ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Canal Street
City of Salem
July 2013
Prepared for:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
38 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................. 3 Project Data................................................................................................................................. 3 Project Location Description ..................................................................................................... 6 Road Safety Audit Observations and Potential Enhancements ...........................................11
Location A: Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street .................................................................. 12 Safety Issue #1. Signal Timing and Phasing ..................................................................................... 12 Safety Issue #2. Signal Indications .................................................................................................... 14 Safety Issue #3. Intersection Geometry ............................................................................................. 16 Safety Issue #4. Access Management ............................................................................................... 18 Safety Issue #5. Signage .................................................................................................................... 19 Safety Issue #6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................... 21 Location B: Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue/ Kimball Road .................................... 23 Safety Issue #1. Access Management ............................................................................................... 23 Safety Issue #2. Signal Timing and Phasing ..................................................................................... 26 Safety Issue #3. Sight Distance and Visibility .................................................................................. 27 Safety Issue #4. Pavement Markings................................................................................................. 29 Safety Issue #5. Signage .................................................................................................................... 30 Safety Issue #6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ............................................................... 31 Safety Issue #7. MBTA Bus Stop...................................................................................................... 32 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 33 List of Appendices
Appendix A. Appendix B. Appendix C. RSA Meeting Agenda RSA Audit Team Contact List Detailed Crash Data List of Figures
Figure 1. Figure 2. Figure 3. Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 4
Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street (Route 114) ....................................................... 8 Canal Street/Loring Avenue (Route 1A)/Jefferson Avenue/Kimball Road ........................... 9 Page 1
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
List of Tables
Table 1. Table 2. Table 3. Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 5 Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location A ................................................. 34 Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location B .................................................. 38 Page 2
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Background
The intersection of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street is listed as #69 of the statewide Top 200
High-Crash Locations in 2010, with an Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) of 132. The
combination of the intersection and its surrounding area is also listed as a high pedestrian crash location,
with an EPDO of 106. The combined intersections of Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue and
Canal Street/Kimball Road were listed as High Crash Locations within the Metropolitan Area Planning
Council (MAPC) with an EPDO of 51. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has
determined that Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding would be allowed for
reconstruction of these locations if a Road Safety Audit (RSA) were conducted and a proposed design
incorporated the safety improvements identified in the RSA. The intersections currently lie within a
proposed project (#605146) that is at the 25% Design stage with MassDOT. The project is listed on the
2014 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), and construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of
2014.
Canal Street is a major north-south corridor through the City of Salem. Salem State University is located
on the east side of Canal Street in the vicinity of the intersection of Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson
Avenue. Salem’s downtown area is located just north of the intersection of Canal Street/Mill
Street/Washington Street. Team members noted that Canal Street sees a significant amount of tourist
traffic, particularly in October, and that these motorists are typically unfamiliar with Canal Street and the
other area roadways, which could result in confusion.
In general, an RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and
included as part of the design process for a future reconstruction project. The short-term, low-cost
potential improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for immediate implementation
prior to reconstruction, as appropriate. The RSA study area is illustrated in Figure 1.
Project Data
The audit team conducted an RSA for the intersections of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street and
Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue/Kimball Road on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. The RSA
agenda appears in Appendix A. Table 1 lists the audit team members and their affiliations. Appendix B
provides contact information for all team members.
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Canal Street, Salem, MA
Figure 1.
Locus Map
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
David Knowlton
Robert Preczewski
David W. Cody
John Pelletier
Jessica Silveri
Chenyuan Wang
Stacey Beuttell
Dennis Flynn
John Schoenfeld
Sara Timoner
Robert Kimungu
Lisa Juan
Allyson Wheelwright
Corey O’Connor
Lisa Schletzbaum
Joe SanClemente
Mike Tremblay
Agency/Affiliation
Salem City Engineer
Salem Police Department
Salem Fire Department
Mass in Motion
Mass in Motion
Boston Region MPO
WalkBoston
AECOM
AECOM
MassDOT District 4 Traffic
MassDOT, Highway Division
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section Intern
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section Intern
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the audit team reviewed collision
diagrams and a crash detail summary for the intersections of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street,
Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue, and Canal Street/Kimball Road based only on Salem
Police Department crash records supplied by the Salem Police Department and retrieved from the
Registry of Motor Vehicles.
From 2010-2012, 47 crashes were reported through the Salem Police Department at the intersection of
Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street. Of those crashes, 29 (or 62%) were angle-type crashes, six
(13%) were single-vehicle crashes, five (11%) were sideswipe crashes, three (6%) were rear-end crashes,
and three (6%) were head-on crashes. One (2%) was recorded as “unknown”; however, it involved one
vehicle that hit a pedestrian. Twenty-four crashes (51%) occurred during the daylight hours, 18 (38%)
occurred in dark but lighted roadway conditions, four (9%) occurred at dusk, and one (2%) had
unreported light conditions, but occurred at 6:17 p.m. in late October. Most of the crashes (30, or 64%)
occurred on dry pavement, while 16 (34%) occurred on wet pavement and one (2%) had an unreported
roadway surface. Eleven (23%) of the crashes resulted in personal injury, including four crashes (9%)
that involved a pedestrian.
From 2010-2012, 44 crashes were reported through the Salem Police Department at the intersection of
Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue. Of the 44 reported crashes, 19 (or 43%) were angle-type
crashes. Thirteen crashes (30%) were rear-end crashes, six (14%) were sideswipe crashes, five (11%)
were single-vehicle crashes, and 1 (2%) was a head-on crash. Thirty (68%) of the crashes occurred
during the day, 12 (27%) occurred at night, and two (3%) occurred at dawn or dusk. Thirty (68%) of the
crashes occurred on dry pavement, and 14 (32%) occurred on wet pavement. Of the 44 crashes, 13 (30%)
resulted in personal injury. A high percentage of motorists (48%) involved in the 47 crashes at the
intersection were between the ages of 15-29.
The intersection of Canal Street/Kimball Road experienced seven crashes from 2010-2012. Four of the
seven crashes (57%) were angle-type crashes, and the remaining three crashes were a single vehicle crash,
a rear-end crash, and a head-on crash. Six (86%) of the crashes occurred during the day on dry pavement,
and one occurred at night on wet pavement. Three (43%) of the seven crashes at the intersection resulted
in personal injury.
Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the intersection.
Project Location Description
The RSA focused on three intersections along Canal Street.
Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street (Route 114) is a signalized intersection with four
approaches. The Mill Street eastbound approach consists of a left-turn lane, a through lane, and a rightturn lane. The Washington Street westbound approach consists of a shared left-turn/through lane and a
channelized right-turn lane. The Canal Street northbound approach consists of a left-turn lane and a
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
shared through/right-turn lane. The Washington Street southbound approach consists of an exclusive leftturn lane, a through lane, and an exclusive right-turn lane. Pedestrian sidewalks, ramps, crosswalks, and
pedestrian indications are provided at the intersection. The pavement and pavement markings are in fair
condition. There are no marked bicycle accommodations at the intersection. An aerial image for the
intersection of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street is shown in Figure 2.
Canal Street/Loring Avenue (Route 1A)/Jefferson Avenue is a signalized intersection with four
approaches. The intersection is divided into two parts: the intersection of Canal Street/Loring Avenue
and the intersection of Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue. Loring Avenue intersects Canal Street
approximately 200 feet north of Jefferson Avenue. Loring Avenue intersects Canal Street from the
northeast at an oblique angle. A channelized right-turn lane between Canal Street and Jefferson Avenue
westbound is provided at the intersection, which may also be accessed from the Loring Avenue
westbound “through” lane. The intersection of Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue is a T-intersection; the
channelized right-turn lane from Canal Street to Jefferson Avenue westbound does not impact this area of
the intersection. These two intersections together operate on two separate traffic signal systems running
on the same controller.
The Jefferson Avenue eastbound approach consists of a left-turn lane and a stop-controlled channelized
right-turn lane. The Loring Avenue westbound approach consists of a left-turn lane to Loring Avenue
southbound, a through lane, which accesses the channelized turn lane to Jefferson Avenue westbound,
and a yield-controlled channelized right-turn lane to Canal Street northbound. The Loring Avenue
northbound approach consists of a left-turn lane, a through lane to Canal Street northbound, and a rightturn lane to Loring Avenue eastbound. The Canal Street southbound approach consists of a through lane
and an exclusive right-turn lane to Jefferson Avenue westbound that is controlled by the traffic signal but
is yield-controlled at the merging point. Left-turns from Canal Street southbound onto Loring Avenue
eastbound are not permitted.
Canal Street/Kimball Road is an unsignalized intersection with three approaches. The Kimball Road
eastbound approach consists of a single travel lane. The Canal Street northbound approach northbound
approach consists of one travel lane, and the Canal Street southbound approach consists of one travel
lane. Canal Street southbound becomes wide enough for two travel lanes in the vicinity of Kimball Road;
however, the roadway is not striped for two lanes until approximately 200 feet south of Kimball Road, in
the vicinity of the AutoZone driveway.
Since the intersection of Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue is located just 500 feet south of
the intersection of Canal Street/Kimball Road, this report will discuss them as a single intersection.
These intersections are shown in Figure 3.
These intersections are the junctions of the following roadways, which are categorized according to
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning functional classifications:
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Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Jefferson Avenue/Kimball Road
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Canal Street is classified by MassDOT as an urban major arterial and falls under the City of Salem’s
jurisdiction. Canal Street is a north-south roadway that runs between its intersection with Washington
Street/Mill Street to the north and Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue to the south. Canal Street generally
consists of one wide lane in each direction. Between the study area intersections, the pavement on Canal
Street is in very poor condition. Sidewalks are provided along the east side of Canal Street and are
provided along the west side in most locations.
