ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Massachusetts Avenue at
Pleasant Street and Mystic Street (Route 60)
Town of Arlington
April 24, 2012
Prepared For:
MassDOT Highway Division
Prepared By:
BETA Group, Inc.
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table of Contents
Project Data .................................................................................................................................1
Background .................................................................................................................................2
Project Description .....................................................................................................................2
Audit Observations .....................................................................................................................6
Potential Safety Enhancements ...............................................................................................11
Summary of Road Safety Audit...............................................................................................14
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.
Location Map ......................................................................................................................... 3
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Table 3.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 1
Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown ..................................................................... 11
Potential Safety Enhancement Summary ............................................................................. 16
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Project Data
A Road Safety Audit for the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Pleasant Street/Mystic Street
(Route 60) was held on March 22, 2012 at the Town Hall in Arlington, MA. As indicated in Table 1, the
audit team consisted of representatives from Federal, State, Regional and Local agencies and included a
cross-section of engineering, planning and emergency response expertise.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Agency/Affiliation
Lisa Schletzbaum
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Sara Timoner
MassDOT Highway Division – District 4 Traffic
Wayne Chouinard
Town of Arlington – Town Engineer
Bob Jefferson
Town of Arlington – Fire Chief
Corey P. Rateau
Town of Arlington – Police
Laura Wiener
Town of Arlington – Planning
Mike Rademacher
Town of Arlington – Public Works
Pete Lento
Town of Arlington - Engineering
Promise Otaluka
Federal Highway Administration
Keri Pyke
Howard/Stein-Hudson (Design Engineer)
Chen-Yuan Wang
CTPS (Boston Region MPO)
Constance Raphael
MassDOT Highway Division – District 4
Dominic Caiazzo
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Douglas Halpert
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Greg Lucas
BETA Group, Inc.
Jaklyn Centracchio
BETA Group, Inc.
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Background
The Federal Highway Administration defines a Road Safety Audit (RSA) as the formal safety
examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. The
purpose of an RSA is to identify potential safety issues and possible opportunities for safety
improvements considering all roadway users. A Road Safety Audit was scheduled for the intersection of
Massachusetts Avenue, Pleasant Street and Mystic Street as required by MassDOT Highway Safety
Improvement Program (HSIP) guidelines. A Private design consultant is under contract with the Town of
Arlington to design roadway improvements for the study intersection using Clean Air and Mobility
Program (CLAMP) funds. The intersection has been identified as a high crash location in the Boston
Region MPO and has been identified as a potential location for safety improvements using available
Federal and/or State funding opportunities. Regardless of the funding source, the RSA is intended to
identify both short and long term safety improvements that can be made at the subject intersection prior to
the proposed project and/or incorporated into the proposed project.
Project Description
The intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and
Pleasant Street/Mystic Street (Route 60), shown in
Figure 1, is located in the town center area of
Arlington. Massachusetts Avenue west of the
intersection and Pleasant Street south of the
intersection are functionally classified as Urban
Principal Arterials, while Massachusetts Avenue east
of the intersection and Mystic Street north of the
intersection are classified as Principal Arterials. These
two roadway segments classified as Principal Arterials
are part of the National Highway System and carry US
Route 3 on a generally south-southeast alignment
Massachusetts Avenue at
through Arlington to its terminus in Cambridge. The
Mystic
Street/Pleasant Street
intersection also carries two state-numbered routes:
(looking east)
Route 2A follows the same alignment as US Route 3
through the intersection, following Mystic Street to the north and Massachusetts Avenue to the east, but
continues to follow Massachusetts Avenue into Cambridge and Boston; while Route 60 follows Mystic
Street to the north and Pleasant Street to the south. In addition to providing access to Cambridge and
Boston, the intersection serves other important regional connections; Pleasant Street (Route 60) serves as
the primary connection from Arlington Center south to Route 2 and ultimately to I-95/Route 128. The
intersection also serves an important role in the regional bicycle network, as the Minuteman Bikeway has
a break at Arlington Center that requires bicycles to either dismount and walk their bicycles on the
sidewalk through the intersection, using the pedestrian phase to cross Massachusetts Avenue, or ride in
the roadway and follow the signal indications as a vehicle would. The Minuteman Bikeway is an 11-mile
bicycle trail through Bedford, Lexington, Arlington and Cambridge, ending at the Alewife MBTA station.
