ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
VFW Highway at Aiken Street
Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street at
Mammoth Road/School Street
City of Lowell
June 25, 2010
Prepared For:
MassDOT Highway Division
Prepared By:
BETA Group, Inc.
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table of Contents
Project Data.................................................................................................................................1
Background .................................................................................................................................2
Project Description .....................................................................................................................2
Audit Observations .....................................................................................................................7
Potential Safety Enhancements ...............................................................................................12
Summary of Road Safety Audit...............................................................................................15
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
Appendix E.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Speed Regulations
Traffic Volume Data
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 3
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Table 3.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 1
Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown ..................................................................... 12
Potential Safety Enhancement Summary ............................................................................. 16
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Project Data
A Road Safety Audit for the intersections of VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/Riverside
Street/Mammoth Road/School Street in the City of Lowell was held on May 26, 2010 at the office of the
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG). As indicated in Table 1, the audit team
consisted of representatives from State, Regional and Local agencies and included a cross-section of
engineering and planning expertise.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Bonnie Polin
Lisa Schletzbaum
Neil Boudreau
Justin Howard
Sarah Bradbury
David Tilton
John Gregg
Chris Neaves
Lisa DeMeo
Justin Curewitz
Angus Strachan
Greg Lucas
Christine Keches
Agency/Affiliation
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
MassDOT Highway Division – State Traffic Engineer
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
MassDOT Highway Division – District 4 Traffic
MassDOT Highway Division – District 4
City of Lowell – City Engineer
MassDOT Highway Division
MassDOT Highway Division
BETA Group, Inc.
BETA Group, Inc.
Page 1
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, 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 two intersections in
Lowell: VFW Highway at Aiken Street, and Varnum Avenue (Route 113)/Riverside Street at Mammoth
Road/School Street. MassDOT is in the design process of a drainage separation project that includes both
intersections and is conducting a Road Safety Audit to identify short-term improvements that may be able
to be incorporated into the project. Both intersections are identified as high crash locations by MassDOT
and NMCOG.
Project Description
VFW Highway, Colonial Avenue, Riverside Street, Varnum Avenue and Pawtucket Boulevard all
comprise different sections of a continuous, median-divided, state-owned arterial roadway locally known
as “The Boulevard” which runs along the north bank of the Merrimack River in the City of Lowell.
Riverside Street, Varnum Avenue and Pawtucket Boulevard carry Route 113 from Dracut to the northeast
to Tyngsborough to the west. There are six bridges in the City of Lowell which carry vehicles across the
Merrimack River; the subjects of the audit are the intersections on the northern side of two of those
bridges, at School Street and at Aiken Street. The intersections are shown in Figure 1 and are discussed in
detail below.
VFW Highway/Aiken Street
VFW Highway and Aiken Street form a
4-way intersection under traffic signal
control. VFW Highway is a continuous
four lane median-divided roadway in
the vicinity of Aiken Street and is
functionally classified as an Urban
Principal Arterial. VFW Highway runs
northwest to southeast at this
intersection, but is considered an eastwest roadway. Aiken Street is a Cityowned roadway functionally classified
as an Urban Principal Arterial south of
VFW Highway. North of VFW
Highway, Aiken Street is functionally
classified as an Urban Minor Arterial for
VFW Highway at Aiken Street
approximately 600 feet north to
Lakeview Avenue and West 6th Street, and then continues north of West 6th Street as an Urban Collector
named Aiken Avenue. North of VFW Highway, Aiken Street and Aiken Avenue provide access to
Page 2
HW
AY
HI
G
W
ST
RE
ET
EN
ST
RE
ET
G
AR
DN
ER
W
AV
EN
U
E
113
AI
K
ST
RE
ET
E
HI
T
RI
VE
R
SI
DE
PE
R
T
TR
EE
AVE
NUE
ET
TR
E
ET
ARCAND DRIVE
ON
T
E
W
ER
ST
N
AV
CK
ST
RE
ET
UE
EN
ND
T
EE
ST
RE
TR
HS
E
ET
C
AR
IK
PAYNE STREET
2,000
Feet
SH
AT
TU
T
ST
RE
E
REET
OR
TH
ENUE
TR
EE
T
DU
TT
ON
T
WIGGIN COUR
ROCK STREET
WE S T
ERN A
V
TS
ST
RE
ET
CO
MM
WILLIE STREET
KE
REET
T
TREET
STREE
ET
STRE
S
COCK
315 Norwood Park South
Norwood, MA 02062
781.255.1982
BETA@BETA-inc.com
ST
RE
E
S
ADAM
1,000
RE
HA
LL
S
LK ST
SUFFO
T
EE
ET
500
T
TREE
0
AD
NE RO
ARLE
ST
T
MA
R
RE
ST
EET
L STR
ER S
WILD
Study Intersection
EET
CK
ER
S
CROS
ST R
CUSHING ST
STR
INAL
MARG
IM
A
CH
T
EE
TR
R
TTE
BU
LD
FIE
O
SCHO
LEGEND
RR
ST
RE
