ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street
Town of Dennis
November 8, 2013
Prepared For:
MassDOT Highway Division
Prepared By:
BETA Group, Inc.
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table of Contents
Project Data ................................................................................................................................. 1
Background ................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 2
Audit Observations ..................................................................................................................... 6
Potential Safety Enhancements ............................................................................................... 11
Summary of Road Safety Audit ............................................................................................... 13
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Speed Regulations
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Location Map ......................................................................................................................... 3
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Table 3.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 1
Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown ..................................................................... 11
Potential Safety Enhancement Summary ............................................................................. 14
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Project Data
A Road Safety Audit for the intersections of Route 28 (Main Street)/ Sea Street and Route 28/ Depot
Street was held on October 18, 2013 at the Dennis Department of Public Works in Dennis, MA. As
indicated in Table 1, the audit team consisted of representatives from State, Regional and Local agencies
and included a cross-section of engineering, planning and emergency response expertise.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Agency/Affiliation
Lisa Schletzbaum
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Corey O’Connor
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Tom Currier
MassDOT Project Management
Richard Oliveira
MassDOT Highway Division – District 5 Projects
Jason Walters
MassDOT Highway Division – District 5 Projects
Barbara LaChance
MassDOT Highway Division – District 3 Traffic Operations
Edward Feeney
MassDOT Highway Division – District 3 Traffic Operations
Sgt. John Brady
Dennis Police
Lev Malakhoff
Cape Cod Commission
Bob Brown
Dennis Fire
Joseph Rodricks
Dennis Town Engineer
Ross Morrow
VHB
Justin Curewitz
BETA Group, Inc.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Background
The Federal Highway Administration defines a Road Safety Audit (RSA) as the formal safety examination
of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. The purpose of an
RSA is to identify potential safety issues and possible opportunities for safety improvements considering
all roadway users. A Road Safety Audit was scheduled for the intersections of Route 28 (Main Street) at
Sea Street and Route 28 at Depot Street because both have been identified as high crash locations within
the Cape Cod Commission (CCC) region. Both intersections are part of a planned Route 28 reconstruction
project which is at the 25% design phase, but is not yet funded under the State Transportation
Improvement Plan (TIP). The RSA is intended to identify potential short and long term safety
improvements that can be made at the intersections, which can then be implemented through general
maintenance for short term low cost improvements or incorporated into the planned reconstruction project
to the greatest extent practicable.
Project Description
Route 28 (Main Street) is an east-west corridor functionally classified as an Urban Principal Arterial and
is State-owned in the vicinity of Sea Street and Depot Street. Route 28 is signed as a north-south
roadway; however, in the area of Sea Street and Depot Street, Route 28 follows an east-west alignment,
with the eastbound direction signed as Route 28 southbound.
Land use along Route 28 is a mix between residential and commercial, with increasing commercial uses
at both intersections.
The two intersections included in the audit (shown in Figure 1) are discussed in detail below.
Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street
Route 28 (Main Street) and Sea Street form a 4-way
intersection with Sea Street under STOP sign control.
Sea Street is a north-south roadway under Town of
Dennis jurisdiction functionally classified as a local
road north of Route 28, and an urban collector south of
Route 28. Land use in the area is a mix of residential
and commercial, with a Hess Gas Station on the
southwest corner of the intersection and the Original
Seafood restaurant on the southeast corner of the
intersection. A small park is located on the northwest
corner housing a monument and flag pole.
Route 28 (Main Street) eastbound
at Sea Street
Page 2
28
TE ET)
ROU STRE
IN
(MA
EET
EET
STR
T S TR
DE P O
SEA
BARBO'S
FURNITURE
576 MAIN STREET
TH S
SOU
TREET
DEPOT S
BLONDIE'S
ICE CREAM
TRE
ET
EGG AND "I"
ORIGINAL
SEAFOOD
ROUTE 28
(MAIN STREET)
SEA STREET
HESS
STATION
MILL STREET
LEGEND
STUDY INTERSECTION
Road Safety Audit
Route 28 (Main St)
at Sea St and Depot St
Dennis, MA
Figure 1
Location Map
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Both intersecting streets provide a single travel lane in each direction at the intersection. Double yellow
center lines are provided on both roadways, and solid white edge lines are provided on both sides on the
Route 28 legs of the intersection. Sidewalks are provided on the north side of Route 28 and along both
sides of the south leg of Sea Street. A marked crosswalk is provided across the north leg of the
intersection. Stop bars are provided on both approaches of Sea Street, but recent roadwork patching has
removed sections of each stop bar as well as a section of the marked crosswalk. The intersection is
slightly skewed due to the northeast-southwest alignment of Route 28.