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Massachusetts Avenue at
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Figure 1
ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
ARLINGTON, MA
Location Map
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
The study intersection is a 4-way intersection under traffic signal control. Massachusetts Avenue is
median-divided and generally provides a wide travel lane in the vicinity of the intersection, which is wide
enough for two vehicles but not marked as two separate travel lanes. Massachusetts Avenue widens on
the approaches to the intersection to provide a left turn lane, two marked through lanes, and a right turn
lane. Mystic Street and Pleasant Street both provide a 3-lane approach with a left turn lane, a through
lane, and a right turn lane. The presence of dedicated left and right turn lanes on all four approaches
allows the signal to operate under quad left phasing with right turn overlaps. The left turns on
Massachusetts Avenue are given an advance green, with right turns allowed from Pleasant Street and
Mystic Street at the same time. This protected green phase ends and is followed by the phase for the
through movements on Massachusetts Avenue. The signal then provides an exclusive phase for left turns
from both Pleasant Street and Mystic Street, during which time right turns are allowed from
Massachusetts Avenue. Finally, a phase for through vehicles on Pleasant Street and Mystic Street is
provided. Pedestrians are accommodated via concurrent phasing, and right turns on red are restricted on
all four approaches to prevent conflicts between pedestrians and right-turning vehicles.
Crosswalks are provided across all four legs of the intersection. Crosswalk markings are faded, as are
other lane and arrow/only markings. Brick sidewalks are provided along both sides of all intersecting
roadways. Most handicap ramps are brick, which may not meet current MassDOT standards for grades
and cross-slopes due to settlement of the brick. A cement concrete handicap ramp is provided on the
southeast corner of the intersection. The wider sidewalks, brick surface, adjacent landscaping and median
give Massachusetts Avenue a boulevard-style feel through the study intersection.
Land use in the area is primarily commercial, with some recreational and municipal uses. The building on
the northwest corner of the intersection houses a real estate office and a law firm, a church is housed on
the southwest corner of the intersection, and Cambridge Savings Bank occupies the building on the
southeast corner of the intersection. It was noted that on-street parking in front of Cambridge Savings
Bank creates potential visibility constraints for the exit driveway from Cambridge Savings Bank onto
Massachusetts Avenue immediately west of the intersection, as well as for the coffee shop to the east of
the bank. Whittemore Park is located on the northeast corner of the intersection, adjacent to the historic
Jefferson Cutter House. The Town’s Robbins Library and Town Hall are approximately one block west of
the intersection on the south side of Massachusetts Avenue.
Crash data were provided by the Arlington Police Department and summarized by Howard/Stein-Hudson
(HSH). There were a total of 49 reported and police documented crashes at the intersection within the
period from January 2008 to July 2011. Crashes documented by operators only were not reviewed. Forty
of the 49 crashes are shown on the collision diagram included in the Appendix; the remaining nine
crashes do not have enough information to be shown. The crash summary shows that 29 of the 39 crashes
(59%) were rear-end crashes. Eight of the rear-end crashes occurred on the Massachusetts Avenue
eastbound approach, five occurred on the Massachusetts Avenue westbound approach, seven occurred on
the Pleasant Street northbound approach, while five occurred on the Mystic Street southbound approach.
The remaining four rear-end crashes could not be located. It should be noted that only three of the 49
intersection crashes resulted in an injury, potentially indicating the majority of crashes were low speed,
low impact crashes. Two of the three injury crashes were pedestrian crashes. Both crashes involved a
vehicle turning left from Massachusetts Avenue eastbound. There were also two incidents of a vehicle
striking a cyclist, both involving vehicles heading north on Pleasant Street. Three of the crashes on the
Massachusetts Avenue westbound approach involved a vehicle turning right from the through lane
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
colliding with a vehicle making a right turn from the dedicated right turn lane. This may indicate a
deficiency in signage or lane delineation for the right turn lane.
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Audit Observations
Following a brief introduction to the RSA process and a summary of existing geometry and crash
information, the audit participants were asked to discuss safety issues at the intersection of Massachusetts
Avenue, Pleasant Street and Mystic Street. Audit participants then conducted a site visit as a group, at
which time they offered observations on safety concerns and deficiencies. A summary of those major
safety considerations is as follows:
Pedestrian Operation – Town personnel present at the audit stated that signal phasing was modified to
the present concurrent operation with right turn on red restrictions based on a history of pedestrian
crashes at the intersection. It should be noted that other signalized intersections in Arlington typically
provide exclusive pedestrian operation.