E
ET
FL
NS
AY
ADW
BRO
ME
DY
AV
EN
UE
T
O
RN
LACE
DE R P
S
ER
E
RE
ST
ST
RE
ET
VE
EET
NUE
AVE
EL
BACH
T
UN
TR
T
TREE
CIT S
E
GAG
N
NALA
WAN
W
PA
ET
CK
U
T
ET
RE
T
S
W
BO
SA
LE
M
S
CA
MO
O
ET
ST
RE
DA
NE
MO
T
NS
TO
NG
E
RE
ST
113
ET
RE
ST
BO
TS
AV
E
IS
EL
L
LI
AR
OL
HO
UM
RN
VA
AV
UE
EN
SC
"
)
KI
N
W
OR
TH
EN
NU
E
FO
UR
TH
"
)
NU
E
RO
AD
EN
LL
NE
VF
UE
AV
E
FI
FT
H
AV
EN
U
E
SI
X
TH
AV
EN
D
E
NU
ISLAND STREET
AY
W
GH
HI
OT
H
IR
TH
E
AV
PHEBE AVENUE
ST
CU
UN
RE
T
IV
ST
ET
ER
RE
FO
SI
ET
TY
RD
AV
ST
EN
RE
UE
ET
AV
ON
ST
RE
ET
GERSHOM AVENUE
UE
AV
EN
SE
VE
NT
H
SPARKS STREET
W
VF
MA
MM
T
AV
EN
UE
RE
ET
ET
TRE
TE S
YET
A
F
LA
T
REE
A ST
ALM
EET
STR
TIN
R
A
M
E
RE
ST
CR
AW
IC
OT
T
ST
EET
STR
AW
P
M
CA
E
NU
DR
A
GU
T
T
REE
E
AV
RA
EN
D
GILMORE STREET
ER
Y
K ST
YOR
EW
VI
EM
NEW
KE
HARLEM STREET
FA
R
ET
TRE
EN
JORDAN STREET
OS
ON
LT
DA
C
CAS
AIK
113
LA
³
"
)
T
EE
TR
NS
O
KS
ET
RE
JAC
ST
EX
S
E
DL
MID
T
EE
TR
NS
O
T
PLE
AP
T
EE
TR
RS
E
MM
SU
VFW Highway/Aiken St and
Varnum Ave/Mammoth Rd/
Riverside St/School St
Figure 1
ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Location Map
LOWELL, MA
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
residential areas and ultimately connect to the Town of Dracut. South of VFW Highway, Aiken Street
crosses the Merrimack River via the Oulette Bridge and provides access to industrial and commercial
areas west of the downtown area of Lowell. Lelacheur Park, home of the minor league baseball Lowell
Spinners, is immediately across the bridge on Aiken Street.
The intersection is under traffic signal control with a protected lead phase for left turns from VFW
Highway and a protected lead phase for southbound Aiken Street. Left turns from VFW Highway operate
under the protected phase only, while left turns from Aiken Street southbound operate under
protected/permissive phasing. Pedestrian phases for pedestrians crossing both VFW Highway and Aiken
Street operate concurrently with vehicle phases.
VFW Highway provides two through lanes in each direction in the vicinity of Aiken Street, with turn
lanes for left and right turning vehicles in both directions at Aiken Street. VFW Highway is mediandivided along its entire length. Aiken Street typically provides one lane in each direction, but widens to
provide a left turn lane on the southbound approach. There is a continuous sidewalk along the south side
of VFW Highway in the vicinity of Aiken Street, and continuous sidewalks on both sides of Aiken Street
both north and south of the intersection. Crosswalks are provided across both VFW Highway approaches,
with paved crossings across the grass and landscaped median islands. Crosswalks are also provided across
both Aiken Street approaches. There are pedestrian signals and pushbuttons on all four corners, with
additional pushbuttons in the median on both sides of the intersection; however, these median
pushbuttons appeared to be malfunctioning on the day of the audit.
Land use is primarily commercial along Aiken Street both north and south of VFW Highway. Top Donut
is on the northwest corner of the intersection and has a driveway and parking area that open directly onto
Aiken Street. A portion of what appears to be the parking area for Top Donut is in fact a City-owned
right-of-way for Island Street, which follows an arc path through parking areas and connects to Lakeview
Avenue. Ennel Street connects to Aiken Street across from Island Street/Top Donut. These streets create a
number of conflict points immediately north of the VFW Highway/Aiken Street intersection.
Crash data were obtained from the Lowell Police Department for the period from January 2007 to January
2010. The summary table in the Appendix shows a total of 39 crashes. Three of these crashes were
determined to be outside the area, while another nine were unable to be mapped because of missing
information. The remaining 27 crashes are mapped on the collision diagram included in the Appendix.
Eleven of these 27 mapped crashes were rear-end crashes. Four rear-end crashes occurred on the Aiken
Street northbound approach, three on the Aiken Street southbound approach, three on the VFW Highway
westbound approach, and one on the VFW Highway eastbound approach. There were three angle-type
crashes involving vehicles exiting Top Donut.
The intersection ranks 9th on NMCOG’s Top 100 Crash Intersections in the Northern Middlesex Region,
2006-2008. The intersection also ranked 78th on MassDOT’s statewide list of the Top Crash Intersections
from 2006 to 2008. This ranking is based on the number and severity of crashes in MassDOT’s database
which can be georeferenced to a cluster area around the intersection. This cluster area experienced 69
crashes in the three year period. The ranking is then determined using a weighted system which calculates
the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) rating of the intersection. Fatal crashes are weighted 10
Page 4
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
times and injury crashes are weighted 5 times. 20 of the 69 crashes involved an injury. There were no
fatal crashes in the three year study period.
Manual Turning Movement (MTM) counts were conducted in March 2010 by NMCOG. There are heavy
left turn volumes on VFW Highway in both directions and on Aiken Street southbound. There are 646
through vehicles on Aiken Street southbound in the AM peak hour, which is higher than the number of
through vehicles on either VFW Highway approach (488 westbound, 327 eastbound). A similar pattern
exists in the PM peak hour for Aiken Street northbound, which has 606 through vehicles compared to 375
eastbound and 449 westbound. Complete MTM data are included in the Appendix.
Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street/Mammoth Road/School Street
Varnum Avenue, Riverside Street,
Mammoth Road and School Street
form a 4-way intersection under
traffic signal control. Varnum Avenue
and Riverside Street form a
continuous four lane median-divided
roadway in the vicinity of Mammoth
Road and School Street and are
functionally classified as Urban
Principal Arterials. Riverside Street
intersects Colonial Avenue
approximately 750 feet east of the
intersection, and Colonial Avenue,
Riverside Street and Varnum Avenue
form a continuous four lane arterial
roadway. Riverside Street and
Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street at Mammoth
Varnum Avenue have a northwestRoad/Aiken Street
southeast alignment through the
intersection, but are considered an east-west roadway with Riverside Street forming the eastern leg of the
intersection and Varnum Avenue forming the western leg. Mammoth Road forms the northern leg of the
intersection, and is a City-owned roadway functionally classified as an Urban Minor Arterial. Mammoth
Road provides access to residential areas in Lowell and connects to Dracut and Pelham, NH. School
Street crosses the Merrimack River south of the intersection and provides access to residential and
commercial areas west of the downtown area of Lowell.
The intersection is under traffic signal control with quad left phasing, which provides a lead phase for left
turns in both the east-west and north-south directions. Left turns from all four approaches operate under
protected/permissive phasing. An exclusive pedestrian phase is provided upon pedestrian actuation.
Riverside Street approaches from the east with two through lanes and a left turn lane. Varnum Avenue
approaches from the west and also provides two through lanes and a left turn lane. Varnum Avenue and
Riverside Street are both median-divided. Mammoth Road and School Street typically provide a single
lane of travel in each direction, but both widen to provide a left turn lane at Varnum Avenue and
Page 5
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Riverside Street. Continuous sidewalks are provided on both sides of Mammoth Road, on both sides of
the bridge carrying School Street across the Merrimack River and on the north side of Varnum Avenue
and Riverside Street. There are pedestrian signals and pushbuttons on all four corners of the intersection.
Land use is a mix of residential and commercial along Mammoth Road and School Street. There is a
McDonalds on the northwest corner of the intersection which has driveway access to Mammoth Road and
to Varnum Avenue. The driveway onto Mammoth Road has a significant crash history, and several
vehicles were observed crossing stopped traffic on Mammoth Road southbound to access the southbound
left turn lane or the Mammoth Road northbound through lane.
Crash data were obtained from the Lowell Police Department for the period from January 2007 to
February 2010. The summary table in the Appendix shows a total of 95 crashes. Four of these crashes
were determined to be outside the area, while another 28 were unable to be mapped because of missing
information. The remaining 63 crashes are mapped on the collision diagram included in the Appendix.
Fifteen of these crashes involved left turns with opposing through movements; eight involving a
westbound left turning vehicle and an eastbound through vehicle, and seven involving an eastbound left
turning vehicle and a westbound through vehicle. The high number of angle crashes involving turning
vehicles is likely related to the protected/permissive left turn phasing. Thirteen of the crashes involved the
McDonalds driveway at Mammoth Road. There were three crashes at the intersection involving a
pedestrian and one crash involving a bicycle, with three of these four crashes involving a vehicle traveling
eastbound.
The intersection ranks 2nd on NMCOG’s Top 100 Crash Intersections in the Northern Middlesex Region,
2006-2008, and is also 2nd on MassDOT’s statewide list of the Top Crash Intersections from 2006 to
2008. The MassDOT ranking is based on the number and severity of crashes in MassDOT’s database
which can be georeferenced to a cluster area around the intersection. This cluster area experienced 127
crashes in the three year period. The ranking is then determined using a weighted system which calculates
the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) rating of the intersection. Fatal crashes are weighted 10
times and injury crashes are weighted 5 times. 31 of the 127 crashes involved an injury. There were no
fatal crashes in the three year study period.
Manual Turning Movement (MTM) counts were conducted in March 2010 by NMCOG. There are heavy
left turn volumes on all approaches, with greater than 200 left turns in the AM peak hour on the School
Street northbound approach and the Riverside Avenue westbound approach, and more than 300 left turns
in the PM peak hour on the School Street northbound approach. It was noted during the audit that vehicle
queues on School Street regularly extend across the bridge during the peak hours of traffic and vehicles
queue in two lanes well beyond the available storage for the left turn lane at the study intersection.
Queues extend through the intersection of School Street and Pawtucket Street, which is approximately
1000 feet south of Varnum Avenue and Riverside Street on the southern side of the Merrimack River.
Complete MTM data are included in the Appendix.
Page 6
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Audit Observations
Following a brief introduction to the RSA process and a summary of existing geometry, traffic volumes
and crash information, the audit participants were asked to discuss issues that may affect safety at the
intersections of VFW Highway at Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street at Mammoth
Road/School Street. Audit participants then visited each intersection as a group, at which time they
offered observations on safety concerns and deficiencies. A summary of those major safety considerations
is as follows, summarized by location:
VFW Highway/Aiken Street
•
•
•
•
Traffic Congestion – Audit participants familiar with the intersection operation stated that traffic
congestion is a significant issue during peak periods. Although no specific data were available, it was
noted that long queues develop on the Aiken Street approaches. Specific items discussed that relate
and/or contribute to traffic congestion are as follows:
o
Phase Timings – It was noted during the audit that the time for the Aiken Street
southbound advance phase is not long enough to serve existing vehicle demand. Vehicles
were observed during the audit queued in the southbound left turn lane when the green
time for the phase ended, with the green returning to VFW Highway where there was no
observed demand.
o
Loop Issues – It was also noted that some of the loop detectors at the intersection are not
working properly. As a result, the approaches or lanes with malfunctioning loops are set
to Min Recall, which will serve a minimum green time on that approach in all cycles
even if no vehicles are present. MassDOT District 4 personnel stated that these loops will
be repaired soon as part of planned maintenance.
o
Missing Left Turn Yield on Green (R10-12) sign – There is no sign for the
protected/permissive Aiken Street southbound left turn. This can create a safety issue, as
drivers may think they still have a protected movement when they see the green ball
indication.
Pavement Markings – Pavement markings are faded at the intersection, which decreases visibility of
defined lane use.
Signal visibility – Backplates are missing or damaged on several of the signal heads at the
intersection. Installation of backplates would increase visibility of the signal indications for
approaching vehicles.
