ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Route 1 and Route 120 Intersection
Town of North Attleborough, MA
July 2011
Prepared For:
MassDOT
Prepared By:
Nitsch Engineering
186 Lincoln Street
Boston, MA 02111
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Table of Contents
Background .................................................................................................................................1
Project Data .................................................................................................................................1
Project Location and Description..............................................................................................2
Audit Observations and Potential Safety Enhancements........................................................6
Summary of Road Safety Audit...............................................................................................13
List of Appendices
Appendix A: RSA Meeting Agenda
Appendix B: RSA Audit Team Contact List
Appendix C: Detailed Crash Data
Appendix D: Additional Information
Appendix E: Road Safety Audit References
List of Figures
Figure 1.
Figure 2.
Locus Map.............................................................................................................................. 3
Aerial Map.............................................................................................................................. 5
List of Tables
Table 1.
Table 2.
Participating Audit Team Members ....................................................................................... 2
Potential Safety Enhancements Summary............................................................................ 14
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Background
The intersection of Route 1 and Route 120 in North Attleborough falls within the top 5% of crash
locations within the region. The intersection has been programmed by the Massachusetts Department of
Transportation (MassDOT) to undergo evaluation and redesign and has been listed on the State
Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The intersection is also eligible for the Highway Safety
Improvement Program (HSIP) which requires a Road Safety Audit (RSA) be performed by MassDOT.
The evaluation and design process is currently in the conceptual stages and the implementation of a RSA
will help ensure that safety issues are addressed as part of future improvements to this location.
To determine the nature of the safety issues, we collected crash records for this location from the North
Attleborough Police department for the period between 2008 – 2010. Data from the Registry of Motor
Vehicles (RMV) may contain additional incidents for this location (due to operator reports that were
never submitted to the local police department); however, the RMV has not yet released crash data for
2010 and therefore crash data was based solely on the reports prepared by the North Attleborough Police
department. The design consultants were encouraged to research crash data from the RMV in the
preparation of future reports but for the purpose of preparing this RSA it was agreed by all in attendance
that the data obtained (and included herein) would be sufficient.
The RSA is a collaborative process between state, municipal, law enforcement, public works, planning,
and engineering professionals. The process involves conducting a meeting to discuss current crash data
and safety issues, visiting the site to discuss possible solutions that would improve safety, and preparing a
written report that outlines the safety issues discussed along with the costs, timeline, and agency
responsibility for implementing improvements.
Project Data
The RSA occurred on July 15, 2011 in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. A group of 18 people
discussed the existing conditions of the intersection, including the intersection geometry, the traffic
volumes, and the crash statistics. The group included people from the Design Team, MassDOT, the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic
Development District (SRPEDD), staff from the North Attleborough Department of Public Works
(DPW), Electric, Administration, Planning, and Police departments. The group then traveled to the site to
observe operations and perform an inventory of issues as they pertain to safety. Table 1 shows the audit
team members. The RSA agenda can be found in Appendix A. Contact information for the team
members can be found in Appendix B.
Page 1
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Table 1. Audit Team Members
Name
Agency/Affiliation
Gene Allen
Bill McDowell
Mark Hollowell
Mary Burgess
Tom McCafferty
Mark Fisher
Jim Hoyle
Lisa Estrela-Pedro
Robert Gregory
Barbara Lachance
Edward Feeney
Alex Lovejoy
Larry Cash
Bonnie Polin
Lisa Schletzbaum
Stephen Farr
Fayssal Husseini
Corinne Tobias
North Attleborough Electric
North Attleborough DPW
North Attleborough DPW
North Attleborough Planning Department
North Attleborough Police Department
North Attleborough Town Administrator
FHWA
SRPEDD
MassDOT – District 5
MassDOT – District 5
MassDOT – District 5
MassDOT – District 5
MassDOT – District 5
MassDOT – Safety
MassDOT – Safety
Nitsch Engineering
Nitsch Engineering
Nitsch Engineering
Project Location and Description
The intersection of Route 1 and Route 120 is shown in Figure 1. The intersection is currently signalized.
