ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street
Town of Grafton
December 11, 2015
Prepared for:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Howard Stein Hudson
11 Beacon Street, Suite 1010
Boston, MA 02108
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................. 2 Project Data................................................................................................................................. 4 Project Location Description ..................................................................................................... 5 Road Safety Audit Observations ...............................................................................................7 Safety Issue #1. Congestion ................................................................................................................ 8
Safety Issue #2. Traffic Signal Visibility ............................................................................................ 9
Safety Issue #3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................... 11 Safety Issue #4. Travel Speed and Passing Regulations ................................................................... 13 Safety Issue #5. Traffic Signal Phasing & Intersection Geometry .................................................... 15 Safety Issue #6. Lighting ................................................................................................................... 17 Potential Safety Enhancements ......................................................................................................... 18 List of Appendices
Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. RSA Meeting Agenda RSA Audit Team Contact List Detailed Crash Data List of Figures
Figure 1. Figure 2. Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 3
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street ................................................................... 6 List of Tables
Table 1. Table 2. Table 3. Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 4 Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements ....................................................................... 20 Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued) .................................................... 21 Page 1
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Background
The Road Safety Audit (RSA) focused on the intersection of Providence Road (Route 122)/Millbury
Street in the Town of Grafton. From 2011 to 2014, 16 crashes were reported at the intersection. The
intersection was identified by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) as a Highway
Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) High Crash Cluster from 2010-2012, indicating that the location
falls within the top 5% of High Crash Locations within the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning
Commission (CMRPC) area. However, as of 2013 the intersection is no longer considered a High Crash
Cluster. The intersection is also currently being evaluated by MassDOT District 3 for any low cost
improvements that can be implemented at this location.
In general, the RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and
included as part of future design efforts for reconstruction. The short-term, low-cost potential
improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to reconstruction,
as appropriate.
The study area is shown in Figure 1.
Page 2
ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton, MA
Figure 1.
Locus Map
STUDY AREA INTERSECTION
GRAFTON
MIDDLE SCHOOL
GRAFTON
HIGH SCHOOL
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HOWARD STEIN HUDSON
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PROVIDENCE ROAD (ROUTE 122)
GRAFTON
MUNICPAL
CENTER
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Project Data
The audit team conducted the RSA for intersection of Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street on
Tuesday, November 10, 2015. The RSA agenda can be found in Appendix A. Table 1 lists the audit
team members and their affiliations. Appendix B provides contact information for all team members.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Brian Szczurko
Stephen Charest
Dave Crouse
Normand Crepeau
Dan Daniska
Yahaira Graxirena
Promise Otaluka
William Ullom
John Mastera
Lori Shattuck
Lola Campbell
Joe SanClemente
Alex Siu
Jessica Lizza
Agency/Affiliation
Town of Grafton
Grafton Fire Department
Grafton Highway Supervisor
Grafton Police Department
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
Federal Highway Administration
MassDOT
MassDOT Highway Safety
MassDOT D3 Traffic
MassDOT D3 Traffic
Howard Stein Hudson
Howard Stein Hudson
Howard Stein Hudson
Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the team reviewed collision diagrams
and crash detail summaries based on crash records supplied by the Town Police Department. From 20112014, 16 crashes were reported at the intersection. Of these crashes, 8 (or 50%) were angle crashes, 6
(38%) were rear-end crashes, one (6%) was a sideswipe crash, and one (6%) was a head-on crash. Of the
16 crashes, 8 (50%) occurred during daylight hours, 7 (44%) occurred during dark-lighted conditions, and
one (6%) occurred during dawn. Of the 16 crashes, 10 (63%) occurred during clear weather and 11
(69%) occurred on dry pavement. Of the 16 crashes, 7 (44%) resulted in personal injury.
Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the study area.
Page 4
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Project Location Description
The RSA focused on the intersection of Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street in Grafton, as
shown in the aerial image in Figure 2.
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street is signalized intersection with four approaches and is
owned and maintained by MassDOT. The Millbury Street eastbound approach has one left-turn lane and
one shared through/right-turn lane. The Millbury Street westbound approach has one all-purpose lane.
The Providence Road (Route 122) northbound approach has one shared left-turn/through lane and one
shared through/right-turn lane. The Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach has one allpurpose lane. No pedestrian or bicycle accommodations are provided at the intersection, with the
exception of bicycle detection that is provided at each of the approaches.
These intersections are the junctions of the following roadways, which are categorized according to
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning functional classifications:
Providence Road (Route 122) is classified as minor arterial and falls under the jurisdiction of the
MassDOT. Providence Road (Route 122) runs north-south through from Northbridge to the south to
Worcester Street (Route 140) which becomes Route 122. Providence Road (Route 122) generally
consists of one travel lane in each direction. Shoulders are provided along both sides of the roadway but
generally no pedestrian or bicycle accommodations are provided along Providence Road (Route 122).
Millbury Street is classified as a minor arterial to the west of Providence Road (Route 122) and a
collector to the east. Millbury Street falls under the Town of Grafton’s jurisdiction. Millbury Street
generally runs in an east-west direction, running from Grafton Street in Millbury to the west to North
Street in Grafton Town Center to the east. The street generally has one travel lane in each direction. To
the west of the intersection with Providence Road (Route 122), shoulders are provided in each direction.
Millbury Street was repaved in 2014. No pedestrian or bicycle accommodations are provided along
Millbury Street in the vicinity of the intersection with Providence Road (Route 122). Narrow sidewalks
are provided along the north side of Millbury Street within Graton Town Center. A truck exclusion is in
place along Millbury Street due to bridge over the Quinsigamond River located to the west of the
intersection.
Page 5
ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton, MA
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street
PROVIDENCE ROAD (ROUTE 122)
Figure 2.
STUDY AREA INTERSECTION
REET
Y ST
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REET
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HOWARD STEIN HUDSON
2
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scale.
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Road Safety Audit Observations
Based on field observations on Tuesday, November 10, 2015, the RSA team determined that the study
area intersection has the following issues that affect safety:






Congestion;
Traffic signal visibility;
Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations;
Travel speed and passing regulations;
Traffic signal phasing & intersection geometry; and
Lighting.
The following sections describe in more detail the safety issues and potential enhancements determined
during the RSA. Several of these issues require further study and engineering judgment to determine the
feasibility of implementing the improvements to address them.
Page 7
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #1. Congestion
Observations:
Grafton High School and Middle School are located approximately 0.4 miles north of the
intersection. The intersection and surrounding roadways experience heavy congestion during the
peak hours, especially at school start and release times. A team member noted that in the
morning the queuing from the vehicles looking to park or drop-off students at the schools extends
south along Providence Road (Route 122) through the intersection with Millbury Street. An audit
member stated that some vehicles will avoid the traffic along Providence Road (Route 122) by
travelling west on Millbury Street then turning right onto Hudson Avenue and Brigham Hill Road
to drop-off students at the Grafton Municipal Center, located adjacent to the schools. While only
two crashes were reported during the morning drop-off period, congestion can lead to increased
driver frustration that may have been a contributing factor to the crash experience at this
intersection.
The signal appears to operate on a single timing plan which can be inefficient when dealing with
fluctuations of traffic in different directions based on time of day. For instance in the morning,
the majority of vehicular traffic is heading towards the school but in the afternoon when the
schools let out most of the vehicular traffic is away from the schools.
During the audit, an RSA team member from the Town stated that Grafton experienced an influx
of vehicular school traffic when it began implementing a $200 fee per student to ride the school
bus. They stated that since the cost is now the same to ride the bus as it is to park at the school,
school bus ridership has significantly decreased which has resulted in the higher levels of
congestion along Providence Road.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Consider restructuring the bus and parking fees to create incentive for more residents to
utilize school buses instead of driving to school to help reduce congestion and driver
frustration.
2. Consider creating multiple timing plans to address the traffic variations and level of
congestion experienced throughout the day and week at this intersection. Any future analysis
should include commuter peak periods and school start and release times.
Page 8
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #2. Traffic Signal Visibility
Observations:
At the Providence Road (Route 122) northbound approach, two overhead signal indications are provided on a mast-arm and one signal indication is mounted to the mast-arm
post on the right side of the roadway. However, due to the horizontal curvature of the roadway, combined with the presence of trees on the right hand side of the road, motorists have limited visibility of the signal indications until they arrive at the intersection. Traffic signal indications are not visible
along Providence Road northbound due
Two of the 16 crashes involved northbound to sight distance restrictions when
vehicles that ran a red light and proceeded to approaching the intersection.
collide with a vehicle in the intersection. The lack of signs to warn vehicles that they are approaching a signalized intersection along
Providence Road (Route 122) combined with the limited visibility of the traffic signal indications
may have been a contributing factor to these crashes. The Millbury Street eastbound approach is
provided two overhead signal indications mounted on a mast-arm and one signal indication postmounted on the far left-side of the intersection. The post-mounted signal indication is located
close to a large evergreen tree that could potentially limit the visibility of the indication without
continual pruning of the tree. Meanwhile, signal ahead warning signage is not provided along the
Millbury Street eastbound approach.
The Millbury Street westbound approach has a
steep downward grade approaching the
intersection. At the Millbury Street westbound
approach, only one signal indication is provided
overhead and a second signal indication is
provided at the far right-side. When
approaching the intersection from the east on
Millbury Street, motorists can only see the one
overhead signal because the view of the postmounted signal is obstructed by the large
evergreen tree. When motorists are waiting at
Millbury Street WB view of signal and signal
the stop bar, they are unable to see the overhead
ahead warning sign
signal, which is positioned too close to the
approach. An RSA team member also stated the visibility of the overhead signal indication is
limited due to the solar glare during the afternoon even though the indication is provided with
back plates. A signal ahead warning sign is provided at this approach but it is located too close to
the intersection to provide adequate warning. One rear-end accident reported at the Millbury
Page 9
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Street westbound approach occurred because a vehicle was stopped at the red light and another
vehicle was approaching the intersection could not stop in time to avoid hitting the stopped
vehicle. This crash could potentially be the result of the limited visibility combined with the
steep down grade at this approach.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Consider adding a new post-mounted signal for the Providence Road northbound approach at
the far left-side of the intersection to allow for better sight lines of the indications when
approaching the intersection and to provide redundancy.
2. Consider installing signal ahead warning signs (W3-3) along the Providence Road