Pedestrian Accommodations – There were several items discussed during the audit that relate to
pedestrian accommodation and safety.
Page 7
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
o
Malfunctioning Pedestrian Buttons – Pedestrian buttons were tested during the audit by
audit participants, with most functioning properly except for the pushbuttons in the
median on both VFW Highway approaches, which did not trigger a pedestrian call.
Misaligned median opening and crosswalks on east leg of VFW Highway
•
•
•
o
Median opening doesn’t align with crosswalk – The median opening across both VFW
Highway approaches does not align with the crosswalk on each side. This is more
pronounced on the east leg of the intersection.
o
No handicap ramp at Aiken Street – The wheelchair ramps on the south side of VFW
Highway are apex ramps, where a single ramp serves crosswalks in two directions. The
apex ramp on the southwest corner of the intersection is within the crosswalk crossing
VFW Highway, but does not align at all with the crosswalk crossing Aiken Street. This
ramp in its current condition does not meet ADA requirements, and would create a safety
issue for a wheelchair-bound pedestrian crossing Aiken Street.
Culvert settlement – There is a culvert crossing on the southeast corner of the intersection which has
settled under the roadway, creating a rut across the roadway.
Emergency Preemption – No emergency preemption equipment is provided at the intersection. The
intersection is along a major arterial roadway and controls access from the north to one of the six
bridges crossing the Merrimack River, and as such is a well traveled route for emergency vehicles
bound for either Lowell General Hospital or Saints Medical Center.
Speed Limit signs – The intersection is in a 30 mph speed zone, with a 40 mph speed limit to the west
and a 45 mph speed limit to the east. Speed limit signage in the area is limited and does not
correspond to speed limits and speed zone changes along VFW Highway. District 4 personnel stated
Page 8
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
that updated signage will be installed in the near future, with “Reduced Speed Limit Ahead” signs
installed in addition to standard speed limit signs.
•
•
Trees in median – It was noted that visibility is generally good at the intersection, but that mature
trees in the median may block visibility for approaching vehicles and should be trimmed.
Wayfinding Signs – Wayfinding
signs are installed at the intersection
to alert drivers to historical, cultural
and recreational destinations in the
City of Lowell. Wayfinding signs
are installed either adjacent to or
beyond the stop line, which is too
late to allow drivers to make a
decision about turns and may lead to
unsafe lane changes at the
intersection.
Wayfinding sign on Aiken Street northbound approach
Varnum Avenue/Riverside
Street/Mammoth Road/School Street
•
Traffic Congestion – Audit participants familiar with the intersection operation stated that traffic
congestion is a significant issue during peak periods. Although no specific data were available, it was
noted that queues exceed available storage on all approaches, and are most severe on the School
Street northbound approach, which often backs up over the bridge crossing the Merrimack River and
blocks the School Street/Pawtucket Avenue intersection. Specific items discussed that relate and/or
contribute to traffic congestion are as follows:
o
Phase Timings – It was noted during the audit that the signal was originally designed
with protected phasing for the left turn on the Varnum Avenue and Riverside Street
approaches, but that this was changed to protected/permissive phasing to increase
capacity at the intersection. Given the history of left turn crashes at the intersection, the
trade-off between safety and capacity may need to be revisited by MassDOT.
o
Missing Left Turn Yield on Green (R10-12) sign – There is no sign for the
protected/permissive Riverside Street eastbound left turn. This can create a safety issue,
as drivers may think they still have a protected movement when they see the green ball
indication.
Page 9
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
•
•
•
•
•
Pavement Markings – Pavement markings are faded at the intersection, which decreases visibility of
defined lane use.
Pedestrian Accommodations – There were several items discussed during the audit that relate to
pedestrian accommodation and safety.
o
Fiber optic Pedestrian Signals – Pedestrian heads at this intersection are older, single
section fiber optic heads. Newer LED technology provides increased visibility, and
installation of countdown pedestrian heads would give pedestrians information about
remaining phase time and should reduce the chance of pedestrians being in the
intersections when the pedestrian phase ends.
o
Pedestrian Signs – The sign installed with the pedestrian pushbutton conveys a simple
“Push Button for Walk Signal” message. Newer signage currently in use by MassDOT
gives more information to the pedestrian and can potentially increase pedestrian safety.
o
Right Turns on Red – Right turns on red are currently allowed at the intersection, which
may create a safety issue for pedestrians. A driver making a right turn on red is looking to
his or her left to wait for an acceptable gap, and may accelerate without looking to his or
her right, where a pedestrian may be crossing the intersection. It should be noted that one
of the three pedestrian crashes at the intersection involved a vehicle turning right from
School Street to Riverside Street. Prohibiting right turns on red would reduce capacity of
the intersection approaches where the restriction is in place.
o
Handicap Ramp Alignment – The wheelchair ramps on all four corners of the intersection
are apex ramps, where a single ramp serves crosswalks in two directions. It was noted
during the audit that the ramps do not align with the crosswalks, creating a safety issue. It
appears from a review of site photos that existing ramps meet current ADA requirements
for apex ramps, although this should be verified in the field by qualified personnel.
Signal visibility – Backplates are missing on all of the 5-section signal heads at the intersection.
Installation of backplates would increase visibility of the signal indications for approaching vehicles.
It was also noted that tree branches obscure the pedestrian signal head on the northwest corner of the
intersection. City of Lowell personnel stated that the tree would be trimmed as soon as possible by
City forces.
Sight distance – It was questioned whether adequate sight distance exists for vehicles exiting the
McDonalds driveway onto Mammoth Road. There are shrubs and a wayfinding sign on the west side
of Mammoth Road in advance of the driveway, but it was suggested at the audit that these do not
block visibility of approaching vehicles and that congestion is the primary contributor to the crash
history of this driveway.