Nitsch Engineering evaluated the last three years of available crash data (2008 – 2010) from the North
Attleborough Police Department to determine some of the existing safety concerns at the site. Of the
twenty crashes at the intersection, 35% were rear-end type, 25% were caused by sideswipes, 20% were
single-vehicle crashes, and 15% were angle type crashes. The majority of crashes (55%) occurred at
night. In addition, crashes appeared to spike slightly in the month of May, with 30% of all crashes
occurring during that month. December also had a significant amount of crashes, with 20% occurring
during that month. Appendix C includes the detailed crash data at this location.
Page 2
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Figure 1 – Locus Map
Not To Scale
Page 3
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Route 1 is an urban minor arterial under the jurisdiction of MassDOT that is oriented in the north-south
direction. The land uses adjacent to Route 1 are primarily commercial. Approximately one mile south of
the intersection, Route 1 intersects Interstate 295 and one mile north of the intersection is the North
Attleborough Town Center on South Washington Street. Route 1 consists of two travel lanes in each
direction. The speed limit on Route 1 is 40 miles per hour (mph) in the vicinity of the intersection. To
the north of the intersection, Route 1 serves approximately 24,000 vehicles per day (vpd). South of the
intersection, Route 1 serves approximately 21,000 vpd.
Route 120 is an urban minor arterial under the jurisdiction of the town of North Attleborough that is
oriented in the east-west direction. Route 120 travels from Route 122 in Cumberland, RI to the
intersection with Route 1 in North Attleborough, where the roadway ends. Route 120 contains one travel
lane in each direction. The posted speed limit on Route 120 is 40 mph. Route 120 serves approximately
7,500 vpd.
South Washington Street is an urban minor arterial under the jurisdiction of the town of North
Attleborough that is oriented in the north-south direction. While Route 1 serves primarily commercial
uses, South Washington Street serves both residential and commercial uses. South Washington Street,
north of the intersection with Route 120, contains one travel lane in each direction. The posted speed
limit on South Washington Street is 30 mph. South Washington Street serves approximately 11,000 vpd.
The existing configuration of the intersection contains four approaches: Route 120 from the west, Route 1
from the south and northeast, and South Washington Street from the north. Vehicles traveling on Route 1
northbound who wish to continue on Route 1 must turn right at this intersection. This right turn has a
very large radius, designed for high speeds, and is not controlled by the existing signal.
An aerial map of the intersection is shown in Figure 2.
Page 4
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Figure 2 – Aerial Map
Page 5
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Audit Observations and Potential Safety Enhancements
Based on the field observations and subsequent discussions held on Friday, July 15, 2011, several issues
were identified that may affect safety at the intersection. These issues can be grouped into the following
categories and are more specifically detailed below:
1. Intersection Geometry
2. Signage
3. Intersection Operations
4. Additional Enhancements
The following sections describe the specific safety concerns and potential improvements that were
identified during the RSA. These improvements will be reviewed and evaluated as part of the conceptual
design process currently being undertaken.
Safety Issue #1 – Intersection Geometry
Route 1 Southbound
Vehicles traveling southbound on Route 1 must turn left at
this intersection to continue south on Route 1. The left turn
at this location is a sharp left turn, especially for vehicles
traveling at high speeds. Two left-turn lanes feed into two
receiving lanes, but no shoulder is present on the receiving
lanes and they are narrow. No pavement markings are
present through the intersection to help keep vehicles in their
lane and guide them through the turn. Of the twenty crashes
indicated in the crash records, four occurred on the receiving
lane (shown at right), when vehicles ran off the roadway
because they were unable to negotiate the left turn.
A utility pole is also located in close vicinity to this corner
and could be a potential obstacle for vehicles that fail to turn
left appropriately.