Mill Street is classified as an urban major arterial and falls under the City of Salem’s jurisdiction. Mill
Street is a short, 250-foot roadway that runs east-west between Margin Street to the west and Canal Street
to the east. Mill Street consists of three travel lanes in the eastbound direction and one travel lane in the
westbound direction. Sidewalks are provided on both sides of Mill Street.
Washington Street (Route 114) is classified as an urban principal arterial and falls under the City of
Salem’s jurisdiction within the study area. Washington Street runs north-south between Bridge Street to
the north and Mill Street to the south, then runs northwest-southeast between Canal Street to the
northwest and Lafayette Street to the southeast. Washington Street generally consists of one travel lane in
each direction, but widens up to four travel lanes at intersections. Sidewalks are provided along both
sides of Washington Street.
Loring Avenue (Route 1A) is classified as an urban principal arterial and falls under MassDOT
jurisdiction within the study area. Loring Avenue runs northeast-southwest between Lafayette Street to
the northeast and Essex Street on the Swampscott Town Line to the southwest. Loring Avenue generally
consists of one travel lane in each direction. On-street parking is provided on Loring Avenue in the
vicinity of its intersection with Canal Street/Jefferson Avenue. Sidewalks are provided along both sides
of Loring Avenue. Loring Avenue is a primary roadway that runs through Salem State University, and
sees significant pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
Jefferson Avenue is classified as an urban minor arterial and falls under the City of Salem’s jurisdiction.
Jefferson Avenue runs northeast-southwest between Margin Street to the northeast and Dove Avenue to
the southwest, then runs northwest-southeast from Dove Avenue to Loring Avenue. Jefferson Avenue
generally consists of one travel lane in each direction. Sidewalks are provided along both sides of
Jefferson Avenue.
Kimball Road is classified as a local roadway under the City of Salem’s jurisdiction. Kimball Road is a
300-foot roadway that runs east-west between Canal Street to the east and Bertini Lane to the west.
Kimball Road consists of a single travel lane in each direction. The roadway is defined by solid white
pavement markings; there are no vertical curbs or landscaping that would define the edge of the roadway.
Sidewalks are not provided on Kimball Road.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit Observations and
Potential Enhancements
Based on RSA team discussions on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, the RSA team determined that the
intersections of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street and Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson
Avenue/Kimball Road have the following issues that affect safety:
Location A: Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Signal Timing and Phasing;
Signal Indications;
Intersection Geometry;
Access Management;
Signage; and
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations.
Location B: Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue/Kimball Road
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Access Management;
Signal Timing and Phasing;
Sight distance and Visibility;
Pavement Markings;
Signage;
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations; and
MBTA Bus Stop.
The following sections describe in more detail the safety issues and enhancements determined during the
RSA. Several of these issues require further study and engineering judgment to determine the feasibility
of implementing enhancements to address them.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location A: Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street
Safety Issue #1. Signal Timing and Phasing
Observations:
Of the 47 crashes that occurred at the intersection of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street, 22 (or 47%) involved left-turning vehicles from either Canal Street northbound or Washington Street southbound. Most of these crashes, particularly
those involving Canal Street northbound left-
turning vehicles, were the result of motorist failure to yield right-of-way. The traffic signal phasing at the intersection
currently provides a leading left-turn phase for
Washington Street southbound has
Washington Street southbound, followed by
protected-permissive left-turn
permitted left-turn phasing for Canal Street
operations.
northbound and Washington Street southbound,
and then a lagging protected left-turn phase for Canal Street northbound. The protected phasing
was recently added, about one year ago, according to a team member. Team members noted that
the alignment of the Canal Street northbound and Washington Street southbound approaches
combined with the positioning of the median islands along Canal Street, which extend too far into
the intersection, preclude the ability to allow for concurrent protected left-turn phasing.
While the Canal Street protected left-turn phase may have improved safety at the intersection to
some degree, it has created a “left-turn trap”, where a left-turning vehicle, after seeing the light
change to yellow for both the turning movement and the through movement, incorrectly assumes
opposing traffic is also being stopped. This may have been the best temporary solution that did
not require geometric widening or realignment, which would be necessary to provide a dual
northbound/southbound left-turn phase. Meanwhile, left-turns occurring during the permissive
phase require motorists to judge an adequate gap across two oncoming lanes of traffic.
RSA team members also noted that the exclusive pedestrian phase at the intersection is not on
recall and often requires that pedestrians wait a significant amount of time before receiving a
walk signal. During the audit, team members reported waiting for over two minutes before
receiving the walk signal. It was also reported that there is insufficient pedestrian clearance time
to cross an entire leg of the intersection, and that pedestrians are likely expected to wait in the
median refuge islands. As a result of the long wait time and the limited amount of crossing time,
pedestrian compliance to the pedestrian walk signals is low. Four crashes involving pedestrians
were reported at the intersection from 2010-2012. The intersection, and the central business
district to the north of the intersection, is classified as a High Pedestrian Crash Cluster.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Public safety officials attending the RSA stated that the intersection is not equipped with
emergency vehicle preemption.
Enhancements:
1. Evaluate the feasibility of switching to protected-only left-turn phasing for Canal Street
northbound and Washington Street southbound to prevent the occurrence of angle type
crashes. Consider whether existing queue storage would be sufficient to accommodate
this phasing change in the short-term or as part of long-term reconstruction efforts.
2. Consider a dual left-turn phase for the Canal Street northbound and Washington Street
southbound left-turns as part of long-term reconstruction efforts to eliminate the “leftturn trap” caused by the leading/lagging left-turn phases. Take into consideration vehicle
turning paths, particularly for heavy vehicles, and the effect of geometric modifications,
if needed, on pedestrian clearance time requirements, and refuge areas.
3. Consider updating the signal equipment in the short-term to allow for flashing yellow left
arrow operations during the permissive left-turn phases for Canal Street northbound and
Washington Street southbound to help reduce the occurrence of angle type crashes.
4. Equip the intersection with emergency preemption capabilities to allow emergency
responders to move quickly through the intersection.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #2. Signal Indications
Observations:
RSA team members noted that all of the signal
indications are hung from a span between the
northeast and southwest corners of the intersection.
During the audit, team members observed that some
of the signal indications were twisted and were not
facing the appropriate lane. It was also noted that leftturning vehicles wait for a gap in traffic in the middle
of the intersection and can no longer see their own
signal indication. The visibility of signal indications
on Washington Street westbound, Canal Street
northbound, and Washington Street southbound is
Signal indications at Canal Street
northbound are blocked or are not
blocked by guide signage in the medians. Lack of
facing the appropriate lane.
visibility can contribute to “failure to yield right-of
way” crashes, and adds to confusion in and
approaching the intersection. One crash reportedly occurred because a motorist’s view was
obstructed.
On the Washington Street westbound approach, there are two signal indications facing the
Washington Street westbound left-turn/through lane, both of which are mounted on the span wire.
RSA team members also noted that backplates are missing from some of the signal indications at
the intersection. One crash was reportedly caused by solar glare.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Enhancements:
1. To increase visibility of signal indications, adjust the signal indications so that they are
facing the appropriate lane. Monitor and maintain signal indications to ensure that signal
indications are visible when approaching the intersection.
2. Consider replacing the span wire configuration of the signal indications with mast armmounted and post-mounted signal indications to increase visibility for all motorists,
including those waiting in the intersection to make a left turn.
3. In the short-term, reinforce the Washington Street westbound shared left-turn/through
lane using diagrammic pavement markings to indicate that there is only one Washington
Street westbound through lane.
4. In the longer term, remove the middle signal indication facing the Washington Street
westbound approach and replace with a post-mounted signal at the far side of the
intersection to increase visibility of the signal indication.
5. To reduce the effects of glare, ensure that all signal indications, particularly on the Mill
Street eastbound and Washington Street westbound approaches, are equipped with
retroreflective backplates and visors.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #3. Intersection Geometry
Observations:
Due to the horizontal curvature of Canal Street and the
length of the Canal Street northbound left-turn storage
lane, the queue on the Canal Street northbound
through/right-turn lane can sometimes block the
adjacent left-turn lane. This can create longer queues,
as vehicles intending to enter the left-turn lane must
wait for the through lane queue to clear. It can also
cause motorists to cross the centerline to enter the leftturn lane. One hit-and-run sideswipe crash involved a
Canal Street northbound vehicle that sideswiped a
Canal Street southbound vehicle.
The horizontal curve along Canal Street and
The medians along all of the approaches extend about
the length of the northbound left-turn storage
one car length past the crosswalk. This may cause
lane cause vehicles to cross or stop on the
centerline.
some motorists to believe that it is permitted to stop
ahead of the crosswalk, since they are protected from
oncoming traffic by the median. RSA team members discussed whether this caused sightline issues
between opposing traffic. The length of the medians also causes vehicles, especially heavy vehicles, to
make sweeping left turns, which may prevent an exclusive two-way left-turn phase from being
implemented.
RSA team members observed that all of the approaches to the intersection of Canal Street/Mill
Street/Washington Street, except for the Washington Street westbound approach, are located on inclines.
This may impact motorists’ sightlines of oncoming traffic, which may have been a factor in some of the
angle crashes reported at the intersection. The inclines also make it difficult for cyclists to maintain their
speed when approaching the intersection.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Enhancements:
1. Consider extending the white lane line between the Canal Street northbound left-turn lane
and the adjacent through/right-turn lane to allow for more left-turn storage at the
intersection. If necessary and feasible, shift the double yellow centerline west to extend
the left-turn storage length.
2. Consider the safety benefits of shortening the median along all approaches to discourage
motorists from waiting ahead of the stop line and to facilitate dual left-turn phasing.
Consider the impacts on pedestrian comfort and safety.