Parking – It was suggested that vehicles parking along the west side of Mammoth Road create a
safety hazard for southbound vehicles and for vehicles exiting the McDonalds on the northwest
corner of the intersection. Parking is allowed along this approach north of driveway entrance to TD
Bank, which is immediately north of McDonalds on Mammoth Road. There is a sign restricting
Page 10
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
parking in front of TD Bank, which is where the left turn lane begins. No vehicles were observed
violating the existing parking restrictions on the day of the audit.
•
•
•
•
Emergency Preemption – No emergency preemption equipment is provided at the intersection. The
intersection is along a major arterial roadway and would be along the travel route to Lowell General
Hospital for vehicles traveling to the hospital from virtually all of Lowell to the east.
Wayfinding Signs – Wayfinding signs are installed at the intersection to alert drivers to historical,
cultural and recreational destinations in the City of Lowell. Wayfinding signs are installed either
adjacent to or beyond the stop line, which is too late to allow drivers to make a decision about turns
and may lead to unsafe lane changes at the intersection.
Bicycle accommodations – The lack of bicycle accommodation was noted as a safety issue at the
intersection. Varnum Avenue and Riverside Street have a wider shoulder on either side of the
intersection, but the shoulder narrows to make room for additional turning lanes at the intersection.
MassDOT standards require a minimum 4 foot shoulder for bicycle accommodation.
Guardrail along Riverside Street – Guardrail installed along the south side of Riverside Street has a
buried end immediately adjacent to the curb, which creates a ramp if struck by an errant vehicle. It
was noted during the audit that this guardrail has been struck several times and is not properly
attached, and should be replaced.
Page 11
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, 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
Mid-term
1–3 years
Long-term
>3 years
Costs
Low
Medium
High
<$10,000
$10,001–$50,000
>$50,000
VFW Highway/Aiken Street
The following improvements were suggested by audit participants to improve safety issues associated
with the intersection of VFW Highway and Aiken Street.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Conduct traffic counts and adjust signal phasing/timing. Audit participants observed demand
exceeding existing phase time on the Aiken Street southbound approach, and suggested that green
time should be increased for this phase. Traffic counts should be conducted first and capacity analysis
should be performed to determine the most efficient phasing modifications to the intersection. This is
a short-term, low cost improvement. MassDOT District 4 plans to recalculate yellow and red
clearance times and pedestrian times independent of other phasing improvements at the intersections.
Repair loops. Malfunctioning loop detectors should be replaced and approaches should be set to soft
recall, which would return the green phase to VFW Highway when there are no vehicle detections on
the side street. This is a short-term, low cost improvement that is already planned by MassDOT
District 4 maintenance personnel.
Add R10-12 Left Turn Yield on Green sign. The sign should be added for the Aiken Street
northbound approach, which operates under protected/permissive phasing. This is a short-term, low
cost improvement.
Reapply pavement markings. This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
Repair/replace backplates. Backplates which are currently damaged should be repaired or replaced.
This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Repair/replace (or remove) pedestrian buttons. The pedestrian buttons in the median on both VFW
Highway approaches were malfunctioning on the day of the audit and should be repaired or replaced.
This is a short-term, low cost improvement. MassDOT District 4 personnel stated that if a full
Page 12
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
crossing of VFW Highway can be accommodated within the pedestrian phase time, pedestrian
buttons in the median can be removed.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Align curb cuts with crosswalk. The curb cuts across the median on both VFW Highway approaches
do not clearly align with the crosswalk. It appears that despite this alignment issue, curb cuts meet
ADA requirements. If islands or ramps are to be reconstructed, the project should consider aligning
the crosswalks and median openings more directly, but there is no immediate need for improvement
at this time.
Reconstruct ramp(s) on northeast corner. The handicap access ramp on the northeast corner of the
intersection is an apex ramp but is not in the center of the two crosswalks it serves. This ramp should
be reconstructed to properly align based on ADA requirements, or the corner should be reconstructed
to provide a separate ramp for each crosswalk, if feasible. This is a short-term, medium cost
improvement.
Repair pavement at culvert. A culvert crossing on the southeast corner of the intersection has
experienced pavement settlement, creating a dip in the roadway. The pavement and roadway
subsurface should be excavated and replaced in this area based on MassDOT standards. This is a
short-term, medium cost improvement.
Provide emergency preemption. The intersection controls two arterial streets that provide access to
two of Lowell’s hospitals. Emergency preemption equipment should be added to the intersection so
that emergency vehicles are given the right of way, which may be especially critical during periods of
heavy traffic congestion. This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
Install speed limit and reduced speed ahead signs. Signs should be installed
to clearly identify changes in speed and to warn motorists as they approach
speed zones. This is a short-term, low cost improvement which is already
planned by MassDOT District 4.
Trim trees. Trees in the median on VFW Highway may create a safety issue
by blocking visibility for approaching vehicles, while trees on the eastbound
approach may block signs when in full bloom. Trees should be trimmed to
reduce the potential for trees to affect visibility. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Remove and reset wayfinding signs. Wayfinding signs are located at or beyond the stop line, which
may be too late for drivers to safely make lane and turning movement decisions. It is recommended
that wayfinding signs be removed and reset to the intersection approach, or that additional signs be
added to the intersection approach to allow drivers to make decisions earlier. This is a short-term, low
cost improvement.
Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street/Mammoth Road/School Street
The following improvements were suggested by audit participants to improve safety issues associated
with the intersection of Varnum Avenue, Riverside Street, Mammoth Road and School Street.
Page 13
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Conduct traffic counts and adjust signal phasing/timing. Audit participants stated that queues exceed
available storage on all approaches during peak periods of traffic, and that northbound School Street
queues extend up to 1000 feet over the bridge to the intersection of School Street and Pawtucket
Avenue. Traffic counts should be conducted and capacity analysis should be performed to determine
if improvements can be made to the existing intersection capacity. It was suggested that additional
green time could be given to turning movements during off-peak periods. MassDOT may also want to
consider protected phasing only for left turns from Varnum Avenue and Riverside Street,
understanding that this will likely have an adverse effect on operation for those turning movements.