Route 1 southbound leaving the intersection has
narrow lanes and no shoulder leaving little room for
error for vehicles turning through the intersection at
a high rate of speed
Route 1 Northbound
The Route 1/Route 120 traffic signal does not control the northbound travel lanes on Route 1. Vehicles
traveling northbound on Route 1 are likely to be traveling at a speed greater than the posted speed of 40
mph according to the North Attleborough Police Department. One of the RSA team members suggested
that it may be desirable to incorporate the Route 1 northbound travel lanes into the signalized intersection
and possibly increase the severity of the right turn to reduce speeds on this approach. Traffic signals
Page 6
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
should not be used for speed control; however, in order to provide pedestrian accommodation across the
intersection (which does not currently exist), this approach traffic would need to be periodically stopped.
The design team will evaluate implications to the overall intersection operations if geometric and signal
modifications were incorporated into the Route 1 northbound approach.
The northbound approach at the signalized
intersection is two lanes but only one wide lane is
available to receive northbound traffic on South
Washington Street north of the intersection. There
are no signs or pavement markings at the
northbound approach to notify drivers of lane usage
and vehicles often use both lanes as “through”
lanes. If this is the intended operation of the lanes,
than additional signs and pavement markings are
needed to make drivers aware that they are required
to merge immediately as they travel north through
the signal. The curb line on South Washington
Street may need to be widened to accommodate two Vehicles traveling northbound from Route 1 to South
Washington Street may have to merge unexpectedly due
receiving lanes and the appropriate taper length for a to a lack of lane delineation on the pavement.
merge condition.
CVS Access to Route 1
A CVS retail store is located in the northeast quadrant of the intersection. The major access to the
business is from Route 1. Vehicles traveling northbound on Route 1 must cross the two Route 1
southbound lanes to enter the CVS. Vehicles stopped in the northbound lane to turn left into CVS may
cause delays for Route 1 traffic northbound. Vehicles exiting the CVS onto Route 1 northbound can also
cause delay as there is a significant speed differential and limited sight distance to vehicles traveling on
Route 1 northbound. No crash data was collected at this location; however, it was noted during the RSA
that the police department has responded to a number of crashes there. The design team should review
the crash records that are related to this entrance and work with MassDOT and the town to assess the
benefits and possible business implications related to extending the median and restricting the access /
egress to CVS.
Old Post Road
Old Post Road intersects Route 1 south of the intersection with Route 120. Old Post Road approaches
Route 1 from the east and intersects Route 1 at approximately a 45 degree angle. The proximity of the
Old Post Road intersection to the Route 120 intersection was identified as creating two safety issues: a
weave condition for vehicles that enter Route 1 from Old Post Road and want to continue straight onto
South Washington Street or turn left at Route 120; and delay on Route 1 southbound due to vehicles
attempting to turn left onto Old Post Road. Geometric modifications to Old Post Road that create a more
typical 90 degree intersection and/or the possible addition of a traffic signal at this location may improve
operations and safety at both intersections. The introduction of a south bound left-turning lane on Route
1 may be beneficial to separate these vehicles from Route 1 southbound traffic. No crash data was
Page 7
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
obtained for this intersection but the design team intends to evaluate the operational characteristics of this
intersection as part of a Functional Design Report that will be prepared for the Route 1/Route 120
intersection as the design process continues.
Enhancements:
1. Provide pavement markings through the intersection for the Route 1 southbound approach delineating
the turning lanes.
2. Widen the Route 1 southbound receiving lanes and shoulder to provide additional space for leftturning traffic.
3. Relocate the existing utility pole on the southwest quadrant of the intersection.
4. Provide two through lanes on South Washington Street northbound, traveling away from the
intersection with the appropriate warning signs and merging taper lengths.
5. Consider prohibiting the left turn from Route 1 northbound into the CVS by installing a median
island.
6. Consider geometric modifications to the Old Post Road/Route 1 intersection including the
introduction of a Route 1 southbound left turn lane onto Old Post Road.
Safety Issue #2 – Signage
Route 1 Northbound
Route 1 northbound travel lanes are not controlled
by the traffic signal. These lanes are designed for
high speed travel and function as a “through”
movement for vehicles. These lanes have the
right-of-way on Route 1 and vehicles traveling
from Route 120 straight onto Route 1 must yield to
vehicles on Route 1 northbound. One of the
crashes depicted in the crash diagram occurred at
this location when the driver failed to yield
correctly. No signage is present at this location
Route 120 (left) merges with Route 1 (right) but neither
indicating that a yield is required by the Route 120 roadway is controlled by a YIELD sign.
traffic as it merges with Route 1.