The eastbound Route 28 approach has a downhill grade approaching the intersection, which affects
intersection operations and safety due to increased driver speeds. The Hess gas station is accessible via
both Route 28 and Mill Street, and provides four pumps as well as parking within its lot for the Hess
Express convenience store. Mill Street, Sea Street and Route 28 form a triangular parcel occupied by the
Hess station. Mill Street follows a relatively parallel alignment to Route 28 to the south, intersecting with
Sea Street and terminating at Depot Street. The Original Seafood restaurant has driveway access to both
Route 28 and Sea Street separated only by a landscaped island on the southeast corner of the intersection.
To the northwest of the intersection is a vacant lot which is used as parking for local businesses and is
accessible from both Route 28 and Sea Street.
Crash data provided by the Dennis Police Department and summarized by MassDOT show 17 police
documented crashes in the three year period from July 2010 to August 2013. A collision diagram and
crash summary are included in the Appendix. Thirteen of the 17 crashes were angle crashes, with eight of
the thirteen involving a westbound vehicle. Two crashes at the intersection involved a pedestrian not in a
marked crosswalk, one on the west leg of the intersection and one on the south leg.
Also of note is the month in which the majority of crashes occurred. Dennis is located on Cape Cod and
as such is a tourist destination during the warmer months (April-September). Twelve of the 17 crashes
occurred in these higher traffic months, with 5 occurring in August alone. It is unknown whether drivers
involved in these crashes were non-locals. It should also be noted that all crashes occurred in the daylight,
which was characterized as atypical by audit participants when compared to other intersections statewide.
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street
Route 28 (Main Street) and Depot Street form a 4-way
intersection with Depot Street under STOP sign control.
Depot Street is a north-south roadway under Town of
Dennis jurisdiction functionally classified as an urban
minor arterial. Land use in the area is a mix of
residential and commercial, with Blondie’s Ice Cream on
the southwest corner of the intersection, the Egg and “I”
restaurant located on the southeast corner, and Barbo’s
furniture store on the northeast corner.
Both intersecting streets provide a single travel lane in
each direction at the intersection. Double yellow center
lines are provided on both roadways, and solid white edge
lines are provided on both sides of all legs of the
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street
Route 28 (Main Street) westbound
at Depot Street
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
intersection. A sidewalk is provided on the north side of Route 28 and a marked crosswalk is provided
across the north leg of the intersection. Stop bars are provided on both approaches of Depot Street. As
part of a recent statewide intersection safety program, an additional stop sign has been added on the left
side of the street for both Depot Street approaches. In addition, intersection ahead signs were installed
with “Depot St” plaques on each approach of Route 28. The intersection is slightly skewed due to the
northeast-southwest alignment of Route 28.
The westbound Route 28 approach has a small crest curve approaching the intersection, which affects
intersection operations and safety due to driver visibility. Blondie’s Ice Cream on the southwest corner of
the intersection is accessible from both Route 28 and Depot Street. The ice cream stand presents increased
congestion during the higher traffic months, due to its small size, limited parking and the close proximity
of driveways to the intersection. The Egg and “I” restaurant is located on the southeast corner and has
access via both Route 28 and Depot Street separated only by a gravel island, which is home to signs for
both the restaurant as well as a destination sign for local attractions. South Street intersects both Depot
Street and Route 28, and provides a back entrance to the Egg and “I” parking lot. An apartment building
(576 Main Street), currently under renovations, is located on the northwest corner and has access to Route
28 from two closely-spaced driveways forming a horseshoe shape, located less than ten feet from Depot
Street.
Crash data provided by the Dennis Police Department and summarized by MassDOT show 15 police
documented crashes in the three year period from July 2010 to August 2013. A collision diagram and
crash summary are included in the Appendix. The most prevalent crash type were angle crashes,
comprising 60% of total crashes. Four crashes involving a bicyclist occurred at the intersection and it was
noted that the intersection has a significant volume of bicycle traffic. Four crashes stated that the driver
failed to stop at stop sign. The additional stop signs were installed in the summer of 2013 and the data
may not reflect the effect of these added signs.
Also of note is the month in which the majority of crashes occurred. All but one crash occurred in the
higher traffic months, with six occurring in August alone. It is unknown whether drivers involved in these
crashes were non-locals. It should also be noted that all crashes occurred in the daylight, similar to the
crash history of the Route 28/Sea Street intersection.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Audit Observations
Following a brief introduction to the RSA process and a summary of existing crash information, the audit
participants were asked to discuss safety issues at the intersections of Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street
and Route 28 at Depot Street. Audit participants then conducted a site visit as a group, at which time they
offered observations on safety concerns and deficiencies. A summary of those major safety considerations
is as follows:
Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street