3. Consider reconstructing the intersection to remove the vertical curve as part of long-term
planning efforts to improve sight lines of motor vehicles turning at the intersection. Also
consider an intersection control change, such as a multilane roundabout, which would not
require lowering the intersection and would reduce the severity of all crashes at the
intersection. Note that the intersection was converted from a rotary to a signalized
intersection within the last 20 years. The multi-lane roundabout should be analyzed
operationally to confirm its feasibility.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Safety Issue #4. Access Management
Observations:
RSA team members noted that Sammy’s Roast Beef, located on the east side of Canal Street approximately 150 feet south of the intersection, has a large driveway with no vertical separation between the parking lot and Canal Street.
Motorists must turn directly from Canal Street in order to access many of the parking spaces at Sammy’s Roast Beef. To exit these spaces, motorists must back out into queuing traffic on Canal Street. One crash involved a vehicle exiting Sammy’s Roast Beef that did not yield the right-of-way to Canal Street traffic.
There is no vertical separation between
the Sammy’s Roast Beef parking lot and
Canal Street northbound.
Enhancements:
1. Work with the owner of Sammy’s Roast Beef to define one or two driveways into and/or
out of the Sammy’s Roast Beef parking lot. Consider the impact on parking at Sammy’s
Roast Beef.
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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Safety Issue #5. Signage
Observations:
RSA team members noted that the lane use signage provided along Canal Street northbound is poorly
located. A “Left Lane Must Turn Left” (R3-7L) sign is posted on a post in the median, below a “Keep Right” (R4-7c) sign. It is unlikely that a motorist would see the “Left Lane Must Turn Left” sign until after the motorist entered the queue for the left-turn lane. There is no advanced lane use signage along the Canal Street northbound approach. A “Right Lane Must Turn Right” sign is posted along Washington Street westbound; however, one sideswipe crash occurred when a Washington Street westbound vehicle suddenly switched from the leftturn/through lane to the right-turn lane. The only lane use signage on the
Canal Street northbound approach to
the intersection is located in the
median, just 25 feet ahead of the stop
line. “Left Turn Yield on Green”
signage on the span wire is askew.
Signal indications along the Washington Street
westbound, Canal Street northbound, and Washington Street southbound approach are blocked by
guide signage in the median. This can cause confusion and unexpected vehicle behavior.
Guide signage is provided at the intersection, but there is very little advance guide signage along
the approaches to the intersection. This may cause confusion and sudden, unexpected maneuvers
as vehicles approach the intersection once they realize they are in the incorrect lane. Team
members also noted that street name signage is often not provided or not visible from certain
approaches. For example, street name signage for Canal Street is provided on the east side of the
intersection, but it is difficult to see this signage from the Washington Street westbound approach.
RSA team members also noted that there is
some nonstandard signage at the intersection.
For example, the Washington Street westbound
approach has a “Caution Dangerous
Intersection” sign posted below a guide sign.
This signage does not improve intersection
safety but causes motorist confusion and draws
motorist attention from more important
information, such as lane use signage or signal
indications.
Nonstandard signage increases sign clutter
and can draw attention away from other
information.
RSA team members observed that “Left Turn
Yield on Green” (R10-12) signage posted on the
span wire is twisted and no longer faces the
appropriate direction. It was also noted that this
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Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
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signage is not posted for the Mill Street eastbound left-turn lane. The “Left Turn Yield on Green”
sign, when posted clearly, may reduce the number of crashes involving left-turning vehicles.
Team members also noted that there are no “Keep Right (R4-7c)” signs on some of the median
islands at the intersection. Two crashes involved vehicles colliding with the Washington Street
westbound median.
Enhancements:
1. Ensure that adequate lane use signage is posted in clear locations along all approaches to
reduce confusion and the occurrence of sideswipe crashes.
2. Relocate any guide signage within the medians to improve motorist visibility of signal
indications.
3. Remove all nonstandard signage to reduce confusion and sign clutter.
4. Provide advance guide signage along each approach to allow motorists to move into the
correct lane before arriving at the intersection.
5. Evaluate the location of street name signage. If not provided or visible from all
approaches, provide additional street name signage for added clarity at the intersection.
6. Adjust “Left Turn Yield on Green” signage so that it is facing the appropriate direction.
Post a “Left Turn Yield on Green” sign facing the Mill Street eastbound approach.
Evaluate the necessity for these signs if signal equipment is upgraded to allow for
flashing yellow left arrow operations during permissive left-turn phases.
7. Provide “Keep Right” (R4-7c) signage at median islands when traffic is to travel to the
right of a curbed median, and provide diamond object markers where traffic may travel
on either side of a median.
Page 20
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Observations:
As discussed in Safety Issue 1: Signal Timing and Phasing, pedestrians are expected to cross the
intersection using an exclusive pedestrian phase, which must be called using push buttons. During the
audit, RSA team members observed that the pedestrian clearance time is not sufficient for a pedestrian to
cross an entire leg of the intersection, but they instead must wait in a median refuge for the pedestrian
phase to recur. RSA team members reported that it took as long as two minutes for the pedestrian phase
to appear; this means a pedestrian who wishes to cross to the opposite corner of the intersection may need
to wait eight total minutes. As such, RSA team members observed that pedestrians, and cyclists riding
along the sidewalks, did not wait for the pedestrian phase, but instead waited for opposing traffic to
receive a red light before crossing.
While push buttons are provided at the intersection, they do not comply with current Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. At least one of the push buttons was damaged.
As previously mentioned, the intersection and the Central Business District north of the intersection are
classified as a High Pedestrian Crash Cluster. Four crashes involving pedestrians occurred at the
intersection from 2010-2012.
There are no bicycle accommodations at the
intersection. An RSA team member that cycles in
Salem stated that he generally avoids the intersection.
Team members observed cyclists riding on the
sidewalks and crossing using pedestrian crosswalks.
One crash involved a cyclist who was turning left from
Mill Street eastbound onto Washington Street
northbound, and was hit by a right-turning vehicle
from Washington Street westbound.
A cyclist crosses the Mill Street eastbound
approach in the crosswalk, concurrently
with Washington Street southbound through
traffic.
As mentioned in Safety Issue #3: Intersection
Geometry, the inclines along three of the four
approaches make it difficult for cyclists to maintain
speed through the intersection, which increases the
amount of time a cyclist is vulnerable in the
intersection.
RSA team members also noted that there are no crosswalks provided between Mill Street and Derby
Street to the north of the intersection. The segment experiences a high level of pedestrian traffic and is
located within the High Pedestrian Crash Cluster.
Page 21
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. Increase pedestrian clearance times so that pedestrians may cross an entire leg of the
intersection without needing to wait in a refuge island.
2. Consider implementing concurrent pedestrian crossings, where possible, to increase
pedestrian convenience. If possible, allow for concurrent crossings across all intersection
approaches so that the exclusive pedestrian phase may be removed from the signal cycle
entirely, which would decrease overall delay for all users of the intersection.
3. In the short term, repair all damaged pedestrian push-buttons.
4. In the longer term, replace pedestrian push buttons with ADA-compliant equipment.
5. Identify locations where bicycle facilities, such as bike boxes, bicycle lanes, and shared
lane markings, can be added. Prioritize bike lane placement on inclines to create
climbing lanes, which allow cyclists to travel more comfortably while allowing fastermoving vehicles to pass.
6. Consider increasing the all-red time at the intersection to allow cyclists to safely clear the
intersection.
7. To increase pedestrian access and safety to the north of the intersection, consider
providing a mid-block crossing across Washington Street between Mill Street and Derby
Street.
Page 22
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Location B: Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue/
Kimball Road
Safety Issue #1. Access Management
Observations
Several businesses are located along the Canal
Street southbound approach, including a CVS
Pharmacy, AutoZone, and Loring Liquor. The
driveways to these businesses are located
within the queuing area for the Canal Street
southbound approach, where queuing vehicles
form two lanes. At each of these locations, at
least one “courtesy crash” occurred between
2010-2012. A “courtesy crash” is classified as
a crash where an uninvolved vehicle in a queue
lane, contrary to the rules of the road, allows a
vehicle to enter or exit a driveway or side street
The “Don’t Block the Box” area at the
and the entering vehicle is hit by a vehicle in
CVS/AutoZone driveway invites courtesy
the adjacent queue lane. Five such crashes
crashes and has a low compliance rate.
involved vehicles turning into the
CVS/AutoZone driveway, one involved a vehicle turning left out of the CVS/AutoZone
driveway, and two involved vehicles traveling across Canal Street between the CVS/AutoZone
driveway and the Loring Liquors driveway. Four of these crashes resulted in personal injury.
When the CVS opened in 2012, a painted box with a crosshatch was installed at their driveway on
Canal Street to discourage queued vehicles on Canal Street from blocking the CVS/AutoZone
driveway. RSA team members observed that this painted area was not effective, as motorists
tended to ignore it, but when it is effective, it is likely that it actually invites these “courtesy
crashes” by encouraging Canal Street vehicles to stop ahead of the driveway. It does not prevent
or discourage adjacent traffic from traveling through the box if there is room closer to the
intersection, and the stopped vehicle in the adjacent lane likely obscures sightlines for both
vehicles that would be involved in a crash. A “No Left Turn 3-6 PM” sign is posted at the exit to
the CVS/AutoZone driveway, but left turns are not prohibited when entering the driveway, which
is how many of these crashes occurred.
A similar situation occurs at Omega Pizza, located at 101 Loring Avenue, just south of the
intersection. At this location, vehicles turning left into or out of Omega Pizza must cross three
lanes of queued traffic. Two “courtesy crashes” occurred at the Omega Pizza driveway; both
involved vehicles turning left out of the driveway.