Vehicles approaching the intersection on Route 1 northbound are not given any advance notice that Route
120 requires a left turn at the approaching intersection. This may cause vehicles to make last minute lane
decisions which could contribute to collisions at the intersection. Three of the crashes indicated on the
crash diagram occurred as vehicles attempted to change lanes at this location.
Page 8
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Route 1 Southbound
No signal ahead warning or directional signs are
present on this approach. Four of the crashes at
this intersection were rear-end crashes that
occurred at the stop-line for the southbound
approach. Vehicles traveling southbound on
Route 1 may not anticipate the traffic signal and
vehicles stopped at the stop-line.
The intersection may be difficult for drivers to
apprehend from the Route 1 southbound approach.
Enhancements:
1. Provide a YIELD sign for vehicles traveling from Route 120 onto Route 1 northbound.
2. Provide advance directional signage on the Route 1 northbound and southbound approaches in
advance of the intersection alerting motorists of the required turn for Route 120.
3. Provide Signal Ahead warning signs on the Route 1 southbound approach.
Safety Issue #3 – Intersection Operations
Route 1 Northbound
No protected left-turn phase is present for this
approach and no left-turn lane is provided.
Three of the crashes indicated on the crash
diagram occurred when vehicles attempting to
turn left onto Route 120 collided with vehicles
traveling straight on South Washington Street
southbound.
Route 1 Southbound
Vehicles traveling on Route 1 southbound must
turn left at this intersection to continue on Route
1. Two lanes are provided for this movement,
The Route 1 southbound approach has an exclusive left-turn
phase but there are no left-turn arrows on the signals to alert
as well as a designated signal phase, which is
drivers that they have the right of way.
provided by the split phasing of the traffic signal
Page 9
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
between Route 1 and Route 120. However, no left-turn arrows are present on any of the signal heads
despite the protected left-turn movement. Lack of signal indication may cause some drivers to delay
movement if they are unaware that they have a protected left turn. Four of the crashes indicated on the
crash diagram were rear-end type crashes at this approach.
The signal heads are also difficult to identify from far away, and may not be aligned correctly for
approaching vehicles.
Hoppin Hill Road (Route 120)
Right-Turn-On-Red (RTOR) is allowed at this location.
Vehicles making a RTOR typically will look to their left
(South Washington Street) to identify an appropriate gap
in oncoming traffic. Due to the split phasing of the
intersection, vehicles attempting a RTOR may not be
aware that they must also assess the higher speed and two
lanes of turning Route 1 southbound traffic. This creates
an unexpected conflict, and therefore RTOR should be
reconsidered.
The signal heads are difficult to see when vehicles are
pulled up to the stop-line on this approach. Either the
stop-line or signal heads should be adjusted for improved
visibility.
Route 120 has no lane delineation which can create
confusion and allows two lanes of traffic to proceed
straight through the intersection to merge with
Route 1 northbound traffic.
The signal heads do not show left-turn arrows on any of the signal heads despite the protected left-turn
movement. Lack of signal indication may cause some drivers to delay movement if they are unaware that
they have a protected left turn.
Route 120 consists of one travel lane in each direction. Vehicles approaching the intersection form two
lanes to perform either of following movements; turn left on South Washington Street, proceed straight
on Route 1 northbound, or turn right to Route 1 southbound. Similar to the Route 1 northbound approach
at the signal, no pavement markings are present to delineate these movements. This often results in two
lanes of vehicles traveling straight through the intersection which then have to merge simultaneously with
Route 1 northbound traffic, (three lanes merging into one).
General Issues
The signal equipment is old and outdated. Some of the mast
arms are made of aluminum and located in median islands,
both of which are no longer desirable practices by MassDOT.
