ROAD SAFETY AUDIT
Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
City of Quincy
December 29, 2015
Prepared For:
MassDOT Highway Division
Prepared By:
BETA Group, Inc.
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table of Contents
Project Data ................................................................................................................................. 1
Background ................................................................................................................................. 2
Project Description ..................................................................................................................... 2
Audit Observations ..................................................................................................................... 6
Potential Safety Enhancements ............................................................................................... 10
Summary of Road Safety Audit ............................................................................................... 14
List of Appendices
Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
Appendix D.
RSA Meeting Agenda
RSA Audit Team Contact List
Detailed Crash Data
Turning Movement Counts
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 ..................................................................... 10
Potential Safety Enhancement Summary ............................................................................. 15
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Project Data
A Road Safety Audit for the intersection of Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive was held on December 2,
2015 at the Quincy Police Department in Quincy, 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
John Mastera
MassDOT Highway Division – Safety Section
Zach Veaner
MassDOT Highway Division – District 6
Amitai Lipton
MassDOT Highway Division – District 6
Tom Currier
MassDOT Project Management
William Plant
Quincy Police Department
Allan Gillan
Quincy Police Department
Daniel Gorman
Quincy Fire Department
Deborah Finnigan
City of Quincy – Traffic
Kara Chisholm
City of Quincy – Planning
Irene Lutts
Quincycles
Mahendra Ughreja
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Chenyuan Wang
Boston Region MPO/CTPS
David Loutzenheiser
MAPC
Justin Curewitz
BETA Group, Inc.
Jaklyn Centracchio
BETA Group, Inc.
Page 1
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, 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 intersection of Sea Street at Quincy Shore
Drive due to the high number of crashes that have occurred over the latest three years. A project has been
initiated to make traffic and safety improvements to the intersection (MassDOT File No. 608013). The
RSA is intended to identify potential short and long term safety improvements that can be made at the
intersection, which can then be implemented through general maintenance for short term low cost
improvements or incorporated into the planned reconstruction project for long term improvements.
Project Description
The intersection of Sea Street and Quincy Shore Drive, shown in Figure 1, is located in the eastern part of
Quincy. Sea Street follows a general east-west alignment through Quincy; however, at the intersection
with Quincy Shore Drive, Sea Street runs generally north-south and is median separated. Sea Street serves
as a connector from Route 3A and Quincy Center to Houghs Neck.
Sea Street and Quincy Shore Drive are both functionally classified as Urban Minor Arterials, with Sea
Street under City jurisdiction and Quincy Shore Drive under Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR) jurisdiction. Quincy Shore Drive connects to Neponset Avenue (Route 3A), which functions as a
heavily-traveled cut-through route from Quincy towards Interstate 93 and Boston. Land use in the area is
primarily residential, with single family homes occupying the northwest and southwest corners of the
intersection. The east side of the intersection features the Fox and Hound Restaurant to the south and
Town House Apartments to the north with several driveways abutting the intersection along Sea Street.
The intersection of Sea Street and Quincy Shore
Drive is a T-type intersection under signalized
control. As previously discussed, Sea Street
travels generally north-south and forms the
north and south legs of the signalized
intersection. Quincy Shore Drive forms the west
leg of the intersection.
The Sea Street northbound approach to the
intersection provides two through lanes and a
left turn lane to Quincy Shore Drive; however,
no pavement markings or signage delineate
these lanes. The left turn lane is controlled by a
post mounted, three-section left turn signal head
on the opposing median island, with a “Left
on Arrow Only” sign mounted on it.
Sea St at Quincy Shore Drive
(looking south)
Page 2
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#151 SEA STREET
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FOX AND HOUND
RESTAURANT
LEGEND
PROJECT LOCATION
200
0
200
400
SCALE IN FEET: 1"=200'
Figure 1
Location Map
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
The two through lane signals heads feature vertical green arrow indications, classifying the lanes as
through lanes. The alignment of the northbound lanes requires a lane change when traveling through the
intersection. The southbound approach of Sea Street provides two through lanes, with right turns to
Quincy Shore Drive accommodated by a channelized right turn lane under signal control.
Quincy Shore Drive provides a single travel lane in each direction, widening at the intersection to provide
two left turn lanes to Sea Street northbound and a channelized right turn to Sea Street southbound. The
channelized right turn lane is under signal control with posted “No Turn on Red” signs and typically
accommodates two vehicles side-by-side, although it is not marked as such. Quincy Shore Drive also
provides a wide receiving lane (to accommodate two lanes) departing the intersection, with a W4-2R
(merge) sign approximately 125 feet from the stop line at the traffic signal. No pavement markings are
present to clearly delineate two receiving lanes in this section of Quincy Shore Drive. The intersection at
one point allowed dual left turns from Sea Street northbound, evident by the signal loop detector
placements on Sea Street.
Yellow edge lines are provided along the medians on both Sea Street approaches and Quincy Shore
Drive, with double yellow center lines striped further down Quincy Shore Drive. Solid white edge lines
are provided on both sides of Sea Street, but provide minimal offset from the curb. Quincy Shore Drive
provides solid white edge lines on both sides of the roadway with a varying 1-2 foot offset. Sidewalks are
provided on both sides of Sea Street and Quincy Shore Drive, with marked crosswalks provided across
the west leg of Quincy Shore Drive, and across both channelized right turn islands. Pedestrian signals are
provided across the south leg of the intersection, yet no marked crosswalk is provided. The traffic signal
provides a lead phase for protected northbound left-turns to Quincy Shore Drive with an eastbound right
turn overlap, a phase for through movements on Sea Street, a phase for Quincy Shore Drive movements
with a southbound right turn overlap, and a pushbutton-actuated pedestrian phase.
Crash data provided by the Quincy Police Department show 51 crashes in the three year period from 2012
through 2014. A collision diagram and crash summary are included in the Appendix. Angle (37%), rearend (31%) and sideswipe crashes (20%) are common at the intersection. The majority of the angle crashes
involved Sea Street northbound left-turning vehicles to Quincy Shore Drive. Of note are thirteen crashes
which involved a vehicle in the left turn lane continuing straight through the intersection, while a vehicle
in the middle travel lane attempted to turn left. Two additional angle crashes involved a left-turning
vehicle from Quincy Shore Drive and a Sea Street through vehicle. One crash involving a turning vehicle
from #151 Sea Street was noted as a “courtesy crash”, which occurs when a vehicle stops, contrary to the
rules of the road, to let another vehicle enter the traffic stream or turn across stopped traffic to a driveway
or side street.
Fifteen rear-end crashes occurred at the intersection: seven northbound, six southbound, and two
eastbound. Two of the 15 rear-end crashes were a result of distracted drivers, while two others involved
vehicles trying to squeeze by queued traffic to take right turns to Quincy Shore Drive. Ten sideswipe
crashes occurred at the intersection involving northbound vehicles: two involving vehicles trying to
merge when continuing through the intersection left turn lane, three attempting to turn left from Sea Street
to Quincy Shore Drive at the same time, and three jockeying for position approaching the intersection.
Two additional sideswipe crashes occurred in the eastbound channelized right-turn lanes.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Also of note were five fixed object crashes, three of which involved vehicles from Quincy Shore Drive.
Two of these crashes involved vehicles continuing through the intersection, striking fixed objects on the
east side of Sea Street. Another crash involved a vehicle striking a planter in the median when turning
right from Quincy Shore Drive.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Audit Observations
Following a brief introduction to the RSA process and a summary of existing geometry and crash
information, the audit participants were asked to discuss issues that affect safety at the intersection of Sea
Street at Quincy Shore Drive. Audit participants then conducted a site visit as a group, at which time they
offered observations on safety issues and concerns. A summary of those major safety considerations is as
follows:

Lane Configuration – A number of issues related to lane configurations at the intersection were noted.
o
The northbound approach of Sea Street provides three lanes at the intersection, a left turn lane
and two through lanes. It was noted that there are no pavement markings (arrow/only) or
signs delineating the lane use for the approach. A left turn signal head with a three-section
left arrow is provided for the left lane, while the middle and right lanes provide vertical green
arrows, denoting through lanes. The majority of crashes at the intersection can be attributed
to driver confusion over which lane they should be in. It is believed that the intersection
previously allowed dual left turns to Quincy Shore Drive from Sea Street; the lack of signage
or markings reinforcing the current intended operation creates confusion for drivers who may
assume that the previously allowed dual left turn is still allowed.
o
A “Left on Arrow Only” sign is mounted with the left turn
signal and is not compliant with the Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This sign does not clearly
state the restriction of left turns on the green arrow only.
o
It was noted by audit participants that the existing lane
configuration northbound on Sea Street directs vehicles in the
left most lane into the exclusive left turn lane rather than the
through lane. Two northbound travel lanes are provided in
advance of the intersection, widening to three lanes at the
intersection. The lack of proper lane use signage was also
noted as a safety concern, given the changing configuration of
lanes. Several sideswipe crashes occurred between vehicles
changing lanes in the intersection and can be attributed to
lack of lane designation signage.
Left on Arrow Only Sign
o
Pavement markings are faded along Sea Street. The lack of northbound lane markings to
delineate the exclusive left turn lane adds to confusion over intended lane configurations. It
was noted by audit participants that jurisdiction at the intersection creates a challenge for
maintenance. As Sea Street is under City of Quincy jurisdiction and Quincy Shore Drive and
the traffic signal is under DCR jurisdiction, the responsibility for maintaining pavement
markings at the intersection was discussed as an issue.
o
The Quincy Shore Drive eastbound channelized right turn provides enough width for two
lanes; however pavement markings are not provided to delineate this two lane section. This
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
turn movement was observed operating as two lanes on the day of the audit. Two sideswipe
crashes occurred on this channelized right turn and may be the result of confusion over lane
configuration. In addition, the southbound channelized right turn does not provide enough
width for vehicles to safely enter. Two sideswipe crashes also occurred at the channelized
right turn where vehicles tried squeeze by queued vehicles at the signal.