(Route 122) northbound and southbound approaches and the Millbury Street eastbound
approach.
3. Consider revising the location of the signal ahead warning sign along the Millbury Street
westbound approach to be further from the intersection to allow for more advanced warning.
4. Work with the land owner to remove the large evergreen tree at the northeast corner of the
intersection to improve the visibility of the signal indications along the Millbury Street
eastbound and westbound approaches and eliminate the need for continual pruning of the
tree.
Page 10
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #3. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Observations:
No pedestrian or bicycle accommodations are provided at or near the intersection, with the exception of bicycle detection. Shoulders are narrow along all approaches and physically limited in width by the presence of guardrails at the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection. Meanwhile, the Grafton High School and
Middle School are located just 0.4 miles north
of the intersection along Providence Road
Vehicle passing a pedestrian walking
eastbound on Millbury Street.
(Route 122) and no sidewalks, crosswalks, or
pedestrian indications are provided at the
intersection and sidewalks are not provided along Providence Road north of the intersection.
RSA team members stated that while pedestrian traffic through the intersection is generally low,
it is common for people to walk to and from school, despite the lack of the accommodations.
Team members also observed several pedestrians walking along the Providence Road and
Millbury Street during the field visit.
RSA members noted that the sight lines at the northwest corner of the intersection are limited due
to vertical alignment combined with the presence of the guardrail and vegetation. During the
RSA, pedestrians were witnessed walking along the roadway shoulder adjacent to the guardrail
on the north side of Millbury Street. Team members noted that motorists making a right-turn
from Providence Road southbound onto Millbury Street may not be able to see pedestrians
walking at this location.
While none of the reported crashes involved a pedestrian or cyclist, the lack of pedestrian
accommodations combined with the high travel speeds along Providence Road (Route 122) and
Millbury Street puts pedestrians and cyclists at greater risk and limit the potential for students to
walk or bike to school which can have an impact on the level of congestion on the roadway.
Another RSA team member stated that on the weekends Providence Road (Route 122) is
frequently used by cyclists. Cyclists travelling through the intersection are forced to mix with
vehicles in the travel lanes due to inadequate shoulder width along the roadways. The lack of
separation between vehicles and these vulnerable road users, pedestrians and cyclists, creates an
unsafe environment for due to the traffic volume and speed along Providence Road (Route 122)
and Millbury Street.
Page 11
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Potential Enhancements:
1. Install sidewalks, crosswalks, accessible ramps, and pedestrian indications at the intersection
as part of long-term improvements.
2. Consider adding sidewalks along Providence Roadway to enhance connections between the
intersection, the schools, and the nearby residential areas. Explore the Safe Routes to School
Program for potential funding to construct sidewalks.
3. Consider installing Share the Road warning signs as a short-term solution to inform motorists
that pedestrians and cyclists are present.
4. Consider widening the roadway shoulders to provide adequate space to safely
accommodate cyclists.
Page 12
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #4. Travel Speed and Passing Regulations
Observations:
The speed limit along Providence Road (Route 122) is posted as 45 mph travelling southbound just past the intersection with Millbury Street. According to the speed regulations, the speed limit is 40 mph through this intersection to just north of the school. Eight of the 16 crashes reported occurred during low-volume times. This could potentially indicate that high travel speeds, which often occur during low volume
conditions, are a contributing factor to the number of crashes experienced. Providence Road (Route 122) NB passing
zone just south of intersection.
Passing zones are provided on Providence
Road (Route 122) north and south of the intersection. Team members commented that the
passing zones did not seem appropriate given the proximity to the adjacent residential uses, which
have become more densely developed in recent years, and the schools located just north of the
intersection. The passing zones may encourage vehicles to travel at higher speeds in the vicinity
of the intersection. Team members also commented that the passing zone along Providence Road
northbound combined with the limited sight lines of the signal indications may make it more
difficult for motorists to perceive and react to the traffic signal. During the audit, team members
noted that the clearance intervals seemed short at all of the approaches given the prevailing travel
speeds in combination with the grade, and length of the intersection.
One of the 16 crashes reported involved a vehicle that claimed the light turned yellow as they
were approaching the intersection but they could not stop in time and had to continue through the
intersection where they were hit by a vehicle with a green light on a conflicting approach.
Team members also noted that the radii at the northeast and southwest corners of the intersection
seem large and may encourage vehicles to take turns at higher speeds.
Page 13
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Potential Enhancements:
1. Consider evaluating the location, and overall appropriateness, of the passing zones along
Providence Road (Route 122) within the vicinity of the intersection and the schools.
2. Install regulatory speed limit signs in accordance with the 40 mph speed regulation.
3. Consider the appropriateness of narrowing the lanes to 11-feetas a traffic calming measure.