Visibility – All corners of the intersection have
vegetation blocking visibility at the intersection.
Visibility restrictions include trees on the northwest
corner, tall beach grass on the southeast and
southwest corners, bushes and a fence on the
northeast corner. Several crash reports noted a driver
not seeing the other vehicle, which is likely related to
visibility restrictions.
Overgrown beach grass in islands

Intersection Geometry – Narrow travel lanes on all approaches essentially shrink the intersection and
lead to driver aggression where vehicles attempted to maneuver around queued traffic. Due to the
narrowness, the intersection lacks clear zones for vehicles to “bail-out” into when avoiding a
collision. The lack of shoulders require vehicles on Sea Street to encroach on Route 28 traffic in order
to look for gaps, which could be a contributor to the number of angle crashes at the intersection.

Hess Gas Station – Several issues were discussed relating to the Hess Gas Station.

o
Multiple driveways (two on Route 28 and one on Mill Street) cause difficulties for
drivers entering and exiting. The close proximity of the driveways to Sea Street also can
contribute to the congestion of the intersection. It was stated that drivers will use Mill
Street to exit rather than Route 28 to avoid traffic when making a left turn out of Hess.
o
It was noted that delivery trucks for the Hess Express park alongside the southbound
departure lane on Sea Street, encroaching on the sidewalk as well as blocking part of the
travel lane. Sea Street’s narrow roadway width causes traffic congestion when trucks
park to unload deliveries.
o
Heavy pedestrian activity has been observed at the Hess Express Mart. This is in part due
to the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority buses stopping nearby. This increased
activity may be attributed to the crashes involving pedestrians.
Original Seafood Restaurant – It was noted that the restaurant has heavy activity during the higher
volume months and creates congestion with its close proximity to the intersection. One crash was
directly related to the restaurant where a westbound vehicle turning left into the parking lot collided
with an eastbound through vehicle. It was also of note that the parking layout presents a safety
concern due to the location of spaces and the need for patrons to back out onto Sea Street in order to
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
exit. Audit participants stated that this restaurant does a significant amount of business during the
higher volume months and affects the traffic flow on both Sea Street and Route 28 given the location
of the driveways.

Bus Stops – The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority
operates along Route 28, though there are no formal marked
bus stops in the area, the bus does stop to drop off and pick
up passengers in the area. Although no crashes have involved
a bus, the narrow lane widths on Route 28 present a
challenge to drivers looking to pass frequently stopped
buses. Buses have been observed stopping just prior to the
intersection and were seen during the field visit on the day of
the audit, as seen at right.

Bicycle Accommodations – No bicycle accommodations are present on either Route 28 or Depot
Street. Narrow existing shoulders do not provide adequate safeguard from vehicular traffic for the
heavy volume of bicycle traffic. The need for better accommodations for bicyclists was emphasized
given the number of riders traveling in the area.

Pedestrian Accommodations – In addition to bicycle accommodations, the lack of adequate pedestrian
accommodations was noted at the intersection. Although there a sidewalk is provided two crashes
involving pedestrians occurred at the intersection and the need for better accommodations was
emphasized to both intersections as a result.

Pavement Markings – Both stop bars on Sea Street and the crosswalk across the north leg of the
intersection have been paved over as a result of recent construction.
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street

Intersection Geometry – Several issues related to intersection geometry were discussed at the
intersection.
o
All intersection approaches have narrow
lanes with insufficient shoulder widths
(approximately one foot or less). Crashes
involving bicyclists can relate to narrow
lanes and the lack of adequate shoulders.
o
A crest curve on Route 28, just east of the
intersection, impacts visibility at the
intersection. This lack of visibility can cause
drivers to misjudge their gap acceptance
which was the case in at least one crash at
Crest curve on Route 28
the intersection. The crest curve creates a
(looking eastbound)
safety issue for both drivers stopped on
Depot Street as well as drivers heading westbound on Route 28.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
o
Turning radii at the intersection were noted to be very tight for all turning movements.
The slight skew of the intersection exacerbates these tighter turning radii. The turning
movements impacted most by this skew are the eastbound and westbound right turns. The
lack of clear zones and shoulders force vehicles to encroach on Route 28. As a result of
the tighter radii, vehicles are forced to navigate turns at lowers speeds, increasing the
needed gap in traffic to make the desired move.

Bicycle Accommodations – No bicycle accommodations are provided on either Route 28 or Depot
Street. It was noted that there is heavy bicycle traffic through the intersection, and existing shoulder
widths do not provide an area for bicyclists to use without impacting vehicular flow. The need for
better accommodations for bicyclists was emphasized given the number of crashes involving
bicyclists.

Pedestrian Accommodations – In addition to bicycle accommodations, the lack of adequate pedestrian
accommodations was noted at the intersection. Although an existing sidewalk is provided on the
north side of Route 28, it does not provide an adequate clear path width. A section of the sidewalk
appears to be recently constructed in front of Barbo’s Furniture, yet terminates just east of the
intersection, where it turns into an asphalt shoulder at the same elevation as the roadway. The
wheelchair ramp on the northeast corner provides a ramp that points pedestrians toward the center of
the intersection rather than across the crosswalk. A utility pole is located in the center of the sidewalk
on the northeast corner and obstructs pedestrians. An asphalt sidewalk on the west side of the
intersection is provided; however, it lacks the clear spacing required and lacks a wheelchair ramp
from the crosswalk. Two crashes involving pedestrians occurred at the intersection of Route 28 and
Sea Street and the need for better accommodations was emphasized to both intersections as a result.