This is a short-term, low cost improvement. MassDOT District 4 plans to recalculate yellow and red
clearance times and pedestrian times independent of other phasing improvements at the intersections.
Add R10-12 Left Turn Yield on Green sign. This sign are provided on three of four approaches, but is
missing for the eastbound left turn. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Reapply pavement markings. This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
Install backplates. There are backplates on most signal heads at the intersection, except for the 5section heads for the left turn on each approach. These missing backplates should be installed to
improve signal visibility. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Trim tree on southwest corner. The tree on the southwest corner is blocking visibility of the
pedestrian signal. City personnel present at the audit stated that the tree would be trimmed as soon as
possible. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Install LED pedestrian signal heads. All existing fiber optic pedestrian signals should be replaced
with LED signal heads, which provide greater visibility. Although visibility is the primary concern,
MassDOT should also use this opportunity to install countdown pedestrian heads at the intersection.
The countdown heads will provide information on remaining time, which may reduce the possibility
of pedestrians remaining in the intersection after the pedestrian phase has expired.
This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
Replace pedestrian pushbutton sign with newer R10-3e sign. The R10-3e sign gives
additional explanation regarding pedestrian signals, including an explanation of the
countdown time. This can increase pedestrian safety by increasing awareness
regarding use and operation of the pedestrian signal. This is a short-term, low cost
improvement. If non-countdown heads are installed, R10-3b sign should be used
instead.
Install R10-15 “Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians” sign. It was
suggested during the audit that the intersection should have a No Turn on
Red restriction to improve pedestrian safety; however, the impact on capacity
may be too great. If right turns on red are not prohibited, drivers should be
warned of potential conflicts with pedestrians by the installation of an R1015 “Turning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians” sign on the School Street and
Mammoth Road approaches. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Page 14
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
•
•
•
•
•
Review handicap ramp alignment. It was suggested during the audit that handicap ramps on the four
corners of the intersection do not properly align with crosswalks. The alignment of the ramps should
be verified in the field to determine if they meet ADA requirements, and subsequent improvements
should be made if they do not meet requirements. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Provide emergency preemption. The intersection is on a primary route to and from Lowell General
Hospital. Emergency preemption equipment should be added to the intersection so that emergency
vehicles are given the right of way, which may be especially critical during periods of heavy traffic
congestion. This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
Remove and reset wayfinding signs. Wayfinding signs are located at or beyond the stop line, which
may be too late for drivers to safely make lane and turning movement decisions. It is recommended
that wayfinding signs be removed and reset to the intersection approach, or that additional signs be
added to the intersection approach to allow drivers to make decisions earlier. This is a short-term, low
cost improvement.
Enforce No Parking areas. It was suggested that parked vehicles on Mammoth Road contribute to
congestion and restrict visibility for entering vehicles. No vehicles were observed violating existing
parking restrictions on the day of the audit, but this area should be monitored by City of Lowell police
to ensure that vehicles are not parking in illegal and/or unsafe places. This is a short-term
improvement with no cost, except for the cost of potential reduced enforcement elsewhere.
Replace guardrail along Riverside Street. The guardrail along the north side of Riverside Street is a
buried end treatment which can potentially act as a ramp if struck by an errant vehicle. The guardrail
end treatment should be replaced by a tangent end treatment which meets current MassDOT
standards. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Summary of Road Safety Audit
Table 3 summarizes potential recommendations discussed by the audit team. The recommendations are
grouped by location and then 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
City of Lowell would be responsible for implementing the recommended improvement. Improvements
that are already planned by MassDOT District 4 are noted; all other items for which MassDOT is
responsible could potentially be combined with the planned drainage improvement project.
Page 15
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Traffic Congestion
Pavement Markings
Traffic Congestion
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Safety Enhancement
Responsibility
VFW Highway/Aiken Street
Conduct traffic counts and capacity analysis, then
MassDOT
adjust signal phasing/timing.
Reapply pavement markings.
MassDOT
Install Left Turn Yield on Green (R10-12) sign for Aiken
MassDOT
Street southbound.
Repair/Replace pedestrian buttons in the median on
both VFW Highway approaches. Pedestrian buttons in
MassDOT
the median can be removed if pedestrian times support
a full crossing of VFW Highway.
Reconstruct ramp(s) on northeast corner.
Repair dip in pavement at culver crossing on the
southeast corner of the intersection.
Emergency Preemption Install emergency preemption equipment.
Install speed limit and reduced speed ahead signs
Speed Limit signs
based on established speed regulations for VFW
Highway.
Remove and reset wayfinding signs further back on
Wayfinding Signs
intersection approaches. (The City may also consider
installing additional wayfinding signs.)
Replace malfunctioning loops and reset approaches to
Traffic Congestion
soft recall.
Signal Visibility
Repair/replace backplates.
Align median island openings and crosswalks. (This
Pedestrian
should be a low priority improvement that is considered
Accommodations
as part of any planned improvements)
Trim trees in median on both VFW Highway
Trees in median
approaches and on the right side of the eastbound
approach.
Culvert Settlement
Safety Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
High
Short-term
$5,000
Medium
Short-term
$25,000
Medium
Short-term
$500
Medium
Short-term
$2,000
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$15,000
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$25,000
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$15,000
MassDOT
District 4
Medium
Short-term
TBD
City
Medium
Short-term
$4,000
Low
Short-term
$5,000
Low
Short-term
$2,000
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
(Low Priority)
TBD
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
$1,000
MassDOT
District 4
MassDOT
Page 16
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Traffic Congestion
Pavement Markings
Traffic Congestion
Signal Visibility
Signal Visibility
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Safety Enhancement
Responsibility Safety Payoff
Varnum Avenue/Riverside Street/Mammoth Road/School Street
Conduct traffic counts and capacity analysis, then
MassDOT
High
adjust signal phasing/timing.