Many of the signal heads should provide arrows to indicate
protected turning movements. The Town has also indicated
that they maintain an emergency signal pre-emption system
Some mast arms are outdated aluminum and
are located in median islands, both of which are
no longer desirable to MassDOT. Many of the
signal heads should provide arrows to indicate
protected phasing.
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
on many of their signals and request this system be installed at this location as part of any improvements.
Enhancements:
1. Review traffic volumes/operations for the northbound left-turning lane at the intersection and restripe if warranted.
2. Replace the signal heads on the Route 1 southbound approach to indicate a protected left-turn phase.
3. Replace the signal heads on the Route 120 eastbound approach to indicate a protected left-turn phase.
4. Eliminate the RTOR from Route 120 onto Route 1 southbound.
5. Consider relocating the signal heads on the Route 1 southbound approach to a more visible location.
6. Consider relocating the signal heads on the Hoppin Hill Road (Route 120) approach to a more visible
location, or
7. Move the stop-line on Hoppin Hill Road (Route 120) back to allow increased visibility of signal
heads.
8. Review and evaluate traffic counts at the Route 120 approach to identify lane delineation and widths
that will provide operational and safety improvements.
9. Replace the entire signal system with new equipment.
Safety Issue #4 – Additional Enhancements
Pedestrian Accommodations
The intersection has very limited accommodations
for pedestrians. The intersection contains
sidewalks on three quadrants but has no pedestrian
ramps, crosswalks, or pedestrian signals.
Pedestrians attempting to cross the street at this
location must contend with high volumes of
traffic, many of them turning vehicles that may be
harder to identify as conflicts. Attempting to cross
the Route 1 northbound travel lanes is especially
difficult due to the high speeds of approaching
traffic, the lack of a STOP condition for vehicles
in these lanes, the width of the pavement (twoThere are no pedestrian ramps, crosswalks, or signal
lanes of traffic), and the reduced visibility of
indications at any location within the intersection.
pedestrians looking south to identify approaching
vehicles.
Page 11
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Bicycle Accommodations:
The intersection lacks adequate bicycle accommodations as required by MassDOT standards. Bicyclists
do not have a delineated shoulder to travel within and are required to “share the road” with motor
vehicles.
Street Lighting:
A majority of the crashes at this location occurred during nighttime hours. Many street lights are
present at this location; however, they may not all be functioning correctly. The street lighting
should be evaluated to determine whether they are operating correctly and providing adequate
visibility in compliance with applicable lighting standards.
Drainage:
Route 1 has a topographical low point south of the Route 1/Old Post Road intersection. The
existing catch basin at this location does not function properly and the roadway experiences
significant flooding during heavy rains. The Town has been proactive in seeking to address this
problem through the planning department and restrictions/mitigation requirements for
developments in the immediate vicinity. The Town continues to seek support from MassDOT
for improvements to this section of Route 1 that is owned and maintained by the state. The
Town will actively work in collaboration with MassDOT to encourage developers adjacent to
Route 1 that require planning board approval to address improvements to this important drainage
issue in the future. The design team should coordinate with both MassDOT and the Town to
ensure that this issue is addressed as part of any future intersection improvements.
Sledding:
During the RSA, the participants noted that during the winter months the hill in front of the
church on the southwest quadrant of the intersection is a popular sledding location. The hill
slopes towards the intersection and is not an ideal sledding location since the crash data indicates
that at least four crashes involved vehicles leaving the roadway at this specific location. There is
a considerable amount of Town owned land in this quadrant of the intersection and the design
team was encouraged to consider constructing an earth berm or some other physical separation at
this location to reduce the potential conflict between sledding and traffic on Route 1 southbound.
Enhancements:
1. Provide clearly marked crosswalks and pedestrian ramps and pedestrian signal phasing across all
intersection approaches.
2. Consider bicycle accommodations as part of a future intersection design.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the existing street lighting to determine whether upgrades or
maintenance is necessary and implement any corrective measures.
Page 12
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
4. Address drainage issues as a part of any future intersection design.
5. Provide a physical barrier behind the sidewalk on the southwest quadrant of the intersection to
minimize any potential conflict between sledding and Route 1 southbound traffic.