4. Re-evaluate clearance intervals to ensure that they are timed appropriately for the prevailing
travel speeds.
5. Evaluate the feasibility of tightening the northeast and southwest current corner radii to help
slow turning speeds. Consider heavy vehicle turning requirements and truck restrictions
along Millbury Street.
Page 14
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #5. Traffic Signal Phasing & Intersection
Geometry
Observations:
Four (or 25%) of the 16 crashes that occurred at the intersection were angle collisions that
involved a left-turning vehicle from Millbury Street. The signal currently operates with permitted
left turns even though dedicated left-turn lanes are provided for the Providence Road northbound
and Millbury Street eastbound approaches. Team members commented that motorists may have
a difficult time identifying appropriate gaps in traffic due to the high travel speeds. Team
members also noted that vehicles traveling along Millbury Street westbound will maneuver
around the left-turning vehicles and cannot be seen by the oncoming eastbound left-turning
vehicles.
Meanwhile, the skewed intersection geometry results in a wide intersection along Millbury Street
approaches that makes it difficult for eastbound and westbound left-turning vehicles to turn
simultaneously.
During the RSA tire tracking was observed
along the Providence Road northbound left-turn.
These marks show that the geometry of the
intersection causes vehicles take tight left turns
and drive over the double yellow center lines.
Tire tracks along the Providence Road (Route
122) NB left-turn.
The Millbury Street eastbound stop line is set
back from the intersection which combined with
the slope of the intersection and surrounding
vegetation, obscures drivers’ view of the
Providence Road southbound approach. The
poor sight lines and approach geometry make it
difficult for drivers to safely execute right-turns
on red.
The Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach is a single 12-foot lane with a 6-foot
shoulder. Because of the wide shoulder, vehicles sometimes use the approach as two lanes to turn
right on red or maneuver around a vehicle waiting to turn. An RSA team member mentioned that
vehicles at the Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach often do not come to a
complete stop when turning right on red and have difficulty seeing approaching vehicles on either
Millbury Street approach due to obstructed sight lines. The right-turns on red and obstructed
sight lines on the Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach could be a contributing
factor to the rear-end collisions reported at this approach.
Page 15
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
The two northbound receiving lanes along Providence Road merge to one lane just north of the
intersection. The merging condition creates a bottleneck on Providence Road that exacerbates the
congestion experienced and adds to driver frustration.
A RSA team member noted that at times vehicles will be waiting for extended periods of time for
a green light at the intersection with no traffic along the opposing approaches which may indicate
that the vehicle detection is not functioning properly or does not have adequate zone sizes.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Evaluate the impact of restricting right turns on red at the Millbury Street eastbound and
Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approaches. Since there are no right-turn lanes it
may not have a large impact on operations and will help to resolve some of the collisions may
be a result of poor sight lines.
2. Consider adding dotted centerline extensions between the Millbury Street eastbound
approach and the Providence Road (Route 122) northbound approach and from the Millbury
Street westbound to the Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach to help guide
vehicles through the intersection and avoid potential conflicts with other turning vehicles.
3. Consider providing split phasing for the Millbury Street eastbound and westbound
approaches to allow for protected left-turn phases in order to eliminate left-turn conflicts and
the likelihood of angled collisions.
4. Consider evaluating the benefit of changing the lane-use at the Providence Road (Route 122)
northbound approach to a left-turn only lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. This would
eliminate the merging condition north of the intersection and could allow the second
receiving lane to be restriped as a southbound left-turn lane. Also consider the operational
and safety benefits of providing protected left-turn phasing.
5. Verify that the vehicle detection for all approaches is fully functional and that the detection
zone is the appropriate size and location.
6. While the traffic signal is equipped with Opticom detection, the local emergency vehicles are
not equipped with proper Opticom emitters to utilize the emergency vehicle preemption.
Consider installing Opticom emitters in emergency vehicles to utilize emergency vehicle
preemption at the intersection.
Page 16
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Safety Issue #6. Lighting
Observations:
The crash data reveals that 7 of the 16 crashes occurred at night and one crash occurred during
dawn. This trend in crashes could indicate that there is a lack of adequate lighting in the
intersection. The lighting at the intersection consists of one small overhead light provided at the
southeast corner of the intersection.
Potential Enhancements:
1. Evaluate the lighting conditions at the intersection to determine if additional lighting fixtures
are necessary and consider upgrading the existing light to a LED.
Page 17
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Potential Safety Enhancements
Based on its observations and discussions, the RSA team identified the issues and possible enhancements
that could improve safety at the intersection of Providence Road (Route 122)/Millbury Street.
Short-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:

Consider restructuring the bus and parking fees.

Create multiple timing plans to accommodate the traffic variations throughout the day.

Consider adding a new post-mounted signal to the far left-side of the intersection at the Providence Road northbound approach. 
Consider installing signal ahead warning signs (W3-3) along the Providence Road (Route 122)
northbound and southbound approaches and the Millbury Street eastbound approach.

Consider revising the location of the signal ahead warning sign along the Millbury Street
westbound approach to be further from the intersection to allow for more advanced warning.

Remove the large evergreen tree at the northeast corner of the intersection.

Consider installing Share the Road warning signs as a short-term solution to inform motorists that
pedestrians and cyclists are present.

Consider evaluating the location, and overall appropriateness, of the passing zones along Providence Road (Route 122) within the vicinity of the intersection and the schools. 
Install regulatory speed limit signs in accordance with the 40 mph speed regulation.

Consider the appropriateness of narrowing the lanes to 11-feet to create wider shoulders as a
traffic calming measure.

Re-evaluate clearance intervals.

Evaluate the impact of restricting right turns on red at the Millbury Street eastbound and Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approaches. 
Consider adding dotted centerline extensions.

Consider providing split phasing for the Millbury Street eastbound and westbound approaches.

Verify that the vehicle detection for all approaches is fully functional and that the detection zone
is the appropriate size and location.
Page 18
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson

Consider installing Opticom emitters in emergency vehicles to utilize emergency vehicle preemption at the intersection. 
Evaluate lighting conditions.
To enhance the safety of the corridor, the long-term enhancements are to:

Install sidewalks, crosswalks, accessible ramps, and pedestrian indications at the intersection as
part of long-term improvements.

Consider adding sidewalks along Providence Roadway to enhance connections between the
intersection, the schools, and the nearby residential areas. Explore the Safe Routes to School
Program for potential funding to construct sidewalks.

Widen the roadway shoulders to provide adequate space to safely
accommodate cyclists. 
Tighten corner radii to help slow turning speeds