Visibility – It was noted that the southeast corner of the intersection has overgrown beach grass
blocking visibility for the Depot Street northbound approach. In addition, there is a landscaped island
containing several bushes on the east side of the Egg and “I” driveway on Route 28. These bushes in
combination with the crest curve block visibility of drivers exiting the restaurant. Although there were
no crashes directly related to the visibility issues, these obstructions create a safety concern.

Signage – Several issues related to signage were discussed at the intersection.
o
A destination sign on the southwest corner of the
intersection results in driver distraction. The sign,
seen at right, currently lists 25 business names
and/or attractions in the area and can shift driver’s
attention to reading the sign rather than navigating
through the intersection. Town of Dennis
personnel stated that the sign is within town rightof-way, but is maintained by an outside firm. One
crash at this intersection was reported due to driver
inattention and could be related to this issue.
o
It was noted that there is a lack of destination signage along Route 28 as well as
approaching the intersection from Depot Street. As Depot Street southbound is a main
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
travel route to the beach and points south that intersects many local roads also running
east-west, the lack of clear and concise advanced signage approaching the intersection
can lead to driver confusion.
o
Audit participants and town officials suggested that most crashes involved out of town
drivers or tourists that were unfamiliar with the area. Given the months in which crashes
occurred, a lack of destination signage and limited visibility of existing signs was cited as
a concern. A review of the crash reports subsequent to the audit reveals that all but two
crashes involved at least one operator with a residence off the cape.

Blondie’s Curb Cut – The curb cut for the Blondie’s Ice Cream stand is very wide, and its close
proximity to the intersection contributes to congestion. It was noted that during the higher volume
months, Blondie’s is the source for a significant amount of traffic at the intersection and presents a
challenge to enter and exit. This increased traffic of vehicles waiting to enter on both Depot Street
and Route 28 is a result of the wide curb cut which allows vehicles to enter and exit from both
driveways.

576 Main Street – An apartment building on the northwest corner of the intersection is currently
under renovations. Occupancy following renovations will lead to increased vehicular and pedestrian
activity at the intersection. In addition, the building presently has two driveways along Route 28 that
form a horseshoe, just west of the intersection. The proximity of these curb cuts to the intersection as
well as their lack of definition from the roadway presents safety issues for both drivers, who may not
expect another vehicle to turn into the driveway, and pedestrians, who lack a clearly defined
sidewalk.

Stop Sign Violations – In addition to signage related issues, there
were several crashes where it was noted that drivers could not see
the stop sign or failed to stop at the stop sign. An additional stop sign
was installed on the left side of both approaches of Depot Street as
part of a recent statewide safety improvement project for stop
controlled intersections with high crash rates. The project also
installed advanced intersection warning signage with a supplemental
street name plaque on both approaches of Route 28 at Depot Street.
However, the crash data analyzed for the audit was dated before
these improvements were implemented and may not be reflected.

Speeding – Vehicle speeding was noted as an issue along Route 28.
The posted speed limit decreases from 35 mph to 25 mph between
Sea Street and Depot Street. The audit team discussed potential
changes to the posted speed limits, noting that a speed study is
required to update posted limits. Since this study would most likely find the 85th percentile speeds
higher than what is currently posted and result in increased limits, it is not recommended as a safety
improvement.

Intersection Congestion – Intersection congestion was noted as a concern due to the many local area
businesses, attractions and restaurants. Many driveways are closely spaced to one another and can
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
cause drivers to miss their turns and/or slow down to navigate to their desired destination. Although
intersection congestion was not directly related to any one crash at the intersection, it is most likely a
contributing factor in many of the crashes seen.

Pavement Markings – The double yellow centerline on Route 28 terminates approximately 25 feet
west of the intersection. This gives the driver the appearance of a wider intersection.

Tourist Traffic – Depot Street southbound carries heavy tourist traffic during the heavy volume
months. Depot Street is a north-south urban minor arterial that has direct connections to the beach and
other attractions along the shoreline. It was noted that a significant amount of nearby bars and foot
traffic is present at the intersection during the higher volume months. This does not present a specific
concern, but exacerbates other safety issues due to non-local driver unfamiliarity.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Potential Safety Enhancements
Audit participants identified safety issues and recommended potential improvements to address these
issues. Audit participants were encouraged to consider both short and long term improvements for each
issue. Each improvement considered has been categorized as short-term, mid-term, or long-term based on
the definitions shown in Table 2. Additionally, a cost category has been assigned to each improvement
based on the parameters set forth in Table 2.
Table 2. Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown
Time Frame
Short-term
<1 year
Costs
Low
Mid-term
1–3 years
Medium
Long-term
>3 years
High
<$10,000
$10,000–$50,000
>$50,000
Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street