Summary of Road Safety Audit
MassDOT has retained Nitsch Engineering to provide transportation and engineering services for the
preparation of design plans for the reconstruction of the intersection of Route 1 and Route 120. As the
design process progresses, Nitsch Engineering will review the safety enhancements described above and
include in the proposed intersection design if feasible. However, the roadway owner may choose to
implement many of the suggested “Low Cost”, “Short-term” enhancements prior to the completion of the
design process if resources are available.
The safety issues, potential improvements, estimated safety pay-off, time frame, and cost are summarized
in Table 2 below. The safety pay-off estimates are categorized based on their estimated crash reduction:
low, medium, and high. Short-term improvements are typically categorized as taking less than one year,
mid-term improvements are categorized as one to three years, and long-term improvements are
categorized as taking more than three years. The costs are categorized as low (<$10,000), medium
($10,001 to $50,000), or high (>$50,001).
Page 13
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Table 2. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Intersection Geometry
Signage
Safety Enhancement
Provide pavement markings through the intersection for
the Route 1 southbound approach delineating the
turning lanes.
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Agency
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Widen the southbound receiving lanes and shoulder to
provide additional space for left-turning traffic.
High
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Relocate the existing utility pole on the southwest
quadrant of the intersection.
Low
Long-term
Low
MassDOT
Provide two through lanes on South Washington Street
northbound, traveling away from the intersection with
the appropriate warning signs and merging taper lengths
Low
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Evaluate safety and business impacts of prohibiting the
left turn from Route 1 northbound into the CVS by
installing a median island.
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
MassDOT/North Attleborough
Consider geometric modifications to the Old Post
Road/Route 1 intersection, including the introduction of
a left-turning lane on the Route 1 southbound approach.
Medium
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Provide a YIELD sign for vehicles traveling from Route
120 onto Route 1 northbound.
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Provide advance directional signage on the Route 1
northbound and southbound approaches alerting drivers
of the required turn for Route 120.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Page 14
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Agency
Provide Signal Ahead warning signs on the Route 1
southbound approach.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Review traffic volumes/operations for the northbound
left-turning lane at the intersection and re-stripe if
warranted.
Medium
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT
Replace the signal heads on the Route 1 southbound
approach to indicate a protected left-turn phase.
Medium
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT
Replace the signal heads on the Route 120 eastbound
approach to indicate a protected left-turn phase.
Medium
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT
Eliminate the RTOR from Route 120 onto Route 1
southbound.
Medium
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Consider relocating the signal heads on the Route 1
southbound approach to a more visible location.
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Consider relocating the signal heads on the Hoppin Hill
Road (Route 120) approach to a more visible location,
or
Low
Long -term
Medium
MassDOT
Move the stop-line on Hoppin Hill Road (Route 120)
back to allow increased visibility of signal heads.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Evaluate traffic counts at the Route 120 eastbound
approach to determine what lane delineation will
provide the safest and most efficient configuration.
Low
Short-term
Low
MassDOT
Intersection Operations
Page 15
Road Safety Audit - Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Safety Issue
Additional Enhancements
Safety Enhancement
Safety Payoff Time Frame
Cost
Responsible Agency
Replace the entire signal system with new equipment.
High
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Provide crosswalks, pedestrian ramps and signal
phasing.
Medium
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT
Consider bicycle accommodation as part of a future
intersection design.
Low
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Evaluate the effectiveness of the existing street lighting,
provide improvements as necessary.
Medium
Mid-term
Low
MassDOT
Medium
Long-term
High
MassDOT
Low
Long-term
Medium
MassDOT/North Attleborough
Address drainage issue as a part of any future
intersection design.
Provide physical barrier behind the sidewalk on the
southwest quadrant of the intersection to minimize any
potential conflict between sledding and Route 1
southbound traffic.
Page 16
Road Safety Audit—Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Appendix A: RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Route 1 (South Washington St.)/
Route 120 (Hoppin Hill Rd.)