Consider evaluating the benefit of changing the lane-use at the Providence Road (Route 122)
northbound approach to a left-turn only lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. This would
eliminate the merging condition north of the intersection and could allow the second receiving
lane to be restriped as a southbound left-turn lane. Also consider the operational and safety
benefits of providing protected left-turn phasing.
Table 2 summarizes these safety issues, possible enhancements, estimated safety payoff, time frame, cost,
and responsibility. Safety payoff estimates are based on engineering judgment and are categorized as
low, medium, and high. The time frame is categorized as short-term (<1 year), mid-term (1 to 3 years), or
long-term (typically >3 years). Long-term improvements are typically considered to be substantial
improvements with an expected time frame for implementation of greater than 3 years. The costs are
categorized as low (<$10,000), medium ($10,000 to $50,000), or high (>$50,000).
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 efforts. The short-term low-cost improvements should
be considered by the responsible agency for immediate implementation, as appropriate.
Page 19
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Consider restructuring the parking fee to create incentive for more
residents to utilize the school buses instead of driving to school.
Congestion
Traffic signal
visibility
Consider creating multiple timing plans to address the traffic variations
and level of congestion experienced throughout the day and week at
this intersection. Any future analysis should include commuter peak
periods and the school start and release times.
Consider adding a new post-mounted signal for the Providence Road
northbound approach at the far left-side of the intersection.
Consider installing signal ahead warning signs (W3-3) along the
Providence Road (Route 122) northbound and southbound approaches
and the Millbury Street eastbound approach.
Consider revising the location of the signal ahead warning sign along
the Millbury Street westbound approach to be further from the
intersection.
Work with land owner to remove the large evergreen tree at the
northeast corner of the intersection.
Pedestrian and
bicycle
accommodations
Install sidewalks, crosswalks, accessible ramps, and pedestrian
indications at the intersection as part of long-term improvements.
Consider adding sidewalks along Providence Road to enhance
connections between the intersection, the schools, and nearby
residential areas. Explore the Safe Routes to School Program for
potential funding to construct sidewalks.
Consider installing Share the Road warning signs as a short-term
solution to inform motorists that pedestrians and cyclists are present.
Consider widening the roadway shoulders to provide adequate space to
safely accommodate cyclists.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible
Party
Town of Grafton/
Grafton School
District
Low
Short-Term
Low
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Mid-Term
Medium
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT/
Abutter/
Town of Grafton
High
Long-Term
High
MassDOT
High
Long-Term
High
MassDOT/
Town of Grafton
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
High
Long-Term
High
MassDOT
Page 20
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Table 3. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Consider evaluating the location, and overall appropriateness, of
the passing zones along Providence Road (Route 122) within the
vicinity of the intersection and the schools.
Install regulatory speed limit signs in accordance with the 40 mph
speed regulation.
Travel speed and
Consider the appropriateness of narrowing the lanes to 11-feet as a
passing
traffic calming measure.
regulations
Re-evaluate clearance intervals to ensure that they are timed
properly for the prevailing travel speeds.
Evaluate the feasibility of tightening the northeast and southwest
corner radii. Consider heavy vehicle turning requirements and
truck restrictions along Millbury Street.
Evaluate the impact of restricting right turns on red at the Millbury
Street eastbound and Providence Road (Route 122) southbound
approaches.
Consider adding dotted centerline extensions between the Millbury
Street eastbound approach and the Providence Road (Route 122)
northbound approach and from the Millbury street westbound to the
Providence Road (Route 122) southbound approach.
Traffic signal
Consider providing split phasing for the Millbury Street eastbound
phasing &
and westbound approaches.
intersection
geometry
Verify that the vehicle detection for all approaches is fully functional
and that the detection zone is the appropriate size and location.
Consider evaluating the benefit of changing the lane-use at the
Providence Road (Route 122) northbound approach to a left-turn
only lane and a shared through/right-turn lane.
Consider installing Opticom emitters in emergency vehicles to
utilize the Opticom equipment installed at the intersection.
Evaluate the lighting conditions at the intersection to determine if
Lighting
additional lighting fixtures are necessary and consider upgrading
the existing light to a LED.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
High
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Long-Term
High
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Long-Term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-Term
Low
Town of Grafton
Low
Short-Term
Low
MassDOT
Page 21
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda Road Safety Audit
Grafton, MA
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street
Meeting Location:
Grafton Memorial Municipal Center 2nd Floor
School Department/Superintendent’s Conference Room
30 Providence Road, Grafton, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Type of meeting:
High Crash Location – Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
9:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
9:15 AM
Discussion of Safety Issues
 Crash history, Speed Regulations – provided in advance
 Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:00 AM
Site Visit
 Drive to the intersection of Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street
 As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:00 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
 Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
 Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
12:00 PM
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
 Before attending the RSA on November 10, 2015, participants are encouraged to
drive/walk through the intersection and complete/consider elements on the RSA
Prompt List with a focus on safety.
 All participants will be actively involved in the process throughout. Participants
are encouraged to come with thoughts and ideas, but are reminded that the
synergy that develops and respect for others’ opinions are key elements to the
success of the overall RSA process.
 After the RSA meeting, participants will be asked to comment and respond to the
document materials to assure it is reflective of the RSA completed by the
multidisciplinary team.
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Location:
Grafton Municipal Center, School Department/Superintendent’s
Conference Room (30 Providence Road, Grafton, MA)
Audit Team Members Agency/Affiliation
E-mail Address
Phone Number
Brian Szczurko
Town of Grafton
szczurkob@grafton-ma.gov
508-839-5335
Stephen Charest
Grafton Fire Department
charests@grafton-ma.gov
508-839-4606
Dave Crouse
Grafton Highway Supervisor
coursed@grafton-ma.gov
508-839-5335
Normand Crepeau
Grafton Police Department
chief@graftonpolice.com
508-839-8517
Dan Daniska
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
ddaniska@cmrpc.org
508-459-3331
Yahaira Graxirena
Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission
ygraxirena@cmrpc.org
508-459-3321
Promise Otaluka
Federal Highway Administration
promise.otaluka@dot.gov
617-494-2528
William Ullom
MassDOT
wiliam.ullom@state.ma.us
857-368-9622
John Mastera
MassDOT Highway Safety
john.mastera@state.ma.us
857-368-9648
Lori Shattuck
MassDOT D3 Traffic
lori.shattuck@dot.state.ma.us
508-929-3945
Lola Campbell
MassDOT D3 Traffic
alolade.campbell@dot.state.ma.us 508-929-3887
Joe SanClemente
Howard Stein Hudson
jsanclemente@hshassoc.com
617-348-3334
Alex Siu
Howard Stein Hudson
asiu@hshassoc.com
617-348-3346
Jessica Lizza
Howard Stein Hudson
jlizza@hshassoc.com
617-348-3330
Road Safety Audit
Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street, Grafton
Prepared by Howard Stein Hudson
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data 5
12
16
13
Collision Diagram - Providence Road (Route 122) at Millbury Street,
Grafton, MA
14
3
2
6
1
15
10
9
11
7
4
8
Key
Fatal Accident
Rear-End
Overturned
Turning Movement
Pedestrian/Bicyclist
Head-on
Fixed-Object
Parked Vehicle
I.D. Number
##
Sideswipe
Angle
Out of Control
Injury Accident
##
##
Crash Data Summary Table
Intersection Providence Road(Route 122) at Millbury Street - Grafton, MA
January 2011-December 2014
#
Crash Date
Crash Day
Time of Day Manner of Collision Light Condition
Weather
Condition
Road Surface Driver Contributing Code
Ages
Comments
1 1/22/2011
Saturday
9:10 AM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Made an improper turn
26
39 -
Veh1 was traveling south on Providence Rd. Operator failed to use care
in turning while attempting to make a right hand turn onto Millbury St.
and was struck by Veh2 which had been traveling east on Millbury St.
and also failed to use care in turning while attempting to make a left
hand turn onto Providence Rd.
2 3/28/2011
Monday
8:42 PM
Angle
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way 17
32 -
Veh1 traveling east in the eastbound traffic lane of Millbury St. entered
the intersection of Providence Rd. Rt. 122 in an attempt to make a left
turn and struck Veh2 who was traveling west in the westbound travel
lane of Millbury St.
3 4/8/2011
Friday
10:16 PM
Rear-end
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way 39
54 -
Veh1 was traveling west in the westbound lane of Millbury Street.
Oper1 failed to use care in stopping and struck Veh2 that was stop in
westbound lane of said street.
4 5/19/2011
Thursday
7:13 AM
Angle
Daylight
Cloudy
Wet
Inattention
18
V2 and V3 traveling north on Providence Road approaching Millbury
Street intersection. V2 traveling in the left northbound travel lane, V3
traveling in the right northbound travel lane. V1 traveling east bound on
Millbury Street at the intersection. V2 and 3 operators report they had a
green traffic light proceeded through intersection and struck by V1. V1
18 17
crashed into V2 and V3 in the intersection, failed to yield right of way
and fail to use care in stopping. From statements on scene of Operator
1, it appears that V1 may have had a yellow traffic signal and did fail to
stop resulting in the collision with the other vehicles involved. V1
crashed into V2, which as a result caused V2 to crash into V3.
5 5/22/2011
Sunday
8:51 PM
Rear-end
Dark - lighted
roadway
Cloudy
Dry
Exceeded authorized
speed limit
18
31 -
Veh1 was traveling south in the southbound lane of Providence Road
Rte 122. Oper1 failed to stop and struck Veh2 that was stopped in said
lane for a red traffic light.
6 1/15/2012
Sunday
9:29 PM
Angle
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Wet
Failed to yield right of way 18
17 -
Oper1 traveling east in the eastbound travel lane of Millbury St. entered
the intersection of Providence Rd. Rt.122 subsequently turned left
directly in front of Veh2 striking same who was traveling west in the
westbound travel lane on said street.