Work with property owners to reduce the vegetation impacts to the visibility at the intersection.
Removing existing vegetation and replanting them with low-growing plants would increase visibility.
However, if this is not a viable solution, trimming of the existing vegetation should be considered.
This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Consider relocation of the fence on the on the northeast corner. This is a short-term, low cost
improvement.
Consider widening the intersection as right of way permits, and add a minimum 4 foot shoulder to
allow for bicycle accommodations. This is a long-term, high cost improvement. Widening of Route
28 is part of the current project design as discussed with the audit team.
Consider closing one of the driveways to the Hess Gas Station, restrict turning movements or convert
driveways to entrance/exit only. This is a mid-term, medium cost improvement. Conversion of the
Route 28 driveways to entrance/exit only is part of the current design discussed with the audit team.
Restrict trucks from parking along Sea Street. Increased enforcement and signage may need to be
considered to inform truck drivers of restriction. A strip mall is located across Mill Street from the
Hess station, where trucks can safely park and unload deliveries. Additional enforcement is a shortterm improvement with no cost, except for the cost of potential reduced enforcement elsewhere. The
addition of signage is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Conduct a pedestrian study for the heavy activity around the intersection, especially in the vicinity of
the Hess station. The study should focus on pedestrian origin and destination and should identify the
locations where pedestrians cross Route 28. The study should be coordinated with the Cape Cod
Regional Transit Authority regarding about the location of bus stops/bus traffic near the intersection.
If the study finds the need for a crosswalk across Route 28, a crosswalk should be installed at the
ideal location. This is a potential mid-term, low cost improvement.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.



Improve pedestrian accommodations at the intersection. Provide a new sidewalk along Depot Street
and reconstruct the existing sidewalk on Route 28. Replace existing wheelchair ramps to comply with
ADA regulations and provide detectable warning panels. This is a long-term, medium cost
improvement that is included in the current project design.
Consider closing one of the driveways to the Original Seafood Restaurant, restriction of turning
movements or convert driveways to entrance/exit only. This is a mid-term, medium cost
improvement. The Sea Street driveway to the Original Seafood Restaurant will be closed as part of
the current project design.
Restripe both stop bars on Sea Street and the crosswalk across the north leg of the intersection. This is
a short-term, low cost improvement.
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street







Consider widening the intersection as right of way permits, and add a minimum 4 foot shoulder to
allow for vehicular and bicycle accommodations. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
Widening of Route 28 is part of the current design as discussed with the audit team.
Consider lowering the profile grade on of Route 28 to reduce the crest curve east of the intersection.
This is a long-term, high cost improvement. The current design does not include any change in profile
east of the intersection. The designer should evaluate the need for lowering of the profile that could
be incorporated in the current project.
Provide bicycle accommodations. Providing shoulders would allow bicycles to have a more
delineated travel way and eliminate the need for vehicles to cross over the double yellow centerline in
attempts to pass bicyclists. This is a long-term, low cost improvement dependent on the roadway
widening. The addition of five foot shoulders is included in the widening of Route 28 under the
current design.
Improve pedestrian accommodations at the intersection. Provide a new sidewalk along Depot Street
and reconstruct the existing sidewalk on Route 28. Replace existing wheelchair ramps to comply with
ADA regulations and provide detectable warning panels. This is a long-term, medium cost
improvement that is included in the current project design.
Trim vegetation on the southeast corner of the intersection. Consider removing the bushes on the east
side of the Route 28 Egg and “I” driveway if the profile grade cannot be changed. This is a shortterm, low cost improvement.
Consider limiting the size of the destination sign on the southeast corner. As part of
this recommendation, consider adding supplemental destination signage prior to
the intersection to alert drivers of destinations before entering the intersection.
This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Add advanced signage for Route 28. Advanced signage on Depot Street prior to
Route 28 will alert drivers to the intersection, since there are many east-west
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
roadways intersecting Depot Street. These signs should be added prior to the intersection on both
Depot Street approaches. Another alternative would be to provide a Main Street sign perpendicular to
Depot Street, alerting driver once in the intersection. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.