Meeting Location: North Attleboro Police Headquarters
102 SOUTH WASHINGTON STREET,
NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH, MA
Friday, 07/15/2011
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Type of meeting:
High Crash Location – 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
Review of Site Specific Material
 Crash & Volume Summaries– provided in advance
 Existing Geometries and Conditions
9:45 PM
Visit the Site
 Drive to Route 1 / Route 120 intersection
 As a group, identify areas for improvement
10:15 AM
Post Visit Discussion / Completion of RSA
 Discuss observations and finalize findings
 Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
11:00 AM
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
 Before attending the RSA on July 15th, participants are encouraged to drive
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 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Appendix B: RSA Audit Team Contact
List
Road Safety Audit—Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Date:
July 15, 2011
Audit Team
Members
Gene Allen
Location: Police Headquarters
Agency/Affiliation
Email Address
North Attleborough Electric
gallen@naelectric.com
Bill McDowell
North Attleborough DPW
wmcdowell@nattleboro.com
Mark Hollowell
North Attleborough DPW
mhollowell@nattleboro.com
Mary Burgess
North Attleborough Planning Department
mburgess@nattleboro.ma.us
Tom McCafferty
North Attleborough Police Department
tmccafferty@nattleboro.com
Mark Fisher
North Attleborough Town Administrator
mfisher@north-attleboro.ma.us
Jim Hoyle
FHWA
jim.hoyle@dot.gov
Lisa Estrela-Pedro
SRPEDD
lestrela@srpedd.org
Robert Gregory
MassDOT – District 5
robert.gregory@state.ma.us
Barbara Lachance
MassDOT – District 5
barbara.lachance@dot.state.ma.us
Edward Feeney
MassDOT – District 5
edward.feeney@state.ma.us
Alex Lovejoy
MassDOT – District 5
alex.lovejoy@state.ma.us
Larry Cash
MassDOT – District 5
lawrence.cash@state.ma.us
Bonnie Polin
MassDOT – Safety
bonnie.polin@state.ma.us
Lisa Schletzbaum
MassDOT – Safety
lisa.schletzbaum@state.ma.us
Stephen Farr
Nitsch Engineering
sfarr@nitscheng.com
Fayssal Husseini
Nitsch Engineering
fhusseini@nitscheng.com
Corinne Tobias
Nitsch Engineering
ctobias@nitscheng.com
Road Safety Audit—Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Appendix C: Detailed Crash Data
4, 19, 20
1,
,7
12
,8
17
9
16
5, 13, 11
3,
6,
5
10
,1
18
2, 14
Crash Data Summary Table
Intersection of Route 1 and Route 120 (Hoppin Hill Road); North Attleborough, MA
2008 - 2010
# Month #
Crash Date
Crash Day
m/d/y
Time of Day
#
Manner of Collision (11)
Type
#
Light Condition (1)
Type
#
Weather Condition (2,3)
Type
Road Surface (6)
Type
#
#
Driver Contributing Code (24)
Type
D1
D2
1
2
3
5
5
6
5/5/08
5/15/08
6/13/08
Monday
Thursday
Friday
2:01 AM
3:49 PM
1:38 PM
1
2
2
Single Vehicle Crash
Rear-end
Rear-end
4
1
1
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
6
1
1
Fog, Smog, Smoke
Clear
Clear
1 Dry
1 Dry
1 Dry
Failure to keep in proper lane or
9 running off road
19 Inattention
1 No Improper Driving
4
5
6
7
12
12
7/8/08
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
5:03 PM
12/17/08
12/18/08
8:50 PM
6:00 PM
4
6
2
Sideswipe, same direction
Head on
Rear-end
1
4
4
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
1
2
1
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
1 Dry
2 Wet
1 Dry
19 Inattention
4 Failed to yield to right of way
1 No Improper Driving
78
22
7
1
1/7/09
Wednesday
12:24 AM
1
Single Vehicle Crash
4
Dark - lighted roadway
1
Clear
1 Dry
2 Exceeded authorized speed limit
32
8
5
5/3/09
Sunday
9:40 PM
3
Angle
4
Dark - lighted roadway
3
Rain
2 Wet
21
9
10
11
5
6
7
5/6/09
6/8/09
7/1/09
Wednesday
Monday
Wednesday
12:05 AM
6:36 PM