Signage - A number of safety issues related to signage were discussed during the audit.
o
As previously noted, right turns on red are restricted to prevent conflicts with pedestrians
during concurrent pedestrian operation. Each approach has three signs intended to
enforce this restriction: a ground-mounted “Right Turn On Right Arrow Only”, a groundmounted “No Turn on Red”, and a mast arm mounted “Right Turn on Green Arrow
Only”. These signs in combination may create confusion for approaching drivers, since
they enforce the same restriction with different word messages. The “Right Turn on
Green Arrow Only” sign is very small and may not be legible for some drivers; also, it is
located right next to a signal head that displays both a green vertical arrow and a green
right arrow. Drivers may think that they can make a right turn when the green vertical
arrow is on, which is not the intended operation and would create conflicts with
pedestrians. The “Right Turn on Right Arrow Only” may also create a safety issue if a
driver mistakenly interprets it to mean that they can go right on a red arrow. This may be
a contributing factor in rear-end crashes on the approaches if vehicles in queue have
different interpretations of whether they have the right-of-way, although it is unknown if
any rear-end crashes occurred in the right lanes of each approach.
Right Turn on Red Restriction Signage
(Mystic Street approach)
Mast arm mounted “Right Turn on
Green Arrow Only” sign
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
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o The sign assembly in the median on the Massachusetts Avenue westbound approach
has three signs that may present a confusing
or inconsistent message to approaching
drivers. The top sign is a “Left Lane Must
Turn Left” sign, which is appropriate for
this location. The second sign is a word
message “No U Turn” sign, which is
inconsistent when compared to other
graphical u-turn restriction signs in the area. The third sign states “Stop for Pedestrian in Crosswalk”, which is inappropriate for this location. Neither left-turning vehicles or
through vehicles on this approach will ever
have a green signal at the same time that a
pedestrian has the walk signal to cross the approach. It also should be noted that the Massachusetts General Law that requires a vehicle to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk is applicable only when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation.
o The graphical u-turn restriction sign in the median on the Mystic Street approach is mounted too low, reducing its visibility and effectiveness.
o Lane control signage is not provided on any of the intersection approaches. This may be a contributing
factor in the turning movement crashes, where a vehicle turning from the through lane collided with a vehicle in the turning lane.
o Street name sign legends are smaller than current MUTCD and MassDOT standards, and
are not optimally placed for visibility. This may contribute to confusion for drivers
unfamiliar with the area.
Signal Equipment and Operation – Several safety issues related to the existing traffic signal were
discussed.
o It was noted that the usage and placement of vertical green arrows on the Massachusetts
Avenue approaches may create confusion for approaching drivers. Vertical green arrows
should be used per lane when no other turning movement is permitted from that lane; this
arrangement is true of all through lanes at the intersection, but only one signal head is
positioned over the lane, with the 2nd head typically positioned over the right turn only
lane. This may cause confusion and conflict with the intended operation of the right turn
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
lane and the signal, and may be a contributing factor in the turning movement crashes,
where a vehicle turning from the through lane collided with a vehicle in the turning lane.
o Backplates are not consistently provided for all overhead signal heads, which may impact
visibility of signals and may be a factor in the history of rear-end crashes at the
intersection.
o Signals along Massachusetts Avenue and along Mystic Street are not presently
coordinated. Lack of coordination may require frequent stops and increase driver
frustration, which may be a factor in rear end crashes when more aggressive drivers do
not stop in time behind a more cautious driver.
Bicycles – The operation of bicyclists through the intersection is a significant safety concern. The
Minuteman Bikeway intersects Mystic Street approximately 100 feet north of the approach stop line,
then resumes by departing Massachusetts Avenue to the south approximately 275 feet east of the
intersection. This break in the trail requires bicyclists to pass through the intersection if they intend to
continue along the trail.