Page 23
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Bertini’s Restaurant has no formal
driveway, and parking spaces are only
accessible from the roadway (right).
Vehicles are instructed to form two lanes
just south of Kimball Road (inset).
At the intersection of Canal Street/Kimball
Road, four “courtesy crashes” occurred
involving vehicles turning into Kimball Road or
the adjacent Bertini’s Restaurant at 286 Canal
Street. Team members stated that the Canal
Street southbound queue from the intersection
of Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson
Avenue sometimes backs up as far as Kimball
Road in the p.m. peak hour. Three of the four
crashes occurred on weekdays between 4:00
p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Two of the four crashes
resulted in personal injury. While the roadway
is not marked for two lanes until approximately
200 feet south of Kimball Road, an advance
lane use sign is posted just south of Kimball
Road. It is likely that vehicles form two lanes
north of Kimball Road at peak periods.
The entrance to Bertini’s Restaurant has no clearly defined entrance and/or exit driveway, but
instead is flush with Kimball Road and Canal Street with no curbing or formal sidewalk. Most, if
not all of the parking at Bertini’s Restaurant requires entrance from either Kimball Road or Canal
Street, and requires backing into the roadway to exit. The lack of a formalized driveway also
increases the likelihood of courtesy crashes, since queuing vehicles are less likely to expect a
vehicle to be cutting through the queue.
Page 24
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. Consider restricting left turns into and out of commercial driveways within the queuing
area of the intersection of Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue in the short-term
to help reduce the occurrence of courtesy crashes. Consider the use of flexible stanchions
along the centerline of the roadway and overhead signage to reinforce the left-turn
restriction.
2. To reduce the occurrence of courtesy crashes in the short-term, consider narrowing the
Canal Street southbound approach so that vehicles cannot begin queuing in two lanes
until they are south of the CVS/AutoZone driveway.
3. As part of long-term planning efforts, consider constructing a raised median to divide
directions of travel on the Loring Avenue northbound and Canal Street southbound
approaches, to prevent “courtesy crashes” if other short-term measures remain
unsuccessful. Consider the impact on emergency vehicles that may use the
CVS/AutoZone driveway and the ability to provide adequate bicycle accommodation and
sidewalk width should a median be installed.
4. Work with the owner of Bertini’s Restaurant to formalize driveways and sidewalks using
vertical curbing to increase safety and clarity. Consider the impact on parking at
Bertini’s Restaurant.
Page 25
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #2. Signal Timing and Phasing
Observations:
RSA team members stated that, according to regular users of the intersection, the intersection does not operate efficiently. The intersection, though divided into two parts, operates on the same controller. The all-red time appears to be significantly longer than a standard intersection due to the time and distance necessary to travel through the intersection. It was also noted that the Loring Avenue
northbound right-turn movement onto Loring
The intersection is made up of two
Avenue eastbound has no apparent conflicts
signal systems on the same controller.
(aside from pedestrian crossings), but still
receives a red light with the adjacent through
lane. It is not apparent as to whether it is legal to turn right on red at this bear-right turn.
Thirteen of the 44 crashes reported at the intersection were rear-end crashes, which may be the
result of driver frustration due to inefficient signal timing.
Enhancements:
1. Confirm that the vehicle clearance time is necessary for the design speed and length of
the intersection. Reduce the clearance intervals if possible to improve intersection
efficiency.
2. Identify phases that can run without conflict, such as the Loring Avenue northbound
right-turn movements, and consider allowing their signal to rest on green unless a
pedestrian phase is called. Consider impacts to pedestrian comfort and safety as well as
sight distance around the inside of the curve. If considered unsafe, “No Turn on Red”
signage should be provided.
3. In order to improve intersection efficiency, explore alternate control methods, such as
running the two intersections on separate but coordinated signal systems.
Page 26
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #3. Sight Distance and Visibility
Observations:
RSA team members observed that vehicles traveling along Canal Street southbound do not slow significantly when entering the channelized right-turn lane to Jefferson Avenue westbound due to the large radius of the channelized right-turn lane. Team members noted that this may pose a threat to pedestrians crossing the right-turn lane at Jefferson Avenue, since vehicles cannot immediately see the crosswalk around the curve and fence. Team members also noted that the sight
Trees obscure the sightlines of signals on
distance around the Loring Avenue northbound
the Loring Avenue northbound approach.
right-turn lane onto Loring Avenue eastbound is
somewhat obscured by vegetation and homes on the inside of the curve. Trees block the visibility
of the easternmost Loring Avenue northbound signal indications at both Jefferson Avenue and
Canal Street.
RSA team members observed that the vegetation in the pedestrian refuge island adjacent to the
channelized right-turn lane between Loring Avenue westbound and Canal Street northbound is
somewhat high, and may obscure pedestrians or oncoming vehicles from the view of motorists.
Team members noted that children are common at the intersection due to its proximity to the
Greenhouse School, located approximately 0.2 miles south of the intersection, and the Horace
Mann Public Laboratory School, located along Loring Avenue about 0.3 miles northeast of the
intersection. College students are also common at the intersection due to its proximity to Salem
State University.
Similarly, team members also observed that new plantings near the Eastern Bank along the inside
of the channelized right-turn lane may obstruct sightlines between vehicles making a southbound
right turn and those exiting the Eastern Bank/Tedeschi parking lot onto Jefferson Avenue.
Page 27
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. Consider providing pedestrian warning signage (W11-2) ahead of the channelized rightturn lane from Canal Street southbound to Jefferson Street westbound to improve
pedestrian safety at the crosswalk.
2. As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider removing the channelized right-turn
lane altogether and forcing Canal Street right-turning vehicles to turn right at the
Jefferson Avenue signal to improve pedestrian comfort and safety. Consider the need for
additional Loring Avenue southbound lanes between the existing channelized right-turn
lane and Jefferson Avenue.
3. Evaluate the safety benefits of cutting back vegetation along the inside of the horizontal
curve along the east side of Loring Avenue for increased visibility.
4. Trim trees that are blocking existing Loring Avenue northbound right-turn signal indications. 5. Trim the vegetation in the pedestrian refuge island between Loring Avenue and Canal
Street and inside the curve along the Jefferson Avenue channelized right-turn lane.
6. Provide education to elementary and Salem State University students about the use of
crosswalks at the intersection.
Page 28
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #4. Pavement Markings
Observations:
RSA team members noted that pavement markings are generally in poor condition throughout the intersection, particularly on Loring Avenue northbound. Some longitudinal pavement markings are missing entirely, which creates some confusion about lane use. It was stated that, given the unusual geometry of the intersection, lane lines should be extended through intersections using broken white lines. A team member observed that it is not clear that there
There are no longitudinal guide lines
is only one Canal Street southbound departure lane.
through the intersection, and it is not
clear that the channelized right-turn
It appears that both Canal Street southbound and the
lane to Jefferson Avenue and Canal
Canal Street southbound channelized right-turn lane
Street southbound consist of only one
to Jefferson Avenue westbound may be wide enough
travel lane each.
for two travel lanes, which may confuse southbound
traffic. The awkward geometry combined with the lack of pavement markings results in a “pinch
point” making it difficult for two vehicles to travel side-by-side without entering each other’s
lane or conflicting with Loring Avenue northbound traffic. One sideswipe crash occurred
between vehicles traveling along Canal Street southbound, which may have occurred due to the
lack of pavement markings channelizing the two lanes of traffic toward their destination.
Enhancements:
1. Replace all pavement markings with retroreflective thermoplastic for increased visibility
and clarity.
2. Continue longitudinal pavement markings along Loring Avenue northbound and Canal
Street southbound through the intersection using dotted white and yellow lane line
extensions so that lane use is clear. These pavement markings should guide vehicles in
the Canal Street southbound right-turn lane towards the channelized right-turn and should
guide vehicles in the through lane along Canal Street southbound.
Page 29
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #5. Signage
Observations:
RSA team members noted that there is very little lane use or guide signage at or near the intersection. This may cause confusion among motorists, especially
given the unusual geometry of the intersection. It was also noted that there is a lack of street name signage at
the intersection. A team member noted that, with so
many motorists using GPS to navigate their route, motorists tend to look for street names and route numbers and not landmarks when they are navigating.
Team members noted that there is no “No Turn on
Red” sign provided along Canal Street southbound.
Signage is blocked by trees at various
approaches to the intersection.
Canal Street southbound right turns on red conflict
with Loring Avenue eastbound “through” movements toward the Jefferson Avenue channelized
right-turn lane. Confusion as to whether right turns on red are permitted on Canal Street
southbound may have contributed to five of the rear-end crashes at the intersection.
Team members also noted that some signage is blocked by trees along the edges of the roadway,
and that the “No Left Turn” sign along Canal Street southbound is faded.
Enhancements:
1. Ensure that adequate guide signage and lane use signage are installed both in advance of
the intersection and at the intersection to guide motorists through the intersection. Guide
signage for Loring Avenue should also include a diagram for Route 1A.
2. Install street name signage on all approaches to the intersection. Place street name
signage for Loring Avenue in an easy-to-see location, so that Loring Avenue northbound
vehicles know that they must turn right to stay on Loring Avenue.
3. Provide “No Turn on Red” (R10-11b) signage at the Canal Street southbound approach to
the intersection to reduce driver confusion and the occurrence of rear-end crashes along
the approach.
4. Trim all trees that are blocking signs along the approaches to the intersection for
increased clarity.
5. Replace any damaged or faded signage for increased motorist awareness. In particular,
replace the “No Left Turn” (R3-2) sign along Canal Street southbound. Consider the use
of a larger sign for added visibility.