3:55 PM
3
2
2
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
4
3
1
Dark - lighted roadway
Dusk
Daylight
3
1
3
Rain
Clear
Rain
2 Wet
1 Dry
2 Wet
7 Driving too fast for conditions
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
10 manner
1 No Improper Driving
1 No Improper Driving
28
49
21
24
39
12
13
14
15
16
10
12
12
3
4
10/1/09
12/23/09
12/29/09
3/19/10
4/29/10
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Friday
Thursday
12:07 AM
6:38 PM
6:44 PM
7:59 PM
8:41 PM
1
3
2
2
4
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
4
4
4
4
4
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
1
1
1
1
1
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
1
1
1
1
1
19
4
1
19
6
20
51
44
50
18
43
19
19
42
17
5
5/21/10
Friday
6:59 AM
4
Sideswipe, same direction
1
Daylight
2
Cloudy
1 Dry
18
5
5/21/10
Friday
7:32 PM
1
Single Vehicle Crash
3
Dusk
1
Clear
1 Dry
Inattention
Failed to yield to right of way
No Improper Driving
Inattention
Made an improper turn
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
10 manner
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless,
careless, negligent, or aggressive
10 manner
19
7
7/2/10
Friday
7:12 AM
4
Sideswipe, same direction
1
Daylight
1
Clear
1 Dry
69
9
9/7/10
Tuesday
4:05 PM
4
Sideswipe, same direction
1
Daylight
1
Clear
1 Dry
97 Other improper action
Failure to keep in proper lane or
9 running off road
35
20
36
75
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the North Attleborough Police Department
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
22
53
28
44
43
38
26
55
Ages
D3
Comments
D4
Vehicle left the roadway Rt1 SB left
turn
Failure to stop in time
Failure to stop in time
Crossing over lane into another
vehicle Rte 1 NB
Failure to yeild making left turn
Failure ot stop in time
Vehicle left the roadway Rt1 SB left
turn
Vehicle left the roadway Rt1 SB left
turn
OUI
Failure to stop in time
Failure to stop in time
Vehicle left the roadway Rt1 SB left
turn
Failure to yeild making left turn
Failure to stop in time
Failure to stop in time
U-Turn across double yellow line
Rte 1 NB merge with Rt 120
18
25
Vehicle left the roadway Rt1 NB at
int.
Crossing over lane into another
vehicle Rte 1 NB
Crossing over lane into another
vehicle Rte 1 NB
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
CRASH MONTH
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
30%
20%
15%
10%
5%
5%
5%
5%
0%
J
F
5%
0%
M
A
M
J
J
0%
A
S
O
N
D
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
30%
25%
20%
10%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0%
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
60%
45%
40%
20%
20%
10%
15%
5%
5%
0%
6-10AM
10-2PM
2-6PM
6-10PM
10-2AM
2-6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
40%
35%
30%
20%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Crash Data Entry 06-24-2011
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
2 of 3
Head on
0%
0%
Rear to
Rear
Unknown
7/22/2011
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
55%
60%
40%
35%
20%
10%
0%
0%
Daylight
Dawn
Dusk
Dark Lighted
Roadway
0%
0%
0%
0%
Dark Roadway
not lighted
Dark unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
70%
10%
15%
0%
5%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
80%
0%
0%
Unknown
0%
Other
0%
Slush
0%
Water
(standing,
moving)
0%
Sand,
mud, dirt,
oil, gravel
Snow
Wet
0%
Ice
20%
Dry
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
CRASH DRIVER AGES
40%
31%
30%
20%
16%
13%
19%
13%
10%
3%
6%
0%
0%
15-20
Crash Data Entry 06-24-2011
21-29
30-39
40-49
3 of 3
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
7/22/2011
Road Safety Audit—Route 1 and Route 120, North Attleborough
Nitsch Engineering 8126.03
Appendix D: Additional Information