Consider reducing the width of the curb cut for Blondie’s Ice Cream, restricting turning movements,
or making driveways entrance/exit only. This is a mid-term, medium cost improvement. The Depot
Street driveway width will be reduced and a one-way entrance/exit will be incorporated as part of the
current design.
Remove curb cuts at 576 Main Street. Increased delineation of the sidewalk in front of the property
will provide pedestrians with a defined pedestrian path. Closing curb cuts will reduce congestion at
the intersection as well as eliminating the unexpected turning movement into driveways along Route
28. The owner of 576 Main Street has agreed as part of the renovations to the property that he will
close both driveways with existing railroad ties and further delineate the existing sidewalk for
pedestrians. The long-term improvements to this section will be incorporated in the current design
project.
Retain double stop signs and intersection ahead signage. These signs were installed in a recent safety
improvement project and should be retained in the current design project.
Continue to enforce speed limits at the intersection. Enforcement is currently done near the
intersection but will continue to be done in the future. Consider installing a dynamic speed reading
sign or place a speed trailer along Route 28 to inform drivers of their speeds. Additional enforcement
is a short-term improvement with no cost, except for the cost of potential reduced enforcement
elsewhere.
Extend the Route 28 double yellow centerline west of the intersection approximately 25’. This will
alleviate the appearance of a wider intersection. This is a short-term, low cost improvement. The
current design project will provide all new pavement markings for the intersection.
Summary of Road Safety Audit
Table 3 summarizes potential recommendations discussed by the audit team. The recommendations are
categorized based on the potential safety payoff, as well as by time frame and cost. The safety payoff is a
qualitative judgment of the effectiveness of the potential safety improvements. Each recommendation has
a responsibility assigned to it stating whether MassDOT or the Town of Dennis would be responsible for
implementing the recommended improvement. All improvements have an order of magnitude cost
assigned.
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Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
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Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Responsibility
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Route 28 (Main Street) at Sea Street
Visibility
Work with property owners to reduce the vegetation
impacts to the visibility at the intersection. Removing
existing vegetation and replanting them with low-growing
plants would increase visibility. However, if this is not a
viable solution, trimming of the existing vegetation should
be considered.
Town
High
Short-term
$1,000
Visibility
Consider relocation of the fence on the on the northeast
corner.
Town
High
Short-term
$5,000
Intersection Geometry
Consider widening the intersection as right of way permits
and adding shoulder to allow for bicycle accommodations.
Project
High
Long-term
High**
Hess Station
Consider closing one of the driveways to the Hess Gas
Station, restrict turning movements or convert driveways to
entrance/exit only.
Project
Medium
Long-term
Medium**
Hess Station
Restrict trucks from parking along Sea Street. Increased
enforcement and signage may need to be considered to
inform truck drivers of restriction.
Town
Medium
Short-term
$500
(signage)
Bus Stops/ Pedestrian
Accommodations
Conduct a pedestrian study for the heavy activity around
the intersection, especially in the vicinity of the Hess
Station. The study should focus on pedestrian origin and
destination and should identify the locations where
pedestrians cross Route 28.
Town/Project
High
Mid-term
$10,000
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Improve pedestrian accommodations at the intersection.
Provide a new sidewalk along Depot Street and reconstruct
the existing sidewalk on Route 28. Replace existing
wheelchair ramps to comply with ADA regulations.
Project
High
Long-term
High**
Original Seafood
Restaurant
Consider closing one of the driveways to the Original
Seafood Restaurant, restriction of turning movements or
convert driveways to entrance/exit only.
Project
Medium
Long-term
Medium**
Pavement Markings
Restripe both stop bars on Sea Street and the crosswalk
across the north leg of the intersection.
Town
Medium
Short-term
$2,000
Page 14
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Project
High
Long-term
High**
Project*
Medium
Long-term
High**
Responsibility
Route 28 (Main Street) at Depot Street
Intersection Geometry,
Bicycle
Accommodations
Consider widening the intersection as right of way permits
and adding shoulder to allow for vehicular and bicycle
accommodations.
Intersection Geometry
Consider lowering the profile grade on the crest curve to
reduce the crest curve east of the intersection.
Bicycle
Accommodations
Provide bicycle accommodations.
Project
High
Long-term
High**
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Improve pedestrian accommodations at the intersection.
Provide a new sidewalk along Depot Street and reconstruct
the existing sidewalk on Route 28. Replace existing
wheelchair ramps to comply with ADA regulations.
Project
High
Long-term
High**
Visibility
Trim vegetation on the southeast corner of the intersection.
Consider removing the bushes on the east side of the
Route 28 Egg and “I” driveway.
MassDOT
High
Short-term
$1,000
Visibility
Consider limiting the size of destination sign on the
southeast corner. As part of this recommendation consider
adding supplemental destination signage prior to
intersection to alert drivers before entering the intersection.
Town*
High
Short-term
$2,500
Signage
Add advanced signage for Route 28. These signs should
be added prior to the intersection on both Depot Street
approaches.