Page 30
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #6. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Observations:
Pedestrian sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks are provided in most locations. However, as mentioned in Safety Issue 4: Pavement Markings, a crosswalk is not provided across the Loring Avenue northbound approach. Team members observed that pedestrians often did not wait for the pedestrian phase before crossing a roadway. A pedestrian was involved in a crash in the vicinity of the Loring Avenue northbound stop bar after attempting to run across the street. The Loring Avenue northbound
approach does not have a crosswalk.
RSA team members also noted that, while the
timing of the exclusive pedestrian phase appears to be sufficient at most locations, it does not
appear to be sufficient to cross both Loring Avenue and Canal Street using the pedestrian refuge
island. A pedestrian push button is provided within the refuge island.
As discussed in Safety Issue #3: Sight Distance and Visibility, vehicles approach the channelized
right-turn lane to Jefferson Avenue at high speeds due to its large radius. Sightlines of the
crosswalk across the channelized right-turn lane at Jefferson Avenue are obscured by the adjacent
fence. Motorists may not expect pedestrians to be crossing the channelized right-turn lane
because there are no signs to indicate that there is a crosswalk ahead.
There are no marked bicycle facilities in the vicinity of the intersection. The area sees significant
bicycle activity due to its proximity to Salem State University to the east. The Marblehead Rail
Trail, which runs through Salem State University, crosses Loring Avenue using a crosswalk
before terminating at Canal Street.
Enhancements:
1. Consider providing a crosswalk, curb ramps, and pedestrian signals at the Loring Avenue
northbound approach to the intersection. Consider the impacts on the clearance time for
vehicles traveling through the intersection.
2. To increase pedestrian comfort and encourage pedestrian compliance with the pedestrian
signals, provide additional pedestrian clearance time during the exclusive pedestrian
phase so that a pedestrian may cross both Loring Avenue and Canal Street using the
pedestrian refuge island without having to cross in two stages.
3. Consider providing concurrent pedestrian phases where already possible under the
current signal phasing for improved pedestrian service. Consider phasing changes that
would allow concurrent crossings at all crosswalks, so that the pedestrian phase can be
removed, which would decrease delay for all users of the intersection.Consider providing
Page 31
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
bicycle facilities, such as bicycle lanes, bike boxes, and shared lane markings, at the
intersection where possible to encourage bicycle travel and make bicycle travel more safe
and comfortable. Provide bicycle connections from the Marblehead Rail Trail on Canal
Street and/or Loring Avenue.
Safety Issue #7. MBTA Bus Stop
Observations:
An MBTA bus stop (Routes 455 and 459) is located within a large island between Loring Avenue, Jefferson Avenue, and the channelized right-turn lane between Canal Street southbound and Jefferson Avenue westbound. The bus stop does not appear to have sufficient length or width; however, Loring Avenue is wide enough that traffic can pass the bus when it is stopped without interruption. Team members stated that the #455
and #459 buses run relatively infrequently, and any interruptions caused by the bus stop are likely
minor. A bus stop is located within a large
island between the two traffic signals
along Loring Avenue southbound.
An RSA team member noted that the lack of
crosswalk and pedestrian signal on the Loring Avenue northbound approach may cause
pedestrians to take risks crossing the street if they see their bus arriving at the bus stop.
Enhancements:
1. Determine whether additional length and/or width within the designated MBTA bus stop
would be beneficial to traffic flow along Loring Avenue.
2. Determine whether the bus stop should be placed in a location either north or south of the
intersection, rather than between the two traffic signals.
Page 32
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Recommendations
Based on its review of data, on-site field observations and group discussion, the RSA team identified
the following possible enhancements that could improve safety at the intersections of Canal
Street/Mill Street/Washington Street and Canal Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue/Kimball
Road. Further study and design work will need to be conducted to determine the feasibility of
making some of the improvements.
Table 2 summarizes the safety issues, possible enhancements, estimated safety payoff, time frame,
cost, and responsibility. Safety payoff estimates are based on engineering judgment and are
categorized as low, medium, and high. The time frame is categorized as short-term (<1 year), midterm (1 to 3 years), or long-term (typically >3 years). Long-term improvements are typically
considered to be substantial improvements with an expected time frame for implementation greater
than 3 years. The costs are categorized as low (<$10,000), medium ($10,001 to $50,000), or high
(>$50,000).
Short-term enhancements include, but are not limited to:

Improve signal efficiency by changing signal timing and phasing;

Remove obstructions from sightlines of signs and signal indications;

Provide appropriately located guide signage, lane use signage, and street name signage;

Restrict left turns out of the AutoZone/CVS driveway and the Omega Pizza driveway; and

Restripe longitudinal pavement markings.
To enhance the safety of the corridor, the long-term enhancements are to:

Alter the geometry of Canal Street/Mill Street/Washington Street to allow for a dual Canal Street
northbound/Washington Street southbound left-turn phase;

Define commercial driveways using vertical curb and sidewalks;

Prevent left turns out of AutoZone/CVS and/or Omega Pizza by constructing a median;

Update signals with new equipment;

Provide bicycle accommodations.
The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and included as
part of the design process for a reconstruction project. The short-term, low-cost potential
improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for immediate implementation, as
appropriate.
Page 33
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location A
Safety Issue
Signal Timing and
Phasing
Safety Enhancement
In the short term, to prevent crashes involving left-turning
vehicles and opposing through vehicles, evaluate the
feasibility of switching to protected-only left-turn phasing for
Canal Street northbound and Washington Street southbound.
Evaluate whether existing queue storage would be sufficient
to accommodate this phasing change.
Consider a dual left-turn phase for the Canal Street
northbound and Washington Street southbound left-turns as
part of long-term reconstruction efforts to eliminate the “leftturn trap” caused by the leading/lagging left-turn phases.
Take into consideration vehicle turning paths, particularly for
heavy vehicles, and the effect of geometric modifications, if
needed, on pedestrian clearance time requirements, and
refuge areas.
Consider updating the signal equipment in the short-term to
allow for flashing yellow left arrow operations during the
permissive left-turn phases for Canal Street northbound and
Washington Street southbound to help reduce the occurrence
of angle type crashes.
Equip the intersection with emergency preemption
capabilities to allow emergency responders to move quickly
through the intersection.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
High
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
High
Mid-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Page 34
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location A (continued)
Safety Issue
Signal Indications
Intersection
Geometry
Safety Enhancement
To increase visibility of signal indications, adjust the signal
indications so that they are facing the appropriate lane.
Monitor and maintain signal indications to ensure that signal
indications are visible when approaching the intersection.
Consider replacing the span wire configuration of the signal
indications with mast arm-mounted and post-mounted signal
indications to increase visibility for all motorists, including
those waiting in the intersection to make a left turn.
Relocate signage that may obstruct an approaching
motorist’s view of a signal indication.
In the short-term, reinforce the Washington Street westbound
shared left-turn/through lane using diagrammic pavement
markings to indicate that there is only one Washington Street
westbound through lane.
In the longer term, remove the middle signal indication facing
the Washington Street westbound approach and replace with
a post-mounted signal at the far side of the intersection to
increase visibility of the signal indication.
To reduce the effects of glare, ensure that all signal
indications, particularly on the Mill Street eastbound and
Washington Street westbound approaches, are equipped with
retroreflective backplates and visors.
Consider extending the white lane line between the Canal
Street northbound left-turn lane and the adjacent
through/right-turn lane to allow for more left-turn storage at
the intersection. If necessary and feasible, shift the double
yellow centerline west to extend the left-turn storage length.
Consider the safety benefits of shortening the median along
all approaches to discourage motorists from waiting ahead of
the stop line and to facilitate dual left-turn phasing. Consider
the impacts on pedestrian comfort and safety.
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Long-term
High
City of Salem
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Long-term
Medium
City of Salem
Page 35
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location A (continued)
Safety Issue
Intersection
Geometry
Access
Management
Signage
Safety Enhancement
Consider reconstructing the intersection to remove the vertical
curve as part of long-term planning efforts to improve sight lines
of motor vehicles turning at the intersection. Also consider an
intersection control change, such as a multilane roundabout,
which would not require lowering the intersection and would
reduce the severity of all crashes at the intersection. Note that
the intersection was converted from a rotary to a signalized
intersection within the last 20 years. The multi-lane roundabout
should be analyzed operationally to confirm its feasibility.
Work with the owner of Sammy’s Roast Beef to define one or
two driveways into and/or out of the Sammy’s Roast Beef
parking lot. Consider the impact on parking at Sammy’s Roast
Beef.
Ensure that adequate lane use signage is posted in clear
locations along all approaches to reduce confusion and the
occurrence of sideswipe crashes.
Relocate any guide signage within the medians to improve
motorist visibility of signal indications.
Remove all nonstandard signage to reduce confusion and sign
clutter.
Provide advance guide signage along each approach to allow
motorists to move into the correct lane before arriving at the
intersection.
Evaluate the location of street name signage. If not provided or
visible from all approaches, provide additional street name
signage for added clarity at the intersection.
Adjust “Left Turn Yield on Green” signage so that it is facing the
appropriate direction. Post a “Left Turn Yield on Green” sign
facing the Mill Street eastbound approach. Evaluate the
necessity for these signs if signal equipment is upgraded to
allow for flashing yellow left arrow operations during permissive
left-turn phases.
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Long-term
High
City of Salem
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
City of
Salem/Sammy’s
Roast Beef
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Page 36
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location A (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Provide “Keep Right” (R4-7c) signage at median islands when
traffic is to travel to the right of a curbed median, and provide
Signage
diamond object markers where traffic may travel on either side
of a median.
Increase pedestrian clearance times so that pedestrians may
cross an entire leg of the intersection without needing to wait in
a refuge island.