o Signage does not clearly deliver the message that bicyclists should dismount and walk
their bicycles along the sidewalk, using the existing pedestrian signals and crosswalks to
pass through the intersection. A sign at the end of the trail on Mystic Street states that
“Riding Bicycles on Sidewalks is Against the law, and subject to a $20 FINE”. It was
suggested during the audit that this sign is too small and too wordy to be effective, and
that it may lead cyclists to believe that they are not allowed to even walk their bicycle on
the sidewalk. Shared operation of vehicles and bicycles is available along Mystic Street
and Massachusetts Avenue, but existing lane and shoulder widths do not provide bicycle
accommodation based on MassDOT criteria. Temporary “NO BIKE RIDING ON
SIDEWALKS” signs are posted on the signal posts on the south side of the intersection,
but these do not meet regulatory guidelines for signs established by the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and again may lead cyclists to believe that
they are not allowed on the sidewalk at all. It was also noted that police have a difficult
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
time enforcing the $20 fine due to lack of space for them to be stationed as well as the
inability to verify cyclist information if a ticket is issued.
o The differing levels of bicyclist experience and aggressiveness creates a great variance in
rider behavior through the intersection. Some riders walk their bikes along the sidewalk,
some violate the posted town regulation and ride on the sidewalk, and some ride in the
roadway. Additionally, some riders cross with vehicles, some cross with the walk signal,
and some ignore the traffic signal and cross when they feel it is safe. It was noted that
riders were also observed crossing the intersection diagonally during the opposing left
turn phase for Pleasant Street and Mystic Street and riding in the wrong direction (against
traffic).
Pedestrians – The concurrent pedestrian operation allows pedestrians to cross at the same time
that through vehicles have a green indication. Pedestrians were observed crossing when they do
not have a walk indication, such as when the left turn and right turn overlap phases are active. It
was also noted that pedestrians have been known to cross diagonally with the left turn phases.
Audible Pedestrian Signals – The intersection is presently equipped with an audible pedestrian
signal system, which emits a cuckoo sound with the walk for north/south crossings and a chirp
sound for east/west crossings. This provides an audible cue for sight impaired pedestrians. It was
noted on the day of the audit that the chirp was not clearly heard from all four corners.
On-Street Parking – On-street parking is allowed along both sides of Massachusetts Avenue near
the intersection, but is eliminated on the intersection approaches to provide for an exclusive right
turn lane. This may contribute to driver confusion over lane assignments, in conjunction with the
lack of lane delineation and lane control signage. It was also noted that the three on-street parking
spots in front of Cambridge Savings Bank create a visibility restriction for vehicles exiting the
driveway to the east of the building.
Pavement Condition – It was noted that the pavement is rutted on the approaches to the
intersection, which creates puddles during rainy periods and can lead to buildups of snow, slush
and ice during wintry conditions.
Pavement Markings – Pavement markings are faded at the intersection, which decreases visibility
of defined lane use.
Emergency Preemption – The intersection does not currently have emergency preemption, which
would allow an emergency vehicle equipped with an emitter to receive a green signal indication
when approaching from any direction. This will aid in emergency response time, especially
during periods of heavy traffic.
Clearance Phase Timing – There was concern amongst audit participants that the yellow
clearance time may not be sufficient. The high occurrence of rear-end crashes at the intersection
may be indicative of clearance time deficiencies. It was noted that clearance times were increased
when countdown pedestrian heads were installed, which was within the last two years, or during
the crash data study period.
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Signal Visibility – It was noted that the uphill slope of the Mystic Street approach makes it
difficult to see the signal indications for this approach until near the stop line.
Bus Stop – It was noted that there is a bus stop on the departure side of the intersection on
Massachusetts Avenue westbound. The location and length of the bus stop is adequate to allow a
bus to stop and load/unload passengers without impacting the crosswalk or the intersection
operations, but it was noted that a second bus may stop and wait behind a bus that is loading and
unloading. It should be noted that this stop serves three different MBTA bus routes - #67, #77 and
#79.
Weaving – Chestnut Street intersects Mystic Street approximately 600 feet north of
Massachusetts Avenue, and provides dual left turn lanes onto Mystic Street. The short segment
length between Chestnut Street and Massachusetts Avenue results in weaving between lanes as
vehicles approach the turn lanes on Mystic Street at Massachusetts Avenue.
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Potential Safety Enhancements
After the site visit, audit participants returned to the meeting location to discuss the safety issues and
consider improvements. Audit participants were encouraged to consider both short and long term
improvements for each issue. Each improvement considered has been categorized as short-term, midterm, or long-term based on the definitions shown in Table 2. Additionally, a cost category has been
assigned to each improvement based on the parameters set forth in Table 2.
Table 2. Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown
Time Frame
Short-term
<1 year
Costs
Low
Mid-term
1–3 years
Medium
Long-term
>3 years
High
<$10,000
$10,000–$50,000
>$50,000
The following improvements were suggested by audit participants to improve safety issues associated
with the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Pleasant Street and Mystic Street.