Reapply pavement markings.
MassDOT
Medium
Install Left Turn Yield on Green (R10-12) sign for all left
MassDOT
Medium
turn signal indications.
Install backplates for 5-section heads.
MassDOT
Medium
Trim tree obscuring pedestrian head on the northwest
City
Medium
corner of the intersection.
Replace pedestrian heads with LED, countdown signal
MassDOT
Medium
heads.
Replace pedestrian pushbutton signs with R10-3e sign.
Install R10-15 “Turning Vehicles Yield To Pedestrians”
sign on Mammoth Road and School Street
approaches.
Emergency Preemption Install emergency preemption equipment.
Remove and reset wayfinding signs further back on
Wayfinding Signs
intersection approaches. (The City may also consider
installing additional wayfinding signs.)
Pedestrian
Review handicap ramp alignment for ADA compliance.
Accommodations
Enforce parking regulations on the Mammoth Road
Parking
approach.
Guardrail along
Replace guardrail buried end with tangent end along
Riverside Street
the south side of Riverside Street.
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Time Frame
Cost
Short-term
$5,000
Short-term
$25,000
Short-term
$2,000
Short-term
$2,000
Short-term
$500
Short-term
$20,000
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$5,000
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$500
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
$15,000
City
Medium
Short-term
$4,000
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
$1,000
City
Low
Short-term
None
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
$5,000
Page 17
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Lowell – VFW Highway / Aiken Street and Varnum Ave /
Mammoth Rd / Riverside St / School St
Meeting Location: Northern Middlesex Council of Government
40 Church Street, Lowell
Wednesday, May 26th, 2010
10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Type of meeting:
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
Review of Site Specific Material
• Crash, Speed & Volume Summaries
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:45 AM
Visit the Site
• Drive to the intersections of VFW Highway / Aiken Street and Varnum Ave /
Mammoth Rd / Riverside St / School St
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:30 AM
Completion of RSA
• Finalize discussion on all areas for improvement
• Discuss potential improvements with pros and cons and record possible
countermeasures
12:00 noon
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
• Before attending the RSA on May 26th, 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—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix D. Speed Regulations
Road Safety Audit—VFW Highway/Aiken Street and Varnum Avenue/ Mammoth Road– Lowell, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix E. Traffic Volume Data
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
TURNING MOVEMENT SUMMARY
ENDING: WED 03/10/2010
------ - -'-
TIME
NORTH BOUND
Ped
Thru
-------------------
Left
EAST BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
2
0
1
0
8
7
7
6
49
70
58
66
---------­
Left
08:15
08:30
08:45
09:00
PM Times
PM Peaks
Factors
28
45
37
28
90
76
73
88
4
5
9
6
23
29
18
15
120
169
141
177
55
38
14
18
93
133
109
132
16
31
55
71
548
674
597
686
243
96
0
96
327
138
24
85
607
125
0
93
467
173
2505
0
2
2
0
11
8
3
4
55
65
65
70
19
12
10
14
0
1
0
0
19
12
10
14
63
78
57
62
27
24
26
38
5
7
4
8
18
18
20
26
158
170
134
136
35
29
24
49
0
0
0
0
27
16
29
26
114
75
143
133
54
66
67
44
605
583
594
624
4
26
255
115
24
82
465
231
2406
1
55
55
260
--------------------------­
54
498
1 1% 10.2%
151
3.1%
1
0.1%
151
587
3.1% 12.0%
598
137
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
0
98
----------------------------­
253
5.2%
48
0.9%
167 1205
3.4% 24.5%
262
5.3%
08:00 07:45 08:15 07:30 07:45 07:30 07:15 07:15 07:45 07:15 07:45 08:15
327
4
32
255
97
1
27
646
137
97
138
85
.50
.72
.91
.89
.25
.76
.75
.73
.91
.69
.89
.90
.0
24
21
23
25
0
0
0
0
28
-----------------------------­
7
0.2%
TOTA
------------------------­
---------------------------­
-------­
Factors
18
25
26
27
WEST BOUND
Right Thru
Ped
3
------­
Hour Total
AM Times
AM Peaks
0
0
0
0
Left
~-----------------
----------------------------­
Hour Total
DAY TOTAL
PERCENTS
18
25
26
27
Left
----~---------------
SOUTH BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
-----------------
07:15
07:30
07:45
08:00
1
File: VFWAikenAM.prn
: Lowell
County:
Site Reference: 000000000001
Site ID: VFWAIKENAM
Location: VFW
at Aiken Street
---------
Page:
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
0
0.0%
191
932
3.8% 18.9%
404
8.2%
08:15 07:30 08:00
488
258
98
.91
.90
.84
.0
.0
.0
4911
100%
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments TURNING MOVEMENT SUMMARY
ENDING: TUE 03/09/2010
Site Reference: 000000000001
Site ID: VFWAIKENPM
Location: VFW at Aiken Street
TIME
NORTH BOUND
Right Thru
Ped
File: VFWAikenPM.prn
City: Lowell
County:
Left