7 6/2/2012
Saturday
3:32 PM
Head-on
Daylight
Cloudy
Wet
Wrong side or wrong way
16
61 -
8 7/8/2012
Sunday
10:53 AM
Rear-end
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Inattention
74
57 -
9 7/27/2012
Friday
7:56 AM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Inattention
39
64 -
Veh1 was making a left hand turn onto Millbury Street from the
northbound lane of Providence Road Rte 122. Oper1 failed to enter the
proper lane and struck Veh2 that was stop in the eastbound lane of
Millbury Street.
Veh1 was traveling north in the northbound lane of Providence Rd.
Operator failed to use care in stopping and struck Veh2 which was
stopped in traffic while traveling north in the northbond lane of said
street.
Veh 1 was traveling northbound on Providence Rd and failed to stop for
a red light at the intersection of Millbury St and Providence Rd. Veh2
was traveling eastbound on Millbury St and attempted to take a left turn
onto Providence Rd but was struck by Veh 1 . Veh1 failed to stop for a
red light.
10 9/19/2012
Wednesday
5:30 AM
Angle
Dawn
Rain
Wet
Failed to yield right of way 40
53 -
Vehicle # 1 failed to stop at the intersection at Providence rd rt-122 and
Millbury st causing his vehicle to skid thru the intersection and strick
Vehicle # 2 which was traveling though the intersection on Millbury st.
Vehicle # 2 had the right of way due to having the green signal at this
intersection during the time of the crash. Operator of vehicle # 1 failed
to stop at intersection.
11 11/22/2012
Thursday
8:22 PM
Angle
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way 29
37 -
Veh #1 was making a left hand turn from Millbury Street onto
Providence Road Rte 122. Oper #1 failed to grant right of way to Veh
#2 that was traveling east in the ebl of Millbury Street.
1 of 2
Crash Data Summary Table
Intersection Providence Road(Route 122) at Millbury Street - Grafton, MA
January 2011-December 2014
12 12/5/2012
Wednesday
4:44 PM
Rear-end
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Dry
Inattention
17
52 65
13 1/31/2013
Thursday
6:09 PM
Rear-end
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Dry
Followed too closely
49
37 -
14 10/22/2014
Wednesday
8:25 AM
Side-Swiped
Daylight
Cloudy/Rain
Wet
No improper driving
47
Vehicle #1 travelling south in the southbound lane of Providence Rd.
Operator failed to use care in stopping striking vehicle #2 which was
stopped in traffic. Vehicle #2 was forced by impacted into vehicle #3
which was also stopped at the red light.
Veh 1 was traveling south in the southbound lane pf Providence Rd.
Route 122. Oper 1 failed to stop for stopped traffic and struck Veh 2
that was stopped in the southbound lane of said street.
36 -
Vehicle #1 was traveling North on Providence Rd. through the
intersection of Millbury St. when the operator, Operator 1 stated he was
side swiped by Vehicle #2 turning onto Providence Rd. from Millbury St.
The operator of Vehicle #2 stated he was turning right onto Providence
Rd. from Millbury St. when he was side swiped by vehicle #1. Both
operators stated they had a green light. No witnesses were available.
Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were driven from the scene.
No injuries were reported.
15 11/30/2014
Sunday
8:40 AM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Disregarded traffic signs,
signals, road markings
55
18 -
Veh. #2 operator stated he was stopped at the red light on Millburry
Street, facing eastward, waiting for the green light to cross over
Providence Rd. and continue on Millbury St. Operator 2 stated when the
light turned green, he proceeded forward, when he was struck in the
drivers side door area by Vehicle #1 traveling South on Providence Rd.
Operator 1 stated the light was changing from green to red when he
was traveling south through the intersection. Vehicle # 1 struck Vehicle
#2 in the drivers side door area. Vehicle #1 was towed from the scene.
Operator 1 was issued, Citation R4204415 for Ch.89 S.9 Failure to Stop
/ Light. Providence Rd. and Millbury St. are both public ways in the
Town of Grafton.
16 12/8/2014
Monday
2:52 PM
Rear-end
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
Followed too closely
33
54 -
Vehicle #1 was traveling south in the sbl of Providence Road Route
122. Oper failed to stop and struck Veh #2 that was stopped at the red
traffic light.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the State and Grafton Police Department.
2 of 2
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
CRASH MONTH
30%
20%
19%
13%
10%
6%
13%
6%
6%
6%
6%
S
O
13%
13%
N
D
0%
0%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
30%
25%
19%
20%
19%
13%
13%
13%
Friday
Saturday
10%
0%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
40%
31%
31%
30%
19%
20%
10%
6%
6%
6%
10‐2 a.m.
2‐6 a.m.
0%
6‐10 a.m.
10‐2 p.m.
2‐6 p.m.
6‐10 p.m.
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
60%
50%
50%
38%
40%
30%
20%
10%
6%
0%
6%
0%
0%
0%
Single Vehicle
Crash
Rear‐end
Angle
Sideswipe, same
direction
Sideswipe,
opposite
direction
Head‐on
Unknown/Other
1 of 2
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
80%
60%
50%
44%
40%
20%
6%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dark ‐ Roadway
not lighted
Other
Unknown
0%
Daylight
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark ‐ Lighted
Roadway
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
63%
25%
13%
0%
Clear
Cloudy
Rain
0%
Snow
0%
0%
0%
Sleet, Hail, Fog, Smog,
Severe
Blowing
Freezing
Smoke
Crosswinds sand, snow
Rain
0%
0%
Other
Unknown
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
80%
69%
60%
40%
31%
20%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Snow
Ice
Sand, mud,
dirt, oil,
gravel
Water
(standing,
moving)
Slush
Other
Unknown
0%
Dry
Wet
CRASH DRIVERS AGES
40%
30%
27%
27%
18%
20%
10%
9%
6%
9%
3%
0%
15‐20
21‐29
30‐39
40‐49
50‐59
60‐69
70‐79
2 of 2