Upgrade traffic signal equipment. A number of safety issues discussed during the audit can be
addressed as part of a traffic signal upgrade. The specific components discussed as potential safety
enhancements are as follows:
o Align signal heads over the lanes they control. The usage of a green vertical arrow and a
green right arrow on the 4-section signal head on each approach creates potential
confusion regarding lane assignments based on the head’s placement over the right turn
lane. This also contributes to potential confusion over the “Right Turn on Green Arrow
Only” sign mounted on the mast arm next to the signal head. It is recommended that
signal heads be located over the lane they control, which may require the replacement of
the 4-section head with two separate 3-section heads, one for the through lane and one for
the right turn lane. 4- or 5-section heads will still be required on the single through lane
side street approaches. Modification of signal heads and head locations is a mid-term,
medium cost improvement that can be incorporated into overall signal upgrades.
o Install backplates. Existing signals do not provide backplates on all approaches.
Backplates enhance the visibility of the signal head against the visual background and
against solar glare. It was noted that installing backplates with a retroreflective border has
been established by FHWA as a proven safety countermeasure. This is a short-term, low
cost improvement that can be incorporated into overall signal upgrades.
o Consider coordination along the Massachusetts Avenue and Mystic Street corridors. Lack
of coordination along the corridor may force more frequent stops, which may increase
driver frustration and aggression, and in turn be a factor in the history of rear-end crashes
at the intersection. It was noted that coordination along the Massachusetts Avenue
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
corridor is one of the goals of the proposed improvement project. This is a mid-term, low
cost improvement.
o Consider visibility for approach vehicles when replacing signal heads for the Mystic
Street approach. It was noted that the grade of the Mystic Street approach creates
visibility issues for approaching vehicles. The location and height of proposed signal
heads should take this into consideration. This is a mid-term improvement that can be
incorporated into overall signal upgrades.
o Include emergency preemption equipment. The addition of preemption equipment will
improve emergency vehicle response times. It was noted that Arlington fire trucks
already have preemption emitters. This is a short-term, low cost improvement that can be
incorporated into overall signal upgrades.
o Provide adequate clearance times. It was noted that the yellow clearance time was
increased from four seconds to five seconds within the last two years. Existing clearance
times should be verified and compared to minimum requirements calculated based on the
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) methodology. If existing clearance times are
insufficient, clearance times should be increased accordingly. This is a short-term, low
cost improvement that could be done in advance of potential upgrades. Clearance times
for proposed improvements should also follow the ITE methodology. It should be noted
that while clearance times are typically calculated based on a roadway’s design speed or
posted speed limit, it may be practical to conduct a speed study and instead use actual
vehicle speeds if speeds exceed the posted speed limit.
Upgrade signage. A complete signage upgrade should accompany any improvements considered at
the intersection. The following specific improvements were suggested by audit participants based on
identified safety issues.
o Clarify right turn on red restriction. The existing right turn on red restriction on all four
approaches is necessary to avoid conflicts with pedestrians, who currently operate
concurrently with the through movements. Existing signage is potentially confusing
based on both the choice of word message and the location of the signs. No Turn on Red
Signs should be retained on each approach, or replaced in kind along with the proposed
improvements, as required in the Massachusetts Amendments to the MUTCD. The
additional existing signs on each approach are confusing and inconsistent in message and
should be removed. If a supplemental sign is desired by the Town, it is recommended that
the legend read “Right Turn On Green Right Arrow Only”. The words “Green Right
Arrow” can be replaced with a graphical green right arrow to reduce the length of the
message. This is a short-term, low cost improvement that can be
done in advance of or in conjunction with proposed improvements.
o Replace median No U Turn sign with a graphical R3-4 sign. The existing sign in the median on the Massachusetts Avenue
westbound approach has a word message and should be replaced with an MUTCD standard R3-4 sign. This will provide consistency
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
with other U-turn restriction signs along the Massachusetts Avenue corridor. This is a
short-term, low cost improvement.