Signal Visibility – A number of issues related to signal visibility at the intersection were noted.
o
Signal visibility approaching the intersection was stated as a safety concern. This was
particularly noted for northbound traffic where visibility is limited due to the natural
curvature of Sea Street as well as the grade change along Quincy Shore Drive.
o
Overgrown vegetation blocks visibility of signal heads. This is especially notable for the
signal head mounted on the mast arm pole for the northbound approach.
o
Backplates are not provided for the overhead signals. Two crashes identified solar glare as a
contributing factor; one northbound and one southbound; however, it was noted by audit
participants that although solar glare was cited in the crashes, it does not appear to an issue at
the intersection. Backplates provide additional visibility of the signal head against the
background vista, which is especially useful when looking at the signal against bright sky.
o
Signal visibility approaching the intersection on Quincy Shore Drive was stated as a safety
concern. Visibility of the post-mount signal head on the mast arm at the intersection is
blocked by the D6/D8 guide sign. This issue was also noted for the right turn signal when
approaching the intersection southbound. Two crashes involving vehicles driving straight
across the intersection and striking fixed objects were seen and could be attributed to this
issue.
o
It was noted by audit participants that the signal head offsets for the left turns on Quincy
Shore Drive is less than required. Section 4D.13 of the MUTCD requires signal heads to be
located not less than 8 feet apart, measured from the center of the signal indications.

Emergency Pre-emption – Emergency pre-emption is not provided at the intersection. It should be
noted that both the Quincy Fire Department and Quincy Police Department vehicles are equipped
with optical emitters. One crash involved vehicles pulling over for an ambulance.

Pedestrian Accommodation — Several issues related to pedestrian accommodations and pedestrian
safety were raised by the audit team.
o
Pedestrian signals are provided only across the south and west legs of the intersection. It was
suggested that pedestrian WALK and clearance intervals are inadequate at the intersection.
Audit participants also suggested that some of the pushbuttons may not be working properly.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
o
Pedestrian accommodations are limited at
the intersection, especially on the
channelized right turn islands. In addition,
there are no marked crosswalks across Sea
Street; however, a wheelchair ramp and
pedestrian signal heads are provided on
the east side of the south leg of the
intersection. Pedestrian accommodations,
where currently provided, do not
consistently meet current ADA standards.
o
There are several obstructions in the existing
Sidewalk obstructions on Sea Street
sidewalk on the west side of Sea Street,
(looking northbound)
including traffic signal equipment and utility
poles. Of particular note was a D6/D8 sign base that is
currently missing the sign and was noted as a tripping
hazard for pedestrians. Throughout this section of
sidewalk, there is little to no accommodation for
pedestrian traffic and current ADA standards are not
met.
o
Audit participants noted that the sidewalk along both
sides of Sea Street, south of the intersection, do not
provide wheelchair ramps across side streets or
driveway openings. It was noted that pedestrians must
walk in the street in these sections to continue along
Sea Street.
o


D6/D8 sign base in sidewalk
Detectable warning panels are not consistently provided for any of the wheelchair ramps at
the intersection, as required by current MassDOT and ADA standards.
Bicycle Accommodations - Accommodation is not
provided for bicycles along Sea Street or Quincy Shore
Drive in the vicinity of the intersection. Shoulders, where
provided, are of an inadequate width for accommodation.
Access Management – The close proximity of commercial
driveways to the intersections was noted as a safety
concern. This was specifically noted for the Town House
apartments and for the Fox and Hound Restaurant. Crash
history does not suggest that these driveways are an issue
as no crashes occurred at these driveways.
Multiple driveways at the intersection
(looking northbound)
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.