MassDOT*
Medium
Short-term
$1,000
Blondie’s Curb Cut
Consider reducing the width of the curb cut for Blondie’s
Ice Cream. Also consider the restriction of turning
movements or making driveways entrance/exit only.
Project
Medium
Long-term
Medium**
576 Main Street
Provide pedestrian accommodations and remove curb cuts
at 576 Main Street. Delineating where the sidewalk is in
front of the property to provide pedestrians with a clear
spacing.
Property
Owner/Project
Medium
Mid/Longterm
High**
Signage/ Stop Sign
Violations
Retain double stop signs and intersection ahead signage.
Project
-
-
$0 (retain
existing signs)
Page 15
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Responsibility
Safety
Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Speeding
Continue to enforce speed limits at the intersection.
Consider installing a dynamic speed reading sign or place
a speed trailer along Route 28 to inform drivers of their
speeds.
Town
Medium
Short-term
(Use of
police resources)
Pavement Markings
Extend the Route 28 double yellow centerline west of the
intersection approximately 25’.
Town/Project
Low
Short/Longterm
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
*
$0
$500**
These improvements could be included in the planned Route 28 reconstruction project, if the budget allows. Responsibility should be
determined by ongoing coordination between the Town and MassDOT.
** Improvements to be incorporated into the proposed project are assumed to be included as part of the overall project cost
Page 16
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Dennis, MA
Main St (Route 28) at Sea St Depot St
Meeting Location: Dennis Department of Public Works
120 Theophilis Smith Road, South Dennis, MA
Friday, October 18th, 2013
10:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Type of meeting:
High Crash Location – Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
10:00 AM
Welcome and Introductions
10:15 AM
Discussion of Safety Issues
• Crash history, Speed Regulations – provided in advance
• Existing Geometries and Conditions
11:00 AM
Site Visit
• Drive to Main Street at Sea Street and Depot Street
• As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:30 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 October 18th, participants are encouraged to
drive/walk through the intersection and complete/consider elements on the RSA
Prompt List with a focus on safety.
• All participants will be actively involved in the process throughout. Participants
are encouraged to come with thoughts and ideas, but are reminded that the
synergy that develops and respect for others’ opinions are key elements to the
success of the overall RSA process.
• After the RSA meeting, participants will be asked to comment and respond to the
document materials to assure it is reflective of the RSA completed by the
multidisciplinary team.
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Participating Audit Team Members
Date: October 18, 2013
Audit Team Member
Location:
Agency/Affiliation
Dennisport – Depot Street/Route 28
Email Address
Sgt. John Brady
Corey O’Connor
Justin Curewitz
Lisa Schletzbaum
Tom Currier
Lev Malakhoff
Bob Brown
Joseph A. Rodricks
Richard Oliveira
Jason Walters
Barbara LaChance
Edward C. Feeney
Ross Morrow
Dennis Police
MassDOT – Safety
BETA
MassDOT – Safety
MassDOT – Proj Mgmt
Cape Cod Commission
Dennis Fire
Town Engineer
MassDOT D5
MassDOT D5
MassDOT D5 Traffic Ops
MassDOT D5 Traffic Ops
VHB
JBrady@town.dennis.ma.us
Corey.oconnor@state.ma.us
JCurewitz@BETA-Inc.com
Lisa.schletzbaum@state.ma.us
Thomas.Currier@dot.state.ma.us
lmalakhoff@capecodcommission.org
bbrown@town.dennis.ma.us
JRodricks@town.dennis.ma.us
Richard.oliveira@state.ma.us
Jason.Walters@state.ma.us
Barbara.Lachance@dot.state.ma.us
Edward.Feeney@state.ma.us
RMorrow@VHB.com
Phone Number
857-368-9638
781-255-1982
Road Safety Audit—Route 28 (Main St)/Sea St and Route 28 (Main St)/Depot St—Dennis, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
Crash Data Summary Table
Main Street (Route 28) at Depot Street, Dennis, MA
July 2010 - August 2013
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
Crash
Date
Time of Day
m/d/y
Manner of Collision
Type
Light Condition
Type
Weather
Condition
Type
Road Surface
Type
Driver Contributing Code
Type
D1
Ages
D2
D3
1
8/10/10
2:04 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Clear
Dry
No Improper Driving
23
2
3
4
5/28/11
5/30/11
8/6/11
6:37 PM
3:33 PM
4:53 PM
Angle
Angle
Single Vehicle Crash
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Dry
Dry
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
No Improper Driving
17
30
21
77
79
5
8/17/11
1:46 PM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Failed to yield right of way
25
54
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
8/18/11
1/21/12
4/17/12
5/26/12
9/3/12
4/3/13
6/28/13
7/25/13
8/5/13
6:11 PM
7:08 AM
1:27 PM
6:39 AM
12:42 PM
5:56 PM
5:37 PM
12:41 PM
10:40 AM
Rear-end
Head on
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Angle
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Snow
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
77
75
88
20
51
29
77
40
70
45
27
58
87
55
44
23
26
15
8/21/13
4:31 PM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Inattention
Swerving or avoiding due to wind,
slippery surface, vehicle, object, nonmotorist in roadway, etc.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Dennis Police Department.
61
58
Comments
D4
Bicyclist was maneuvering around SB queued vehicles and darted left and
was hit by V1.
V1 did not see V2. After initial collision V1 continued across Main Street to
hit V3. Witness stated that V1 did not stop at stop sign.
V1 believes V2 did not stop at stop sign.
Bicyclist ran into V1 while V1 was turning right.
V2 failed to stop at stop sign. V2 claims she "thought the intersection had a
blinking light."
Both vehicles stopped at stop sign. V1 was not paying attention and hit V1.
V2 waiting to turn left when V1 rear-ended it
V2 misjudged gap while turning left
V1 did not see bicyclist