o Mount the existing R3-4 No U Turn sign on the Mystic Street approach at the proper
height. The sign is currently too low, which decreases the visibility and effectiveness of
the sign. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
o Remove “Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk” sign. This sign in the median on the
Massachusetts Avenue westbound approach is unnecessary and potentially confusing, as
pedestrians will never legally be in the crosswalk when a westbound vehicle has a green
signal. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
o Provide advanced lane control signage. It was suggested that lane control signage is
needed for all approaches to clarify lane assignments. It is recommended that R3-8 series
lane control signs be provided on each approach in advance of
the turning lane(s), and that standard R3-7 series “Right Lane
Must Turn Right” or “Left Lane Must Turn Left” signs be
provided meeting MUTCD and MassDOT standards. This is a
mid-term, low cost improvement that can be done as part of
proposed improvements.
o Replace street name signs. New MassDOT standards for street name signs require 12”
tall signs with 6” capital letters and 4.5” lowercase letters. This new standard meets the
requirements of the 2009 MUTCD and provides increased visibility for approaching
traffic. New street name signs should be placed for optimal visibility for approaching
vehicles. This is a short-term, low cost improvement that should be included in the
proposed project.
o Include advance signage at Chestnut Street approach to Mystic Avenue. Advance signage
for the double left turn from Chestnut Street should inform drivers of upcoming lane
assignments at Massachusetts Avenue. A modified R3-8 series sign could be included
with “Mass Ave EB” and “Mass Ave WB” under each lane arrow. This is a short-term,
low cost improvement.
Improve bicycle regulatory and wayfinding signs for the Minuteman Bikeway. Cyclists may
legally dismount and walk their bicycles on the sidewalk, or share the travel lane with vehicles.
The existing sign at the Mystic Street end of the bikeway is too small and too wordy to be
effective. It is recommended that this sign be replaced with a sign stating “No Bike Riding on
Sidewalk - $20 Fine”. Similar signs can be placed at the intersection to replace the existing
temporary signs. It was suggested that “Walk Bike on Sidewalk” may be an effective message to
tell cyclists that they are allowed on the sidewalk, but only if they dismount and walk their
bicycle. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Consider bicycles in planned intersection upgrades. The proposed improvements at the
intersection must consider the impact of bicycle operation at the intersection and should consider
every opportunity to provide improved access for bicyclists, including both bicycles on the path
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
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and bicyclists choosing to ride in the road. This is a mid-term improvement with a cost to be
included in the proposed project.
Consider pedestrians in planned intersection upgrades. It was noted that pedestrians do not always
follow the existing concurrent operation. The proposed improvements should consider existing
pedestrian activity at the intersection and provide improvements where feasible. This is a midterm improvement with a cost to be included in the proposed project.
Repair or replace audible pedestrian signals. The existing “chirp” sound is not consistently or
clearly heard on all four corners of the intersection. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Consider removing on-street parking on Massachusetts Avenue eastbound in front of Cambridge
Savings Bank. The three existing spaces at this location create visibility restrictions for vehicles
exiting the bank and the adjacent coffee shop. The project proponent should solicit input from the
affected abutters regarding the impact of reduced parking. This is a mid-term, low cost
improvement.
Provide signs warning of pedestrians and bicycles for vehicles exiting
Cambridge Savings Bank. A W11-15 combined Bicycle/Pedestrian sign
with a fluorescent yellow-green background would be most appropriate
for this application. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Rehabilitate pavement. Rutting and settlement of pavement is visible at the intersection. The
pavement should be rehabilitated along the corridor, either by milling and overlay or by asphalt
reclamation. Pavement cores should be performed first to determine the necessary course of
action. This is a mid-term, high cost improvement which should be done as part of proposed
improvements.
Apply new pavement markings and arrow/only markings at the intersection. Existing markings
are faded and decrease lane delineation awareness for approaching vehicles. This is a mid-term
improvement that should be included in the proposed project.
Consider bus operations in proposed intersection design. The existing bus stop on the departure
side of the intersection is located so that a stopped bus does not block the crosswalk or the
intersection, but it was noted that a second stopped bus may impact operations. The proposed
design should consider if relocation of the bus stop is feasible and/or necessary. This is a midterm, low cost improvement.
Summary of Road Safety Audit
Table 3 summarizes potential recommendations discussed by the audit team. The recommendations are
categorized based on the potential safety payoff, as well as by time frame and cost. The safety payoff is a
qualitative judgment of the effectiveness of the potential safety improvements. Each recommendation has
a responsibility assigned to it stating whether MassDOT or the Town of Arlington would be responsible
for implementing the recommended improvement. “Project” refers to improvements that are assumed to
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
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be included or could reasonably be accommodated as part of proposed improvements at the intersection.