EAST BOUND
Right Thru
Ped
Left
Hour Total
7
4
3
1
15
17:15
17:30
17:45
18:00
3
7
0
3
118
1
0
5
6
150
135
6
4
134
4
4
----------------­
32
16
537
14
6
11
8
7
16
6
6
13
154
144
156
152
3
6
4
4
13
41
606
100
81
78
101
51
51
50
51
13
5
4
4
36
28
29
30
15
360
203
26
123
321
5
6
2
6
93
100
81
79
43
51
56
50
4
2
4
2
34
36
30
25
94
90
28
0.6%
73 1143
1. 5% 23.0%
33
0.7%
9
23
0.5%
WEST BOUND
Right Thru
Ped
88
67
85
81
37
24
43
29
Left
TOTA
1
0
0
0
44
49
32
35
87
93
112
112
17
18
7
15
606
599
597
615
133
1
160
404
57
2417
30
33
37
40
0
1
0
1
34
40
38
31
103
116
106
124
16
17
9
14
634
656
627
640
96
92
143
449
---------------------------------­
19
353
200
12
-----------------------------­
DAY TOTAL
PERCENTS
Left
-------------~---
2
1
2
4
17
SOUTH BOUND
Right Thru
0
7
1
7
-----------------------------­
Hour Total
Ped
-----------------------
------------------­
16:15
16:30
16:45
17:00
Page: 1
34
713
0.7% 14.4%
125
372
140
2
---­ ----­
56
-------------------------------­
403
8.2%
38
0.8%
248
693
5.0% 13.9%
273
5.4%
3
0.0%
303
853
6.0% 17.1%
113
2.2%
AM Times
AM Peaks
Factors
PM Times
PM Peaks
Factors
2557
16:15 16:30 17:15 16:45 16:30 16:30 17:00 1 6:15 16:15 17:00 17:15 17:15 17:15 16:15 17:15 16 15
42
606
19
16
20
375
203
26
130
372
140
2
160
449
57
15
4974
100%
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments
TURNING MOVEMENT SUMMARY
ENDING: WED 03/24/2010
Site Reference: 000000000001
Site ID: MMTHAM1
Location: VFW
at Mammoth Rd
---------------------------
NORTH BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
-------------
Left
EAST BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
12
30
34
46
35
43
53
53
43
56
47
64
0
1
1
2
3
122
184
210
4
08:15
08:30
08:45
09:00
309
580
65
0
2
0
0
32
27
40
54
58
54
50
62
39
26
44
45
0
0
0
0
102
82
49
46
127
134
152
118
22
27
19
19
2
153
224
154
0
------­
---------------­
Times
Peaks
Factors
PM Times
PM Peaks
Factors
99
129
175
177
-----------
10
15
21
19
1
3
1
2
5
0.1%
279
531
87
408
6.9%
364
6.2%
4
588 1111
0.1% 10.0% 18.8%
152
2.6%
15
0.2%
126
144
139
127
23
25
19
12
0
0
2
1
4
4
7
4
158
178
172
148
53
65
57
54
7
24
536
79
3
19
656
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
636
759
832
803
229
3030
0
4
2
2
8
10
9
17
108
114
128
112
27
24
26
23
1
4
2
2
7
12
18
17
141
137
109
159
68
65
56
51
740
722
704
727
8
44
462
100
9
--------------­
- -
54
-----------------­
546
240
2893
-------------------­
68
998
1.1% 16.8%
179
3.0%
12
0.2%
73 1202
1.2% 20.2%
469
7.9%
07:45 08:15 08:15 07:15 07:15 07:45 07:45 07:45 08:00 08:15 07:15 08:15 08:15 08:15 07:15 07:30
244
4
153
224
210
4
372
613
89
8
44
100
9
54
656
536
.50
.70
.90
.82
.50
.91
.86
.82
.50
.64
.93
.92
.56
.75
.92
.89
.0
TOTA
9
7
5
3
-------------------------­
275
4.7%
Left
-------------------------
-------------------~-
Hour Total
AM
AM
62
59
99
89
Left
WEST BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
-------------------------­
---------~~-
Hour Total
DAY TOTAL
PERCENTS
Left
1
0
0
2
-----------------
SOUTH BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
----------------------------
07:15
07:30
07:45
08:00
1
File: VFWMammothAM.prn
City: Lowell
County:
----------------
TIME
Page:
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
5923
100%
Northern Middlesex Council of Governments TURNING MOVEMENT SUMMARY
ENDING: THU 03/11/2010
Site Reference: 000000000001
Site ID:
(UNDEFINED
Location: VFW
at Mammoth Rd
File: VFWMammothPM.prn
City: Lowell
County:
-------------­
-------~~-----
TIME
-----­
NORTH BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
-
Left
EAST BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
2
0
1
3
46
45
37
49
6
177
401
320
2
2
2
2
0
43
38
43
35
96
95
103
82
78
88
83
48
0
1
0
0
6
159
376
96
106
98
101
70
86
80
84
17:15
17:30
17:45
18:00
0
1
1
0
58
53
44
33
--------------­
Hour Total
-----­
- - - -­
1
297
617
336
777
5.5% 12.7% 10.1%
3
0.1%
Left
188
608
146
5
61
351
32
42
32
15
143
157
133
87
36
35
32
22
1
2
2
2
15
23
17
12
73
77
79
92
121
520
125
7
26
26
32
24
28
31
30
25
143
125
140
136
47
50
58
33
108
12
114
544
188
3231
18
20
17
19
2
1
0
0
29
26
26
23
131
159
181
89
44
51
40
38
743
817
790
564
74
3
104
560
173
-
-
--------------­
309 1128
5.1% 18.4%
271
4.5%
12
0.2%
321
------------­
672
182
128
2.0% 10.9% 2.9%
849
804
800
778
------­
-------­
2914
---------­
15
0.2%
218 1104
3.5% 17.9%
361
5.8%
Times
Peaks
Factors
AM
AM
PM Times
PM Peaks
Factors
TOT!>
5
2
4
1
-----------------------­
67
Left
-------------­
91
79
84
97
43
30
32
41
-
0
3
1
1
13
16
14
18
181
151
144
132
-------------­
12
0.2%
---------­
WEST BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
--------------­
------------------------­
-------­
Hour Total
DAY TOTAL
PERCENTS
Left
SOUTH BOUND
Ped
Right Thru
--------------­
16:15
16:30
16:45
17:00
Page: 1
17:00 16:15 16:15 17:00 16:00 16:15 16:15 16:15 17:15 17:00 16:15 16:15 16:15 16:30 17:00 16:15
9
177
401
333
2
188
146
7
73
351
108
12
115
607
188
608
6145
100%