Consider implementing concurrent pedestrian crossings, where
possible, to increase pedestrian convenience. If possible, allow
for concurrent crossings across all intersection approaches so
that the exclusive pedestrian phase may be removed from the
signal cycle entirely, which would decrease overall delay for
users of the intersection.
In the short term, repair all damaged pedestrian push-buttons.
Pedestrian and
In the longer term, replace pedestrian push buttons with ADABicycle
compliant equipment.
Accommodations
Identify locations where bicycle facilities, such as bike boxes,
bicycle lanes, and shared lane markings, can be added.
Prioritize bike lane placement on inclines to create climbing
lanes, which allow cyclists to travel more comfortably while
allowing faster-moving vehicles to pass.
Consider increasing the all-red time at the intersection to allow
cyclists to safely clear the intersection.
To increase pedestrian access and safety to the north of the
intersection, consider providing a mid-block crossing across
Washington Street between Mill Street and Derby Street.
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
City of Salem
Medium
Mid-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Low
Short-term
Low
City of Salem
Page 37
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 3. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location B
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Consider restricting left turns into and out of commercial
driveways within the queuing area of the intersection of Canal
Street/Loring Avenue/Jefferson Avenue in the short-term to help
Low
Short-term
reduce the occurrence of courtesy crashes. Consider the use of
flexible stanchions along the centerline of the roadway and
overhead signage to reinforce the left-turn restriction.
To reduce the occurrence of courtesy crashes without installing
a raised median, consider narrowing the Canal Street
southbound approach to the intersection so that vehicles cannot
High
Long-term
begin queuing in two lanes until they are south of the
CVS/AutoZone driveway.
Access
As part of long-term planning efforts, consider constructing a
Management
raised median to divide directions of travel on the Loring Avenue
northbound and Canal Street southbound approaches to prevent
“courtesy crashes” if other short-term measures remain
Medium
Long-term
unsuccessful. Consider the impact on emergency vehicles that
may use the CVS/AutoZone driveway and the ability to provide
adequate bicycle accommodation and sidewalk width should a
median be installed.
Work with the owner of Bertini’s Restaurant to formalize
driveways and sidewalks using vertical curbing to increase
Medium
Mid-term
safety and clarity. Consider the impact on parking at Bertini’s
Restaurant.
Confirm that the vehicle clearance time is necessary for the
design speed and length of the intersection. Reduce the
Low
Short-term
clearance intervals if possible to improve intersection efficiency.
Signal Timing and Identify phases that can run without conflict, such as the Loring
Avenue northbound right-turn movements, and consider allowing
Phasing
their signal to rest on green unless a pedestrian phase is called.
Medium
Short-term
Consider impacts to pedestrian comfort and safety as well as
sight distance around the inside of the curve. If considered
unsafe, “No Turn on Red” signage should be provided.
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
MassDOT/City of
Salem/Abutters
Medium
MassDOT/City of
Salem
Medium
MassDOT/City of
Salem
Medium
MassDOT/City of
Salem/Bertini’s
Low
MassDOT
Low
MassDOT
Page 38
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 3. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location B (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
In order to improve intersection efficiency, explore alternate
Signal Timing and
control methods, such as running the two intersections on
Phasing
separate but coordinated signal systems.
Consider providing pedestrian warning signage (W11-2) ahead
of the channelized right-turn lane from Canal Street southbound
to Jefferson Street westbound to improve pedestrian safety at
the crosswalk.
As part of long-term reconstruction efforts, consider removing
the channelized right-turn lane altogether and forcing Canal
Street right-turning vehicles to turn right at the Jefferson Avenue
signal to improve pedestrian comfort and safety. Consider the
need for additional Loring Avenue southbound lanes between
the existing channelized right-turn lane and Jefferson Avenue.
Sight Distance
Evaluate the safety benefits of cutting back vegetation along the
and Visibility
inside of the horizontal curve along the east side of Loring
Avenue for increased visibility.
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Medium
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT/Abutters
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Provide education to elementary and Salem State University
students about the use of crosswalks at the intersection.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Replace all pavement markings with retroreflective thermoplastic
for increased visibility and clarity.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Trim trees that are blocking existing Loring Avenue northbound
right-turn signal indications.
Trim the vegetation in the pedestrian refuge island between
Loring Avenue and Canal Street and inside the curve along the
Jefferson Avenue channelized right-turn lane.
Pavement
Markings
Page 39
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 3. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location B (continued)
Safety Issue
Pavement
Markings
Signage
Safety Enhancement
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Continue longitudinal pavement markings along Loring Avenue
northbound and Canal Street southbound through the
intersection using dotted white and yellow lane line extensions
so that lane use is clear. These pavement markings should
Medium
Short-term
guide vehicles in the Canal Street southbound right-turn lane
towards the channelized right-turn and should guide vehicles in
the through lane along Canal Street southbound.
In order to improve intersection efficiency, explore alternate
control methods, such as running the two intersections on
Medium
Mid-term
separate but coordinated signal systems.
Ensure that adequate guide signage and lane use signage are
installed both in advance of the intersection and at the
intersection to guide motorists through the intersection. Guide
Low
Short-term
signage for Loring Avenue should also include a diagram for
Route 1A.
Install street name signage on all approaches to the intersection.
Place street name signage for Loring Avenue in an easy-to-see
Low
Short-term
location, so that Loring Avenue northbound vehicles know that
they must turn right to stay on Loring Avenue.
Provide “No Turn on Red” (R10-11b) signage at the Canal Street
southbound approach to the intersection to reduce driver
Low
Short-term
confusion and reduce the occurrence of rear-end crashes along
the approach.
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
MassDOT
Low
MassDOT
Low
MassDOT
Low
MassDOT
Low
MassDOT
Page 40
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 3. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements – Location B (continued)
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Trim all trees that are blocking signs along the approaches to
the intersection for increased clarity.
Replace any damaged or faded signage for increased motorist
awareness. In particular, replace the “No Left Turn” (R3-2) sign
along Canal Street southbound. Consider the use of a larger
sign for added visibility.
As previously mentioned, consider providing a crosswalk, curb
ramps, and pedestrian signals at the Loring Avenue northbound
approach to the intersection. Consider the impacts on the
clearance time for vehicles traveling through the intersection.
To increase pedestrian comfort and encourage pedestrian
compliance with the pedestrian signals, provide additional
pedestrian clearance time during the exclusive pedestrian phase
so that a pedestrian may cross both Loring Avenue and Canal
Pedestrian and
Street using the pedestrian refuge island without having to cross
Bicycle
in two stages.
Accommodations
As previously mentioned, consider removing the channelized
right-turn lane between Canal Street southbound and Jefferson
Avenue westbound for improved pedestrian safety.
Consider providing bicycle facilities, such as bicycle lanes, bike
boxes, and shared lane markings, at the intersection where
possible to encourage bicycle travel and make bicycle travel
more safe and comfortable. Provide bicycle connections from
the Marblehead Rail Trail on Canal Street and/or Loring Avenue.
Determine whether additional length and/or width within the
designated MBTA bus stop would be beneficial to traffic flow
along Loring Avenue.
MBTA Bus Stop
Determine whether the bus stop should be placed in a location
either north or south of the intersection, rather than between the
two traffic signals.
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Low
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT/MBTA
Low
Long-term
Low
MassDOT/MBTA
Signage
Page 41
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Meeting Location: Salem Police Department
95 Margin Street, Salem, MA
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Type of meeting:
High Crash Locations – Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
9:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
9:15 AM
Discussion of Safety Issues
• Crash Diagrams, Summaries, and Trends – provided in advance
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:15 AM
Site Visit
• Drive to the intersections of Canal/Mill/Washington, and Canal/Jefferson/Loring
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:00 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
• Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
• Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
12:00 noon
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
• Before attending the RSA on July 17th, participants are encouraged to drive/walk
through the intersections and complete/consider elements on the RSA Prompt List
with a focus on safety.
• All participants will be actively involved in the process throughout. Participants
are encouraged to come with thoughts and ideas, but are reminded that the
synergy that develops and respect for others’ opinions are key elements to the
success of the overall RSA process.
• After the RSA meeting, participants will be asked to comment and respond to the
document materials to assure it is reflective of the RSA completed by the
multidisciplinary team.