Costs provided for “Project” improvements are an order of magnitude estimate which estimates the cost
of the improvement if completed independent of the project.
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Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
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Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Time
Frame
Cost
Medium
Mid-term
$5,000
Project
Medium
Short-term
$5,000
Consider coordination along the Massachusetts Avenue and
Mystic Street corridors.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
*
Signal Visibility
Consider visibility for approach vehicles when replacing
signal heads for the Mystic Street approach.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$25,000
Emergency
Preemption
Install emergency preemption equipment.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$10,000
Clearance Times
Study existing clearance times and make changes, if
appropriate. Clearance time calculations should also be
performed as part of the proposed improvements.
Town/Project
High
Short-term
$2,000
(Town)
Signage
Clarify right turn on red restriction by removing confusing and
inconsistent ―Right Turn on Arrow Only‖ signs.
Town
High
Short-term
$1,000
Signage
Replace median No U Turn sign with a graphical R3-4 sign.
Town
Low
Short-term
$250
Signage
Mount the existing R3-4 No U Turn sign for the Mystic Street
approach at the proper height.
Town
Medium
Short-term
$250
Signage
Remove ―Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk‖ sign.
Town
Low
Short-term
$250
Signage
Provide advanced lane control signage.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$2,000
Signage
Replace street name signs.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$1,000
Town
Medium
Short-term
$250
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$3,000
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Signal Equipment
and Operation
Align signal heads over the lane they control. This may
require replacement of 4-section heads with 2 separate 3section heads.
Project
Signal Equipment
and Operation
Install backplates for all overhead signals.
Signal Equipment
and Operation
Signage, Weaving
Bicycles
Install advance lane control signage for the Chestnut Street
approach to Mystic Avenue.
Improve bicycle regulatory and wayfinding signs for the
Minuteman Bikeway.
Responsibility Safety Payoff
Bicycles
Consider bicycles in planned intersection upgrades.
Project
High
Mid-term
Pedestrians
Consider pedestrians in planned intersection upgrades.
Project
High
Mid-term
*
*
Pedestrians
Repair or replace audible pedestrian signals.
Town
Medium
Short-term
$2,000
Page 16
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Time
Frame
Cost
Medium
Mid-term
$2,000
Project/Town
Medium
Short-term
$500
Rehabilitate pavement.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$500,000
Pavement Markings
Apply new pavement markings and arrow/only markings.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
$20,000
Bus Stop
Consider bus operations in proposed intersection design.
Project
Medium
Mid-term
*
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
On-Street Parking
Consider removing on-street parking on Massachusetts
Avenue eastbound in front of Cambridge Savings Bank.
Project
Signage, On-Street
Parking
Provide W11-15 combined bicycle/pedestrian signs for
vehicles exiting Cambridge Savings Bank.
Pavement Condition
*
Responsibility Safety Payoff
Improvements to be incorporated into the proposed project are assumed to be included as part of the overall project cost.
Page 17
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
August 4, 2009
Location: Canton Street/School Street at Stoughton DPW
Audit Team Members
Agency/Affiliation
Email Address
Phone Number
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Arlington
Mass Ave. / Route 60
Meeting Location: Arlington Town Hall Annex, 2nd Floor
730 Mass Ave, Arlington, MA
Thursday, March 22, 2012
10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
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 – provided in advance
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:45 AM
Site Visit
• Walk to the intersection of Mass Ave/Pleasant St (Rt 60)/Mystic St
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:15 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
• Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
• Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
12:00 noon
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
• Before attending the RSA on March 22nd, 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—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Road Safety Audit—Massachusetts Avenue at Pleasant Street/Mystic Street—Arlington, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
36
35
32
5
15
25
44
48
22
40
1
9
11
34
P
P
16
29
7
4
37
3
24
C
26
C
2
8
13
17
12
23
30
31
33
21
10
6
18
14
20
19
27
28
38
39
Key
Rear-End
Overturned
Parked Vehicle
Turning Move
Head-on
Fixed-Object
Out of Control
I.D. Number
##
Sideswipe
Angle
Pedestrian
P
Injury
##
Cyclist
C
FUNCTIONAL DESIGN REPORT
Arlington Design Services to Improve Intersection Mobility
Figure X-X: Massachusetts Avenue/ Mystic Street/ Pleasant Street Collision Details
Crash Details
No.