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Main Street (Route 28) at Depot Street, Dennis, MA
CRASH MONTH
50%
40%
40%
30%
20%
20%
10%
13%
7%
7%
0%
J
0%
0%
F
M
A
M
7%
J
J
7%
A
S
0%
0%
0%
O
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
30%
20%
27%
20%
20%
13%
13%
10%
0%
7%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
27%
30%
20%
13%
13%
13%
7%
10%
0%
27%
0%
6AM8AM
8AM10AM
0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
10AM12PM
12PM2PM
2PM4PM
4PM6PM
6PM8PM
8PM10PM
10PM12AM
12AM2AM
2AM4AM
4AM6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
60%
13%
20%
0%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Rear-end
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Depot Street.xlsx
Angle
0%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
2 of 3
7%
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
10/8/2013
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Main Street (Route 28) at Depot Street, Dennis, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
150%
100%
100%
50%
0%
Daylight
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark Lighted
Roadway
Dark Roadway
not lighted
Dark unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
0%
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
0%
Blowing
sand, snow
Rain
Cloudy
Clear
0%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
7%
Dry
0%
Severe
Crosswinds
93%
7%
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
13%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
80%
Snow
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
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%
19%
11%
4%
15-20
4%
21-29
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Depot Street.xlsx
30-39
7%
4%
40-49
3 of 3
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
10/8/2013
Crash Data Summary Table
Main Street (Route 28) at Sea Street, Dennis, MA
July 2010 - August 2013
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
Crash
Date
Time of Day
m/d/y
7/2/10
4:04 PM
Manner of Collision
Type
Angle
Light Condition
Type
Daylight
Weather
Condition
Type
Clear
Road Surface
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Type
Dry
Inattention
D1
Ages
D2
D3
58
34
50
23
2
7/10/10
11:54 AM
Angle
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
3
4
5
6
7
8
1/19/11
3/3/11
3/23/11
4/22/11
5/21/11
7/11/11
3:21 PM
3:41 PM
11:56 AM
5:32 PM
1:01 PM
12:05 PM
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Made an improper turn
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
road markings
83
24
19
25
75
43
74
35
61
86
81
78
9
7/27/11
7:09 PM
Sideswipe, same direction
Daylight
Clear
Dry
Other improper action
76
41
10
11
8/13/11
8/18/11
11:46 AM
2:44 PM
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
60
29
33
41
12
13
14
15
16
17
8/24/11
9/4/11
6/26/12
10/29/12
5/27/13
8/16/13
12:16 PM
11:19 AM
3:56 PM
12:37 PM
1:09 PM
6:35 PM
Angle
Angle
Angle
Single Vehicle Crash
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Clear
Rain
Rain
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Wet
Wet
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Failed to yield right of way
Disregarded traffic signs, signals,
road markings
Failed to yield right of way
Failed to yield right of way
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
Failed to yield right of way
85
55
32
57
75
20
68
33
83
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the Dennis Police Department
76
50
Comments
D4
Due to heavy traffic V1 inched into Main St. V2 hit V1 while turning left.
V2 thought it had enough time to cross intersection. V2 hit V1 who was
pushed into V3.
V2 signaled an uninvolved vehicle to turn left. V1 followed directly behind
uninvolved vehicle & was hit by V2.
V1 did not see V2
V2 stopped at stop sign but did not see V1
V2 did not see V1
Heavy traffic. V2 preceeded into intersection too early, hitting V1
V1 thought V2 was traveling straight so it pulled up to the right of V2. Per the
police, there is really only one travel lane in each direction on Sea St.
V2 proceeded into the intersection then stopped for a vehicle approaching at
a high rate of speed. V1 followed close behind V2.
V1 stopped at stop sign but did not see V2
V1 attempted to enter Original Seafood
Witness stated they did not see V2 stop at stop sign
Pedestrian crossed in front of V1
V1 crossed Main Street & collided with a skateboarder
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Main Street (Route 28) at Sea Street, Dennis, MA
CRASH MONTH
30%
27%
25%
20%
13%
15%
10%
13%
7%
13%
7%
5%
7%
7%
7%
0%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
0%
0%
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
30%
20%
27%
20%
13%
10%
0%
13%
13%
7%
Monday
Tuesday
7%
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
40%
33%
27%
30%
20%
20%
10%
0%
13%
7%
0% 0%
6AM8AM
8AM10AM
0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
10AM12PM
12PM2PM
2PM4PM
4PM6PM
6PM8PM
8PM10PM
10PM12AM
12AM2AM
2AM4AM
4AM6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
73%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
13%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
7%
Rear-end
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Sea Street.xlsx
7%
Angle
0%
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
2 of 3
0%
0%
0%
Head on
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
10/8/2013
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Main Street (Route 28) at Sea Street, Dennis, MA
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
150%
100%
100%
50%
0%
Daylight
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark Lighted
Roadway
Dark Roadway
not lighted
Dark unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
80%
73%
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%
13%
Cloudy
13%
20%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
87%
13%
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
30%
21%
20%
10%
0%
14%
14%
11%
4%
15-20
21-29
Crash Data Spreadsheet_Sea Street.xlsx
30-39
40-49
3 of 3
7%
50-59
18%
11%
60-69
70-79
80+
10/8/2013