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Location: Salem Police Department, 85 Margin Street, Salem, MA
Audit Team Members
Agency/Affiliation
E-mail Address
Phone Number
David Knowlton
Salem City Engineer
dknowlton@salem.com
978-619-5673
Robert Preczewski
Salem Police Department
rpreczewski@salempd.net
978-744-0171 x115
David W. Cody
Salem Fire Department
dcody@salem.com
978-244-6990
John Pelletier
Mass in Motion
jpelletier@salem.com
978-619-5604
Jessica Silveri
Mass in Motion
Jessica.silveri@gmail.com
734-775-0658
Chenyuan Wang
Boston Region MPO
cwang@ctps.org
617-973-8009
Stacey Beuttell
WalkBoston
sbeuttell@walkboston.org
617-367-9255
Dennis Flynn
AECOM
dennis.flynn@aecom.com
978-905-2204
John Schoenfeld
AECOM
john.schoenfeld@aecom.com
978-905-2385
Sara Timoner
MassDOT District 4 Traffic
sara.timoner@dot.state.ma.us
781-641-8435
Robert Kimungu
MassDOT, Highway Division
Robert.kimungu@state.ma.us
857-368-9344
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
Lisa Juan
lisa.juan@state.ma.us
Intern
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
Allyson Wheelwright
Allyson.wheelwright@state.ma.us
Intern
Corey O’Connor
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
corey.oconnor@state.ma.us
857-368-9638
Lisa Schletzbaum
MassDOT, Highway Division Safety Section
lisa.schletzbaum@state.ma.us
857 368-9634
Joe SanClemente
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
jsanclemente@hshassoc.com
617-348-3334
Mike Tremblay
Howard/Stein-Hudson (HSH)
mtremblay@hshassoc.com
617-348-3347
Road Safety Audit
Canal Street, Salem, MA
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data Crash Data Summary Table
Mill St, Washington St, and Canal St Intersection Salem, MA
2010, 2011 , 2012
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
2
3
Crash
Crash Day
Date
m/d/y
Sunday
1/3/10
Tuesday
1/19/10
Monday
2/1/10
Time of Day
11
12
5/8/10
5/9/10
Saturday
Sunday
1:10 AM
7:34 PM
13
14
15
16
17
18
6/19/10
7/26/10
8/3/10
8/6/10
8/20/10
9/10/10
Saturday
Monday
Tuesday
Friday
Friday
Friday
10:30 PM
1:17 PM
3:30 AM
6:00 PM
2:58 PM
9:12 AM
Manner of Collision Light Condition
Type
Type
Head on
Daylight
Rear-end
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Dark - lighted
Angle
roadway
Dark - lighted
Head on
roadway
Single Vehicle Crash
Dusk
Rear-end
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Dark - lighted
Angle
roadway
Angle
Dusk
Dark - lighted
roadway
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Head on
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Angle
Daylight
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
19
20
21
22
23
9/15/10
9/17/10
10/7/10
10/15/10
11/22/10
Wednesday
Friday
Thursday
Friday
Monday
8:57 AM
9:31 AM
4:42 PM
5:52 PM
11:34 AM
Angle
Angle
direction
Angle
Angle
24
11/26/10
Friday
5:40 PM
Angle
25
26
11/27/10
12/23/10
Saturday
Thursday
6:20 PM
3:41 PM
Angle
Angle
27
2/18/11
Friday
12:27 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
28
2/22/11
Tuesday
6:52 PM
29
4/4/11
Monday
12:50 PM
Angle
Sideswipe, opposite
direction
30
4/7/11
Thursday
8:47 AM
Rear-end
31
32
33
34
35
4/20/11
5/7/11
5/18/11
8/15/11
8/25/11
Wednesday
Saturday
Wednesday
Monday
Thursday
8:53 PM
5:44 PM
7:11 PM
7:05 AM
4:52 PM
Angle
Angle
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Angle
36
9/16/11
Friday
11:30 PM
Angle
37
10/2/11
Sunday
2:11 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
1:15 PM
2:56 PM
4:14 PM
4
2/14/10
Sunday
12:09 AM
5
6
7
8
9
10
3/14/10
3/23/10
3/25/10
4/3/10
4/16/10
4/23/10
Sunday
Tuesday
Thursday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
7:31 PM
6:45 PM
6:31 AM
4:05 PM
6:22 PM
9:35 AM
Weather
Condition
Type
Clear
Snow
Clear
Road
Driver Contributing Code
Surface
Type
Type
Wet
Failed to yield right of way
Wet
No Improper Driving
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
Clear
Dry
Rain
Rain
Clear
Clear
Rain
Cloudy
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
D1
Comments
Ages
D2 D3
28
39
34
55
21
28
Failed to yield right of way
21
22
No Improper Driving
Unknown
Followed too closely
Unknown
Other improper action
Inattention
17
33
30
39
31
49
75
22
36
54
29
48
Clear
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
23
27
26
16
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Visibility Obstructed
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
Glare
27
58
50
44
84
18
54
34
40
34
30
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dusk
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - lighted
roadway
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Rain
Cloudy
Dry
Wet
Dry
Wet
Dry
No Improper Driving
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
No Improper Driving
Failed to yield right of way
84
27
36
56
22
24
55
37
17
29
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
30
53
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
19
unk
19
18
Clear
Wet
No Improper Driving
Unknown
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
Clear
Dry
Unknown
23
24
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dusk
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - lighted
roadway
Rain
Wet
No Improper Driving
63
46
Cloudy
Dry
Fog, Smog,
Dry
Smoke
Cloudy
Wet
Fog, Smog, Smo Wet
Rain
Wet
Clear
Dry
No Improper Driving
44
60
No Improper Driving
Unknown
Unknown
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
19
28
21
52
55
46
18
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
26
53
Cloudy
Wet
Unknown
22
34
Both vehicles claimed they had green light
Angle crash but noted as Single Vehicle Crash
47
Vehicle 1 turned right from right lane, vehicle 2 turned right from left and hit 1
42
Both vehicles claimed to have green light, collided in canal/washington/mill
intersection
Collision in intersection due to lack of visibility
Vehicle turning left did not yield
Vehicle 1 exited Sammy's and didn't yield to traffic
Operator was blinded by the sun
The Southbound left turning vehicle saw an uninvolved Northbound vehicle
waiting to turn left, he thought it was ok to turn left
Vehicle in through lane tried to switch lanes last minute to make right turn
Pedestrian was under the influence
Vehicles both claim the other ran red light.
Vehicle 1 attempted to turn right onto Washington, ran off road and collided
with pedestrian light on island
Both vehicles stated they had the green signal
Vehicle 2 rear ended vehicle 1, who stopped for a cyclist, while making left onto
Mill St from Canal St.
Wet roads, fog conditions and driver slams on brakes and skids into Pedestrian.
28
61
Southbound through vehicle was a motorcycle
Operator of vehicle traveling north on Canal St. fell asleep, crossed double
yellow line and hit a tree on side of road.
Crash Data Summary Table
Mill St, Washington St, and Canal St Intersection Salem, MA
2010, 2011 , 2012
Crash Crash
Crash Day
Diagram Date
m/d/y
Ref #
Time of Day
Manner of Collision
Type
Light Condition
Type
38
10/29/11
Saturday
6:17 PM
Unknown
39
12/6/11
Tuesday
9:10 PM
Angle
40
12/7/11
Wednesday
6:16 PM
41
42
3/6/12
7/11/12
Tuesday
Wednesday
9:09 PM
7:00 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Sideswipe, opposite
direction
Single Vehicle Crash
43
7/20/12
Friday
10:28 PM
Angle
44
45
8/19/12
10/6/12
Sunday
Saturday
10:07 PM
8:54 AM
Rear-end
direction
46
11/11/12
Sunday
7:28 PM
Angle
Unknown
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark, unknown
roadway lighting
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted
roadway
47
12/1/12
Saturday
9:56 AM
Angle
Daylight
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Salem Police Department
Weather
Condition
Type
Road
Surface
Type
Driver Contributing Code
Type
D1
Comments
Ages
D2 D3
Unknown
Unknown No Improper Driving
41
Rain
Wet
40
22
Rain
Wet
70
52
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
Failure to keep in proper lane or
running off road
Failed to yield right of way
Pedestrian, under the influence, crossed street and was hit by eastbound
vehicle
Vehicle 2 failed to yeild to vehicle 1 while turning left ono washington st. from
washington st.
Vehicle went through intersection, hit pedestrian standing in crosswalk, and fled
the scene
39
29
27
35
Vehicle 2 side swept vehicle 1 and then fled scene
Bicyclist was making left-hand turn from Mill Street to Washington St.
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
21
38
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
30 unk
61 31
Driver thought parked car was going to pull out and then couldn't stop in time.
Clear
Blowing Sand,
Snow
Dry
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
59
59
Driver headed southbound was making an illegal u-turn, then fled the scene
Wet
Unknown
22
36
Crash Data Summary Charts
Mill St./Washington St./Canal St in Salem, MA
CRASH MONTH
14%
12%
10%
8%
6%
4%
2%
0%
13%
13%
11%
9%
9%
9%
9%
9%
9%
N
D
6%
4%
2%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
23%
25%
20%
15%
17%
13%
11%
11%
11%
Wednesday
Thursday
15%
10%
5%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
30%
26%
20%
10%
0%
15%
6% 9% 6% 4%
6% 6%
4%
6AM­
8AM
15%
2%
8AM­
10AM
10AM­
12PM
0%
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
6PM­
8PM
8PM­
10PM
10PM­
12AM
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
60%
15%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Crash Summary Data.xlsx
9%
Rear-end
2%
Angle
6%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
1 of 2
6%
Head on
0%
2%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
7/11/2013
Crash Data Summary Charts
Mill St./Washington St./Canal St in Salem, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
60%
51%
36%
40%
20%
0%
9%
0%
Daylight
Dawn
Dusk
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
0%
2%
0%
2%
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
17%
2%
Unknown
Blowing
sand, snow
Severe
Crosswinds
0%
Other
2%
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
0%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
4%
2%
Snow
Rain
Cloudy
17%
Clear
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
55%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
80%
64%
60%
34%
40%
20%
0%
Dry
Wet
0%
0%
Snow
Ice
0%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
0%
0%
0%
Slush
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
40%
30%
30%
20%
10%
0%
22%
12%
10%
16%
4%
15-20
Crash Summary Data.xlsx
21-29
30-39
40-49
2 of 2
50-59
60-69
2%
2%
70-79
80+
7/11/2013
Crash Data Summary Table
Loring Avenue @ Canal Street, Salem, MA
2010, 2011, 2012
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Weather
Condition
Type
Clear
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Rain
Rain
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Rain
Rain
Rain
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Road Surface
Type
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Other improper action
Failed to yield to right of way
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
No Improper Driving
Failed to yield to right of way
Failed to yield to right of way
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Followed too closely
No Improper Driving
Followed too closely
Other improper action
Failed to yield to right of way
Followed too closely
Followed too closely
Failed to yield to right of way
No Improper Driving
Followed too closely
No Improper Driving
Failed to yield to right of way
Unknown
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Sideswipe, same direction
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Dark, unknown roadway lighting
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dawn
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Rain
Clear
Clear
Rain
Cloudy
Clear
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
No Improper Driving
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Inattention
Exceeded authorized speed limit
No Improper Driving
Followed too closely
Failed to yield to right of way
Followed too closely
Failed to yield to right of way
Operating defective equiptment
Visibility Obstructed
Followed too closely
Failed to yield to right of way
Failed to yield to right of way
12:32 AM
9:20 AM
9:00 AM
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Rear-end
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Cloudy
Rain
Dry
Dry
Wet
12:23 PM
9:32 AM
7:45 AM
12:00 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Angle
Angle
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Rain
Rain
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Crash Date Crash Day
m/d/y
Friday
2/5/10
Saturday
2/13/10
Friday
3/5/10
Wednesday
3/24/10
Monday
3/29/10
Tuesday
5/18/10
Tuesday
6/22/10
Monday
7/19/10
Monday
8/9/10
Tuesday
8/10/10
Monday
1/11/10
Wednesday
9/22/10
Wednesday
9/29/10
Thursday
11/4/10
Friday
11/5/10
Monday
11/8/10
Friday
11/12/10
Saturday
11/20/10
Friday
12/31/10
Sunday
1/23/11
Time of Day
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
2/4/11
3/11/11
3/23/11
4/30/11
5/25/11
9/12/11
9/17/11
10/22/11
11/16/11
12/11/11
1/14/12
2/11/12
2/15/12
2/18/12
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
1:00 PM
11:53 PM
6:07 PM
7:45 AM
7:00 AM
8:21 PM
8:20 AM
10:06 AM
3:00 PM
5:53 PM
5:38 PM
3:48 PM
1:54 PM
8:03 AM
11:08 AM
6:23 PM
8:30 AM
10:10 PM
1:27 PM
2:12 PM
Manner of Collision
Type
Head on
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Friday
Friday
Wednesday
Saturday
Wednesday
Monday
Saturday
Saturday
Wednesday
Sunday
Saturday
Saturday
Wednesday
Saturday
6:13 PM
7:57 PM
4:46 PM
7:52 AM
12:48 PM
2:21 PM
1:00 PM
9:45 AM
3:00 PM
4:47 PM
9:08 PM
1:07 AM
2:05 PM
4:35 PM
3/5/12
3/24/12
4/12/12
Monday
Saturday
Thursday
4/28/12
6/21/12
8/16/12
11/27/12
Saturday
Thursday
Thursday
Tuesday
Light Condition
Type
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless,
negligent, or aggressive manner
Followed too closely
Followed too closely
Swerving or avoiding due to wind, slippery surface,
vehicle, object, non-motorist in roadway, etc.