Signage – It was noted that a non-compliant “No Left Turn” sign exists for the northern exit of the
Townhouse Apartments.

Guide Signs – It was suggested by audit participants that the guide signage (D6/D8) are
missing/located too close to the intersection. A D6/D8 sign base exists in the sidewalk on Sea Street,
indicating that a sign is missing. Other guide signs are located too close to the intersection to alert
drivers prior to making their lane selections.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Potential Safety Enhancements
After the site visit, audit participants returned to the meeting location to discuss the safety issues and
consider improvements. Audit participants were encouraged to consider both short and long term
improvements for each issue. Each improvement considered has been categorized as short-term, midterm, or long-term based on the definitions shown in Table 2. Additionally, a cost category has been
assigned to each improvement based on the parameters set forth in Table 2.
Table 2. Estimated Time Frame and Costs Breakdown
Time Frame
Short-term


<1 year
Costs
Low
Mid-term
1–3 years
Medium
Long-term
>3 years
High
<$10,000
$10,000–$50,000
>$50,000
Provide pavement markings clearly delineating lanes at the intersection. Lane lines should be
extended to the greatest extent practicable on each approach, and arrow and only markings should be
placed closer to the beginning of the exclusive left turn lane on the northbound approach along with
through arrows and only markings for the two through lanes. Edge and centerlines should be provided
on all approaches and along Sea Street to better delineate transitions and merges. In addition, install
an R3-7L sign to better define the exclusive turn lane. R3-7L signs should be placed at the beginning
of the exclusive left turn lane as well as at the approach stop line northbound. This is a short-term,
low cost improvement.
A “median bubble” should be added on the northbound Sea Street approach, providing protection and
definition for the left turn lane. This would also guide through vehicles into the two through lanes at
the intersection rather than forcing them into the exclusive left turn lane. Restriped markings would
provide better delineation for drivers and reduce confusion regarding lane designations. This is a
short-term, low cost improvement.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.










Consider widening the downstream median island to further prevent vehicles from traveling straight
through the intersection from the left turn lane. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Evaluate the need for signal timing and clearance adjustments at the intersection to reduce congestion
and improve operations during the peak periods. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Evaluate lane use northbound at the intersection. Audit participants discussed whether the northbound
approach should provide two left turn lanes and one through lane, or one left turn lane and a two
through lanes. This should be evaluated as part of the planned improvement project through analysis
of existing traffic volumes and signal timings. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
Replace existing “Left on Arrow Only” sign with MUTCD compliant signage. An
R10-5 sign should be installed to better define the exclusive left turn lane. In
addition to pavement markings, this sign will also alert vehicles of the exclusive
nature of the lane. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Stripe the eastbound channelized right turn lane as two lanes. Markings would
provide better delineation for drivers taking a right turn to Sea Street southbound
and reduce confusion as to whether there are one or two lanes. Dashed guide markings should also be
provided to direct the two lanes into the two southbound departure lanes. This is a
short-term, low cost improvement.
Consider the installation of Signal Ahead (W3-3) signage in advance of the
intersection on the northbound and eastbound approaches to alert drivers of the
signalized intersection. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Work with property owners to reduce the vegetation impacts to the visibility of signals at the
intersection. Trimming existing vegetation currently blocking signals would increase visibility. This
is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Reconstruct the existing traffic signal to a fully actuated signal with all new equipment including mast
arms, fixed-mounted overhead signals with backplates, emergency preemption and countdown
pedestrian signal heads. Backplates should have retro-reflective borders conforming to current
MassDOT and FHWA recommendations. Signal reconstruction to current MassDOT standards would
improve the visibility and conspicuity of the signals. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
Relocate existing D6/D8 guide sign blocking signal visibility on the Quincy Shore Drive and Sea
Street southbound approach further back from the intersection. This would improve visibility of the
existing signal for right turning vehicles on Quincy Shore Drive. This is a short-term, medium cost
improvement.
Consider installing a post-mounted supplemental signal head for the eastbound approach of Quincy
Shore Drive. The current signal heads are spaced too close together; adding a supplemental signal
would increase visibility for left turning traffic. This is a short-term, medium cost improvement.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.










