30%
20%
26%
13% 12%
10%
0%
10%
16%
13%
4%
6AM­
8AM
8AM­
10AM
10AM­
12PM
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
6PM­
8PM
1% 1% 1% 0% 1%
8PM­
10PM
10PM­
12AM
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
50%
36%
40%
41%
30%
20%
10%
0%
13%
4%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
1%
Rear-end
Angle
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Damon and King.xlsx
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
3 of 4
4%
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
10/2/2013
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
North King St and King St (U.S. 5 and S.R. 10) at Damon Rd and Bridge Rd, Northampton, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
91%
Daylight
0%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
9%
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
0%
0%
7%
0%
Unknown
1%
Other
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
Rain
Cloudy
Clear
1%
Severe
Crosswinds
75%
17%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
80%
20%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
52%
Snow
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
60%
40%
23%
20%
0%
Dry
Wet
0%
1%
Snow
Ice
0%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
0%
0%
0%
Slush
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
40%
32%
30%
19%
20%
18%
12%
11%
10%
0%
15-20
21-29
30-39
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Damon and King.xlsx
40-49
4 of 4
50-59
7%
60-69
2%
0%
70-79
80+
10/2/2013
Crash Data Summary Table
Damon Road at curve, Northampton, MA
January 2010 - December 2012
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
Crash
Time of Day
Date
m/d/y
Manner of Collision
Type
Weather
Condition
Type
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing Rain
Clear
Rain
Clear
Cloudy
Ice
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Inattention
No Improper Driving
Visibility Obstructed
32
26
17
63
48
Cloudy
Dry
Inattention
60
Dry
Physical Impairment
26
1
2
3
4
5
1/24/10
3/2/10
3/30/10
6/29/10
7/23/10
5:44 PM
2:50 PM
3:15 PM
8:03 PM
10:47 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Light Condition
Type
Dark - roadway not
lighted
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
6
8/31/10
1:08 PM
Rear-end
Daylight
7
11/12/10 4:18 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Dark - lighted roadway Other
Road Surface
Type
Driver Contributing Code
Type
D1
Ages
D2
D3
Comments
D4
V1 slid into snowbank on icy untreated road
28
70
48
49
39
Uninvolved vehicle in front of V1, V2 and V3 stopped to turn left
Vehicle vs. bear cub
V1 claims to have not seen V2
V1 claims that her water bottle fell on the floor. She went to pick it up and did
not see V2 stopped in traffic. Traffic back up from King Street.
OUI. Operator claims to have been trying to avoid deer, ran over sign then
struck telephone pole.
V1 fell asleep and drifted into EB lane while driving WB which caused V2 to
swerve off the road and hit the curb in attempt to avoid V1. V1 over steered and
also drove off the road hitting a tree. No contact between vehicles.
WB ambulance with active emergency lights. V1 (EB) pulls to side of road,
crashing into snowbank to stop and rolls onto its side. V2 then strikes V1.
V2 stopped for traffic, V1 did not
V1 (WB) did not notice vehicles in front of him waiting to turn left into plaza and
swerved left to avoid rear-end crash but then struck V2 that traveling EB.
V1 did not realize traffic was slowing and struck V2 who was pushed into V3
V1 was looking out window and did not notice vehicles stopped for an uninvolved
42 vehicle turning left into #141
V1 did not see V2 coming down the road
8
11/28/10 11:09 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
Fatigued/asleep
82
51
9
10
2/3/11
3/23/11
8:24 AM
9:34 AM
Angle
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Cloudy
Slush
Dry
Other improper action
Inattention
44
57
31
67
11
12
7/6/11
7/28/11
1:31 PM
2:52 PM
Sideswipe, opposite direction
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Distracted
21
18
49
27
13
14
8/25/11
9/26/11
6:21 PM
10:24 AM
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Cloudy
Wet
Dry
Inattention
Inattention
18
85
31
54
15
16
5/20/12
6/26/12
1:19 AM
4:39 PM
Angle
Rear-end
Dark - lighted roadway Clear
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
22
49
20
23
V1 did not see V2 coming down the road
V2 stopped in heavy traffic, V1 could not stop in time
17
18
19
20
8/11/12
9/28/12
10/9/12
10/15/12
8:27 AM
4:36 PM
10:04 AM
6:44 AM
Head on
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dawn
Dry
Wet
Dry
Wet
Inattention
Followed too closely
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
No Improper Driving
Physical Impairment
Inattention
46
21
30
22
52
51
42
59
V1 (WB) may have blacked out and traveled into the EB lane
V2 stopped in heavy traffic, V1 could not stop in time
Operator of V1 may have blacked out prior to crash
V2 slowing to turn right into #137
21
22
23
11/6/12 5:09 PM
11/13/12 4:46 PM
12/29/12 10:36 AM
Rear-end
Head on
Sideswipe, same direction
Dark - lighted roadway Clear
Dawn
Clear
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
57
56
24
29
65
59
Heavy traffic, V1 was not paying attention. V1 burst into flames upon impact.
Clear
Rain
Cloudy
Clear
64
49
*Courtesy Crash - A term used to describe a crash that occurs subsequent to a non-involved mainline driver who gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the road, to another driver.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Northampton Police Department.
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Damon Road at curve, Northampton, MA
CRASH MONTH
20%
17%
13%
13%
15%
9%
10%
5%
13%
4%
9%
9%
4%
4%
4%
0%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
40%
35%
30%
20%
10%
0%
9%
13%
13%
Thursday
Friday
9%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
13%
9%
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
30%
22%
20%
10%
0%
22%
13%
13%
9%
4% 4%
4%
4%
0%
6AM­
8AM
8AM­
10AM
10AM­
12PM
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
6PM­
8PM
8PM­
10PM
10PM­
12AM
4%
0%
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
50%
39%
40%
26%
30%
20%
17%
10%
0%
4%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Rear-end
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Damon Road.xlsx
Angle
4%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
2 of 3
9%
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
10/2/2013
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Damon Road at curve, Northampton, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
80%
74%
60%
40%
20%
0%
13%
9%
Daylight
4%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
0%
0%
0%
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
50%
80%
74%
32%
5%
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
0%
Severe
Crosswinds
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
Snow
Rain
Cloudy
Clear
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
5%
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
9%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
60%
40%
17%
20%
0%
4%
0%
Dry
Wet
Snow
Ice
0%
4%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
Slush
0%
0%
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
30%
26%
21%
20%
19%
11%
10%
0%
11%
6%
2%
15-20
21-29
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Damon Road.xlsx
30-39
40-49
3 of 3
50-59
60-69
70-79
4%
80+
10/2/2013