Date
Time
Severity
Light
Road
Driver
Contributing
Code
1
1/7/2008
7:34 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1.No Improper
Driving
2
1/11/2008
11:02 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
3.Disregarded
Traffic Signals
3
1/19/2008
7:04 a.m.
Property Damage
Dark- lit roadway
Dry
99. Unknown
4
2/23/2008
11:45 a.m.
Injury
Daylight
Wet
1.No Improper
Driving
5
3/31/2008
10:05 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
4.Failed to yield
right of way
6
4/29/2008
10:10 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
19. Inattention
7
5/24/2008
11:10 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
6. Made Improper
Turn
8
5/27/2008
2:16 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
6. Made Improper
Turn
9
5/28/2008
5:08 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
99. Unknown
10
6/9/2008
11:37 p.m.
Property Damage
Dark- lit roadway
Dry
99. Unknown
11
8/25/2008
4:00 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1.No Improper
Driving
12
10/8/2008
4:30 p.m.
Property Damage
Dark- lit roadway
Dry
11.Swerving or
avoiding due to
elements, slippery
surface, object in
roadway
13
12/3/2008
9:46 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
97.Other Improper
Action
14
12/10/2008
7:43 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
19. Inattention
15
1/3/2009
5:26 p.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Dry
97.Other Improper
Action
16
1/18/2009
9:27 p.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Snow
99. Unknown
17
4/21/2009
5:17 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
99. Unknown
18
5/13/2009
2:45 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
3.Disregarded
Traffic Signals
19
6/9/2009
11:12 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
20. Distracted
20
7/23/2009
7:09 a.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Wet
3.Disregarded
Traffic Signals
21
8/6/2009
3:00 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
3.Disregarded
Traffic Signals
22
9/3/2009
8:00 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
5. Followed too
closely
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
FUNCTIONAL DESIGN REPORT
Arlington Design Services to Improve Intersection Mobility
Figure X-X: Massachusetts Avenue/ Mystic Street/ Pleasant Street Collision Details
Crash Details
No.
Date
Time
Severity
Light
Road
Driver
Contributing
Code
23
9/14/2009
4:16 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
24
9/25/2009
3:09 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
6.Made Improper
Turn
25
11/1/2009
12:00 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
9.Failure to keep
in proper lane or
running off road
26
11/17/2009
11:35 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
27
11/26/2009
10:17 p.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Wet
99.Unknown
28
12/7/2009
2:30 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
5.Followed too
closely
29
12/8/2009
5:00 p.m.
Injury
Dark - lit roadway
Dry
10.Operating
vehicle in errratic
manner
30
1/22/2010
8:55 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
31
2/7/2010
7:10 p.m.
Property Damage
N/A
N/A
N/A
32
3/1/2010
12:30 a.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Wet
99.Unknown
33
3/13/2010
1:18 p.m.
Injury
Daylight
Wet
19. Inattention
34
5/18/2010
5:45 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
35
5/25/2010
10:23 a.m.
Property Damage
Dark - lit roadway
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
36
6/16/2010
12:10 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
10.Operating
vehicle in errratic
manner
37
6/21/2010
3:14 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
N/A
38
7/4/2010
11:44 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
5.Followed too
closely
39
8/30/2010
3:37 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
6.Made Improper
Turn
40
9/7/2010
2:40 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
19. Inattention
41*
10/4/2010
3:26 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
99.Unknown
42*
12/1/2010
1:30 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Wet
3.Disregarded
traffic signs
43*
12/14/2010
4:09 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
44
2/27/2011
10:04 a.m.
Property Damage
N/A
N/A
1. No Improper
Driver
* Not shown in diagram due to lack of information.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
FUNCTIONAL DESIGN REPORT
Arlington Design Services to Improve Intersection Mobility
Figure X-X: Massachusetts Avenue/ Mystic Street/ Pleasant Street Collision Details
Crash Details
No.
Date
Time
Severity
Light
Road
Driver
Contributing
Code
45*
4/6/2011
9:39 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
46*
5/3/2011
10:55 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
1. No Improper
Driver
47*
6/21/2011
3:14 p.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
N/A
48
7/20/2011
10:19 a.m.
Property Damage
N/A
N/A
10.Operating
vehicle in errratic
manner
49*
7/20/2011
11:28 a.m.
Property Damage
Daylight
Dry
N/A
* Not shown in diagram due to lack of information.
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.