ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Cushing Street
Near 406 Cushing Street
Town of Hingham
June 2011
Prepared for:
Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Prepared by:
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
38 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table of Contents Background ................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Data................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Location Description ..................................................................................................... 3
Road Safety Audit Observations and Potential Enhancements .............................................6
Safety Issue #1.
Safety Issue #2.
Safety Issue #3.
Safety Issue #4.
Safety Issue #5.
Safety Issue #6.
Safety Issue #7.
Undefined Roadway Edge .................................................................................. 6
Edge Drop Off .................................................................................................... 7
Utility Pole Placement ........................................................................................ 8
Signing................................................................................................................ 8
Pavement Markings ............................................................................................ 9
Lighting............................................................................................................... 9
Speed................................................................................................................. 10
Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 11
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Barrier Criteria
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 4
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 3
Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements ....................................................................... 12
Page 1
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Background
Cushing Street in the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, has recently experienced a fatality as well as
several rollover crashes on the segment of roadway in the vicinity of #406 Cushing Street along the
northbound direction. In response, the Town contacted the Massachusetts Department of Transportation
(MassDOT) district office to request assistance in assessing safety at the location. This location is not
eligible to receive Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding for improvements; however,
MassDOT conducted a Road Safety Audit (RSA) to assist the Town in identifying the safety issues and
potential improvements.
The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and included as part
of the design process. The short-term, low-cost potential improvements could be considered by the
responsible agency for implementation prior to reconstruction, as appropriate.
Project Data
The audit team conducted an RSA for the Cushing Street corridor on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. 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.
Page 2
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 1. Participating Audit Team Members
Audit Team Member
Sgt. Steven Dearth
Chief Michael Peraino
Harry Sylvester
Roger Fernandes
Jim Hoyle
Adetoyin Olaoye
Edward C. Feeney
Bonnie Polin
Lisa Schletzbaum
Corey O’Connor
Nicole Rogers
Alex Lovejoy
Keith Black
Keri Pyke
Jared Hite
Agency/Affiliation
Hingham Police Department
Hingham Police Department
Hingham DPW
Hingham Projects Engineer
FHWA
MassDOT Highway Division
MassDOT District 5 Traffic
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
MassDOT Highway Division intern
MassDOT Highway Division intern
MassDOT Highway Division intern
MassDOT Highway Division intern
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
Project Location Description
The segment of Cushing Street in the vicinity of #406 is located in the Town of Hingham, as shown in the
aerial image in Figure 1. Cushing Street connects to Derby Street at its southern end, and parallels Main
Street (Route 228). Because it is a parallel route to Route 228, Cushing Street serves as a cut-through
route and a connection to Route 3 via Derby Street. At the northern end, Cushing Street turns east,
connecting to Main Street (Route 228). Cushing Street carries approximately 8,000 vehicles per day
(vpd). The land use along Cushing Street is primarily residential.
The RSA team evaluated the northbound direction of Cushing Street in the vicinity of #406 Cushing
Street. Cushing Street is a rural minor collector and falls under Town jurisdiction. Cushing Street is a
north–south roadway. Within the study area, Cushing Street consists of 1 travel lane in each direction.
The speed limit along Cushing Street is posted 30 miles per hour (mph) in both directions. There is no
speed regulation on file.
Page 3
Road Safety Audit–Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Figure 1.
Locus Map
PROJECT SITE
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Prior to the RSA, in order to begin assessing possible safety issues, the team reviewed a crash detail
summary based on crash records supplied by the Hingham Police Department. From January 2006
through December 2009, 9 crashes related to the roadway segment were reported. There were also two
other crashes, both fatalities; one occurred in December 1996 and the other in April 2011. Both occurred
during clear, dry conditions. These two fatalities are included in the crash statistics. Of the 11 crashes, 1
(approximately 9%) was a rear-end type crash, 9 (approximately 82%) were single vehicle crashes, and 1
(approximately 9%) was a sideswipe opposite direction vehicle crash. Crashes generally occurred on dry
pavement (7, or nearly 64%) in clear weather conditions (8, or nearly 73%) and under daylight or lighted
roadway conditions (10, or nearly 91%). Of the 10 crashes with time of crash reported, seven occurred in
early morning or morning hours (2:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.), and 7 of 11 (approximately 64%) occurred on a
weekend day. Appendix C provides the detailed crash data for the roadway segment from January 2006
through December 2009 as well as the two fatalities.
Page 5
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Road Safety Audit Observations and
Potential Enhancements
Based on field observations on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, the RSA team determined that the segment of
Cushing Street has the following issues that affect safety:







Undefined roadway edge;
Edge drop off;
Utility pole placement;
Signing;
Pavement markings;
Lighting; and
Speed.
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.
Safety Issue #1. Undefined Roadway Edge
Observations:
Cushing Street consists of 1 travel lane in each
direction with no shoulder. RSA team members
noted that the combined driveway to #406-412
Cushing Street is very wide, including an apron .
The RSA team noted that the vehicles involved
in several of the crashes, including the two
fatalities, passed to the right of utility pole #89,
indicating that they were far to the right of the
travelled way. The team speculated that
motorists were drifting to the right in the lane
and onto the driveway apron as they rounded the
Looking north on Cushing Street at the
curve. The driveway apron could lead a motorist
driveways for #406-412.
to think that the driveway was part of the road.
Once a motorist realizes the true alignment of the roadway, there is a sharp drop off at the
northern end of the driveway and no shoulder on Cushing Street for him to use to recover. The
combination of no defined edge of road with the lack of shoulder area to recover could be the
cause of the majority of crashes at this location.
Page 6
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Enhancements:
1. Install edge lines on the roadway. The RSA team measured the northbound lane; it
measured approximately 13 feet from the centerline to the edge of pavement.
2. Install raised or recessed pavement markers on either the edge line or the centerline to
raise motorists’ awareness of the roadway alignment. It should be noted that raised
pavement markers are not typically applied on edge lines and should be installed on new
pavement only.
3. Install delineators between the two driveways to demark the edge of the traveled way.
4. Work with the property owners of #406 – 412 to narrow and reconfigure both driveway
openings perpendicular to Cushing Street.
Safety Issue #2. Edge Drop Off
Observations:
The RSA team noted that the drop off at the edge of Cushing Street immediately to the north of the driveway for #406-412 is quite steep. There is no shoulder or recovery area for a motorist to correct his travel direction if his vehicle goes off the pavement. The area at the east side of the road is wooded, and the edge drop off is not immediately apparent. There is a concrete headwall for a culvert that passes under Cushing Street. There were concrete posts at the roadway edge to delineate the location of the headwall; however, only one remains, and it has been knocked over.
Enhancements:
The edge drop off north of
the driveway is not readily
apparent.
1. Evaluate whether the area meets the criteria for the
installation of guardrail. The criteria include the fore
and back slopes of the drainage ditch (see appendix), design speed, and average daily
traffic (ADT) of the adjacent roadway. If the criteria are met, consideration should also
be given to whether the guardrail installation could make safety conditions worse. For
example, a vehicle being re-directed into the roadway by guardrail at this location could
cause a worse crash than if the guardrail were not there. The guardrail end at this
location could also create a new fixed object into which vehicles could crash.
2. If guardrail criteria are not met, consider filling a short distance adjacent to the roadway.
This option should be considered only if other options are not having the desired safety
results because the presence of a stream in the vicinity could make the improvements
costly due to environmental impacts as well as the need to put the stream into a culvert
for a long distance.
Page 7
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
3. Consider superelevating the curve in this area; consider the effects superelevation could
have on the speeding issues along Cushing Street. Superelevating the curve would make
traversing the curve more comfortable for motorists, thus potentially inducing higher
speeds on Cushing Street in general and the curve in particular.
Safety Issue #3. Utility Pole Placement
Observations:
The RSA team noted that the utility poles along the northbound (eastern) side of Cushing Street
are located very close to the edge of the pavement. The crash data indicate that many of the