Failed to yield to right of way
Failed to yield to right of way
Failed to yield to right of way
D1
Ages
D3
53
20
20
43
24
57
65
57
25
58
20
33
33
37
21
22
51
38
45
18
23
18
22
23
24
45
31
73
25
28
41
35
20
23
20
60
26
27
21
46
24
70
27
20
49
20
36
49
63
64
23
22
69
39
34
18
35
18
18
89
39
46
20
28
21
28
22
76
41
27
28
25
21
50
56
35
27
41
Monday
Single Vehicle Crash
Dusk
Cloudy
Wet
No Improper Driving
12/10/12
6:29 PM
69
Tuesday
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield to right of way
12/18/12
6:47 PM
56
Thursday
Angle
Daylight
Cloudy
Dry
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
12/20/12
10:39 AM
65
*Courtesy Crash-a term used to describe a vehicle (uninvolved in the crash) that grants the right of way to another driver, contrary to the rules of the road, which contributes to a crash.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Salem Police Department
42
43
44
D2
59
29
78
19
Comments
D4
Following Veh attempted to pass lead Veh on the right
V2 turning into Tedeschi's parking lot
*Courtesy Crash; Exiting Omega Pizza
Veh traveling West on Jefferson Ave & turning right into Tedeschi
V2 turning into Loring Liquors
V2 changing lanes and struck V1
Leading vehicle was slowing for a yellow traffic signal and following
Ped ran through the intersection while it was a green light
83
V1 turning left into AutoZone
65 V1 rearended V2, V1 reversed and backed into V3, which v3 backed into V4
*Courtesy Crash; entering AutoZone
Vehicles were nearing the channelized right turn lane
Following vehicle attempted to pass lead vehicle on the right
Veh#2 attempting to enter lane of traffic
V2 leaving Tedeschi's, large snowbank obstructing view
V1 was in the wrong lane
30
Driver struck a utility pole
Stopped at traffic light, V3 struck V2, which V2 stuck V1
stopped for traffic light
V2 turning left into AutoZone
V2 turning left into AutoZone
Lead vehicle stopped to let pedestrian cross, following vehicle's brakes failed
V1 changed lanes and did not see V2
V2 pulling out of Omega's Pizza
*Courtesy Crash, vehicle turning left out of AutoZone
V1 arrested for OUI. V1 drove up on the sidewalk striking a no parking sign and
backed up into the intersection
V1 struck median
*Courtesy Crash; V1 turning left out of Loring Liquors
*Courtesy Crash; V1 attempting to turn left into AutoZone
Veh#1 exiting CVS
Veh#2 pulling out of CVS/AUTOZONE parking lot heading towards Loring
Liquors
* Courtesy Crash; Veh#1 turning left into CVS/AUTOZONE plaza
Crash Data Summary Charts
Loring Avenue @ Canal Street, Salem, MA
CRASH MONTH
20%
16%
16%
14%
15%
10%
11%
9%
7%
7%
7%
5%
5%
5%
2%
2%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
23%
25%
20%
18%
16%
15%
16%
11%
11%
10%
5%
5%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
20%
16%
16%
15%
10%
9%
14%
11%
14%
7%
5% 5% 5%
5%
0%
0% 0%
6AM­
8AM
8AM­
10AM
10AM­
12PM
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
6PM­
8PM
8PM­
10PM
10PM­
12AM
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
50%
43%
40%
30%
30%
20%
14%
11%
10%
0%
0%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Rear-end
Crash Data Spreadsheet LAS edits.xlsx
Angle
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
1 of 2
2%
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
7/11/2013
Crash Data Summary Charts
Loring Avenue @ Canal Street, Salem, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
80%
68%
60%
40%
25%
20%
2%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
0%
2%
0%
0%
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
57%
0%
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
0%
Severe
Crosswinds
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
Rain
0%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
23%
Snow
20%
Cloudy
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Daylight
Clear
0%
2%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
80%
68%
60%
32%
40%
20%
0%
Dry
Wet
0%
0%
Snow
Ice
0%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
0%
0%
0%
Slush
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
60%
41%
40%
20%
0%
15%
7%
15-20
21-29
Crash Data Spreadsheet LAS edits.xlsx
30-39
11%
40-49
2 of 2
10%
9%
50-59
60-69
5%
2%
70-79
80+
7/11/2013
Crash Data Summary Table
Kimball Road at Canal Street., Salem MA
2010, 2011, 2012
Crash Crash
Crash Day
Diagram Date
m/d/y
Ref #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2/26/10
10/22/10
12/6/10
9/21/11
9/25/11
4/10/12
6/8/12
Friday
Friday
Monday
Wednesday
Sunday
Tuesday
Friday
Time of Day
10:40 PM
11:15 AM
3:10 PM
6:00 PM
1:38 PM
4:04 PM
5:40 PM
Manner of Collision
Type
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Head on
Angle
Angle
Light Condition
Type
Dark - lighted
roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Weather
Condition
Type
Rain
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Road
Surface
Type
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Driver Contributing
Code
Type
Cellular telephone
Followed too closely
Unknown
No Improper Driving
Physical Impairment
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
Ages
D1
D2
53
25
21
22
47
55
24
18
20
57
41
27
54
Comments
Driver talking on phone and struck utility pole
Rear-end occurred while in traffic
V2 taking a left turn into Citgo
Veh#1 passed queued veh's on right and struck V2
Courtesy Crash* V2 (SB) passed uninvoled vehicle on right and hit V1
V1 passed queued vehicles on right and struck V2
*Courtesy Crash - A term used to describe a crash that occurs subsequent to a non-involved mainline driver who gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the road, to another driver.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Salem Police Department
Crash Data Summary Charts
Kimball Road at Canal Street, Salem MA
CRASH MONTH
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
33%
17%
17%
0%
0%
J
F
17%
17%
0%
M
A
M
J
0%
0%
J
A
S
O
0%
0%
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
50%
43%
40%
30%
20%
14%
14%
14%
14%
10%
0%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
0%
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
29%
30%
20%
14%14%14%
14%
14%
10%
0%
0% 0%
6AM­
8AM
8AM­
10AM
0%
10AM­
12PM
12PM­
2PM
2PM­
4PM
4PM­
6PM
6PM­
8PM
8PM­
10PM
0% 0% 0%
10PM­
12AM
12AM­
2AM
2AM­
4AM
4AM­
6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
57%
14%
14%
14%
0%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Crash Summary Data.xlsx
Rear-end
Angle
0%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
1 of 2
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
7/11/2013
Crash Data Summary Charts
Kimball Road at Canal Street, Salem MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
86%
Daylight
0%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
14%
Dark ­
Lighted
Roadway
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dark ­
Roadway
not lighted
Dark ­
unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
80%
71%
60%
40%
0%
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
0%
Severe
Crosswinds
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
0%
Snow
Rain
Clear
0%
14%
Cloudy
14%
20%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
86%
14%
Dry
Wet
0%
0%
Snow
Ice
0%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
0%
0%
0%
Slush
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
60%
46%
40%
20%
0%
31%
15%
8%
15-20
Crash Summary Data.xlsx
0%
21-29
30-39
40-49
2 of 2
50-59
0%
0%
0%
60-69
70-79
80+
7/11/2013