crashes involved utility pole #89, which is immediately north of the combined driveway.
Enhancements:
1. Move the utility poles farther away from the edge of the road if there is space within the
right of way.
Safety Issue #4. Signing
Observations:
The RSA team noted that there is no “Curve Ahead” sign (W1-2L) on Cushing Street northbound
before the chevron signs. They also noted that the chevron signs are installed on the utility poles,
which are slightly farther from the edge of the road than where a standard sign post might be
installed and that the chevron signs are located higher on the poles than the standard sign
mounting height. The vegetation is starting to overgrow some of the chevron signs. The Town
staff indicated that the Town has a program to trim vegetation once a year, typically in July.
Enhancements:
1. Regularly trim and maintain vegetation at the road edge and adjacent to signs to ensure
visibility. Similarly, during winter conditions, snow should be plowed in such a way that
sign and delineator visibility is maintained.
Page 8
Road Safe
ety Audit
am
Cushing Street, Hingha
Prepared by Howard/Steiin-Hudson Ass
sociates, Inc.
2. Install “Curve Aheaad” sign (W1-2L) and adviisory speed n Cushing Strreet northbouund in advancce plaquee (W13-1P) on
of the curve per thee Manual on Uniform Traff
ffic Control Devicees (MUTCD).. Consider ad
dding warningg lights to thee
“Curvee Ahead” sign
n assembly fo
or further visiibility. The warnin
ng light could
d be a single flashing beacoon, as shown in the photo
p
at rightt. There are also dynamic warning lighht ms available th
hat flash at an
n increased freequency as a system
vehiclee’s speed incrreases over a predefined sppeed. 3. Install chevron sign
ns on separatee posts closer to the edge of the roaadway and at the proscribeed height per t he MUTCD..
If the chevrons are installed closser to the roadd, care shouldd
be takeen not to strik
ke them durin
ng plowing, orr if they are hit, theey should be replaced. An exam
mple of a
flashing
g warning
beacon in combiwith a curve
nation w
warning
g sign.
Safety
f
Issue
e #5. Pa
avementt Marking
gs
Observatio
ons:
The RSA team
m noted that paavement mark
kings are painnt, and althouugh they are inn reasonable
ondition, safeety in the areaa could benefiit from a moree durable andd reflective marking materiial.
co
Enhancem
ments:
1. Consid
der installing pavement maarkings in theermoplastic raather than painnt for durabillity
and visibility.
Safety
f
Issue
e #6. Lighting
Observatio
ons:
The RSA team
m observed thaat there is onlly one street llight within ann approximattely 1,500-fooot
diistance in the vicinity of #4
406 Cushing Street. Althoough many off the crashes took place duuring
he day, a num
mber also took
k place at nigh
ht, and improvved lighting could improvee safety. Thee
th
Town controls the municipaal light plant, which is locaated farther noorth on Cushiing Street.
Enhancem
ments:
1. The To
own could insstall a street light on utilityy pole #89 annd/or pole #900 to improve
visibility in the areaa, or in anotheer location deepending on thhe optimal pllacement and
spacin
ng.
Pag
ge 9
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Safety Issue #7. Speed
Observations:
RSA team members noted that vehicle travel speeds appear to be faster than the posted 30 mph
regulation. The Hingham Police Department noted that they routinely write tickets along the
Cushing Street corridor. The higher travel speeds along the corridor may have contributed to the
crash history within the study area.
Enhancements:
1. Conduct a speed survey in the vicinity. If appropriate, submit the speed study to
MassDOT requesting a posted regulatory speed along Cushing Street.
Page 10
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Recommendations
This segment of Cushing Street northbound in the vicinity of #406 in Hingham, Massachusetts, has a
high-incidence of single-vehicle crashes, including two fatalities. Based on its observations and
discussions, the RSA team identified the issues and possible enhancements that could improve safety
along the segment of Cushing Street northbound. Further design work or consideration may be
necessary to determine the feasibility of making some of the improvements.
Short-term enhancements include:

Install pavement markings and delineators;

Improve lighting;

Trim and maintain vegetation overgrowth; and

Improve signing.
To enhance the safety of the segment, the long-term enhancements are to:

Install guardrail, if warranted and after evaluating the advantages and disadvantages;

Work with land owners and Town to reconfigure the driveways;

Relocate utility poles; and

Fill adjacent to roadway to create recovery zone.
Table 2 summarizes these safety issues, possible enhancements, estimated safety payoff, time frame,
cost, and responsibility. Safety payoff estimates are based on engineering judgment and are
categorized as low, medium, and high. The time frame is categorized as short-term (<1 year), 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). The RSA is intended to identify potential safety improvements that can be evaluated and
included as part of the design process for the reconstruction. The short-term, low-cost potential
improvements could be considered by the responsible agency for implementation prior to
reconstruction.
Page 11
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements
Safety Issue
Undefined
roadway edge
Edge drop off
Safety Enhancement
Install edge lines on the roadway.
Install raised pavement markers either on the edge line or
the centerline. It should be noted that raised pavement
markers are not typically applied on edge lines and should
be installed on new pavement only.
Install delineators between the two driveways to demark
the edge of the traveled way.
Work with the owners of #406 – 412 to narrow the
driveway opening and reconfigure it perpendicular to
Cushing Street.
Evaluate whether the area meets the criteria for the
installation of guardrail. If it does, install guardrail.
If guardrail criteria are not met, consider filling a short
distance adjacent to the roadway.
Consider superelevating the curve.
Utility pole
placement
Move the utility poles farther away from the edge of the
road if there is space within the right of way.
Signing
Trim and maintain vegetation at the road edge and
adjacent to signs. Similarly, during winter conditions,
snow should be plowed in such a way as to maintain
visibility of signs and delineators.
Install “Curve Ahead” sign (W1-2L) and advisory speed
plaque (W13-1P) on Cushing Street northbound in
advance of the curve per the Manual on Uniform Traffic
Control Devices (MUTCD).
Consider adding warning lights to the “Curve Ahead” sign
assembly for further visibility.
Install chevron signs on separate posts closer to the edge
of the roadway and at the proper height per MUTCD.
Safety Payoff
High
Time Frame
Short-term
Cost
Low
Responsible Party
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Medium
Long-term
Medium
Town of Hingham
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
Town of Hingham
High
Long-term
High
Town of Hingham
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Hingham
Medium
Long-term
High
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Page 12
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Table 2. Summary of Potential Safety Enhancements, Continued
Safety Issue
Pavement
markings
Lighting
Speed
Safety Enhancement
Consider installing pavement markings in thermoplastic.
Install a street light on utility pole #89 or in another location
depending on optimal placement and spacing.
Conduct a speed survey. If appropriate, submit the speed
study to MassDOT requesting installation of a regulatory
speed limit.
Safety Payoff
Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Party
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Medium
Short-term
Medium
Town of Hingham
Low
Short-term
Low
Town of Hingham
Page 13
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda Road Safety Audit
Hingham
Cushing Street (near 406 Cushing Street)
Meeting Location: DPW Building
25 Bare Cove Park Drive, Hingham
(Off Fort Hill Street)
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
9:30 AM- 11:30 PM
Type of meeting:
Road Safety Audit
Attendees:
Invited Participants to Comprise a Multidisciplinary Team
Please bring:
Thoughts and Enthusiasm!!
9:30 AM
Welcome and Introductions
9:45 AM
Review of Site Specific Material
 Crash, Speed & Volume Summaries– provided in advance
 Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:15 AM
Visit the Site
 Drive to the crash scene near 406 Cushing Street
 As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:00 AM
Post Visit Discussion / Completion of RSA
 Discuss observations and finalize findings
 Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
11:30 AM
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
 Before attending the RSA on June 22nd, participants are encouraged to drive
through the area 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
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Participating Audit Team Members
Date:
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Location: Hingham DPW, 25 Bare Cove Park Road, Hingham, MA
Audit Team Members
Agency/Affiliation
E-mail Address
Phone Number
Sgt. Steven Dearth
Hingham Police Department
dearths@hingham-ma.com
(781) 804-2205
Chief Michael Peraino
Hingham Police Department
perainom@hingham-ma.com
(781) 749-1212
Harry Sylvester
Hingham DPW
sylvesterh@hingham-ma.com
(781) 741-1430
Roger Fernandes
Hingham Projects Engineer
fernandesr@hingham-ma.com
(781) 804-2305
Jim Hoyle
FHWA
Jim.hoyle@dot.gov
(617) 494-3862
Adetoyin Olaoye
MassDOT Highway Division
Adetoyin.olaoye@state.ma.us
(508) 884-4233
Edward C. Feeney
MassDOT District 5 Traffic
Edward.Feeney@state.ma.us
(508) 884-4242
Bonnie Polin
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
bonnie.polin@state.ma.us
(617) 973-7991
Lisa Schletzbaum
MassDOT Highway Division Safety Section
lisa.schletzbaum@state.ma.us
(617) 973-7685
Corey O’Connor
MassDOT Highway Division intern
corey.oconnor@state.ma.us
(978) 852-0617
Nicole Rogers
MassDOT Highway Division intern
nicole.rogers@state.ma.us
(978) 764-3930
Alex Lovejoy
MassDOT Highway Division intern
alex.lovejoy@state.ma.us
(774) 219-4914
Keith Black
MassDOT Highway Division intern
keith.black@state.ma.us
(508) 345-9509
Keri Pyke
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
kpyke@hshassoc.com
(617) 348-3301
Jared Hite
Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates
jhite@hshassoc.com
(617) 348-3318
Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data Road Safety Audit
Cushing Street, Hingham
Prepared by Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, Inc.
Appendix D. Barrier Criteria