Study pedestrian clearance times. The WALK and clearance intervals should be determined from the
existing traffic signal controller and compared to minimum requirements calculated based on the
latest MassDOT guidance. If existing pedestrian clearance times are insufficient, clearance times
should be increased accordingly. This change in pedestrian clearance times would allow pedestrians a
safe and sufficient amount of time to navigate the intersection. This is a short-term, low cost
improvement.
Inspect pedestrian pushbuttons for working condition. If pushbuttons are not functioning properly,
they should be replaced. This is a short-term, low cost improvement.
Provide pedestrian accommodations at the intersection and along Sea Street south of the intersection.
Accommodation should be provided throughout the intersections with sidewalks on both sides of the
street, ADA compliant wheelchair ramps, accessible pedestrian signals, detectable warning panels,
pushbuttons and crosswalks across all legs to carry pedestrians safely across Sea Street, Quincy Shore
Drive, driveways and all side streets. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
It was suggested by audit participants to stripe a crosswalk across the south leg of the intersection
where pedestrian signals are currently provided. An existing wheelchair ramp is provided on the east
side of Sea Street; however, no receiving wheelchair ramp is provided on the west side, in the
channelized island. If a crosswalk is striped where no crosswalk is provided today, current ADA
standards require a wheelchair ramp to be provided on both sides of the crosswalk. This is a midterm, medium cost improvement.
Remove D6/D8 sign base in the sidewalk along the east side of Sea Street. This is a short-term low
cost improvement.
Provide consistent pedestrian accommodations along the sidewalk along Sea Street,
removing/relocating existing obstructions and allowing for continuous clear-space throughout the
intersection. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
Provide bicycle accommodations, where feasible. Accommodations can be realized through dedicated
bicycle lanes, shared use lanes with sharrow markings, or widened shoulders meeting MassDOT’s
standard for bicycle accommodation. This would help provide a safer route of travel for bicyclists and
reduce potential conflicts with vehicular traffic. This is a long-term, high cost improvement.
It was noted that bicycle accommodation improvements are in the planning stages along Quincy
Shore Drive and should be considered/coordinated within any planned improvement projects.
Evaluate a shared-use path along the west side of Sea Street from the intersection with Quincy Shore
Drive to the intersection with the Southern Artery. This would provide accommodation for
pedestrians and bicyclists wishing to travel to the beach area without having to make a left turn at the
intersection. Also consider a bicycle box at the intersection for the left turning bicycle traffic. This is
a long-term, high cost improvement.
Consider access restrictions at adjacent commercial driveways by either consolidating driveways or
restricting them to a dedicated enter/exit or right-in/right-out design. If existing access is legally
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
permitted, the City should coordinate with property owners to determine if restrictions can be
accommodated. This would help reduce the turns for driveways. Of importance are the driveways of
the Town House Apartments and the Fox and Hound Restaurant. This is a medium cost, mid-term
improvement.

Upgrade the “No Left Turn” sign with an R3-2 sign for the Townhouse
Apartments driveway. Also upgrade the street name signage at the intersection.
This can reduce erratic driver behavior when looking for an intended destination
as well as alert drivers as to regulations at the intersection. This is a short-term,
low cost improvement.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
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, DCR or the City of Quincy would be
responsible for implementing the recommended improvement. The term “Project” refers to improvements
that are assumed to be included or could reasonably be accommodated as part of planned improvements.
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Provide pavement markings clearly delineating lanes at the
Lane Configuration intersection. Install an R3-7L sign to better define the exclusive turn
lane
Lane Configuration
A “median bubble” should be added on the northbound Sea Street
approach
Lane Configuration Stripe the eastbound channelized right turn lane as two lanes.
Evaluate lane use northbound at the intersection. Evaluate whether
Lane Configuration the northbound approach should provide two left turn lanes and one
through lane, or one left turn lane and a two through lanes.
Responsibility
Safety
Payoff
Time
Frame
Cost
City
High
Short-term
Low
City
High
Short-term
Low
DCR
Medium
Short-term
Low
City/DCR
Medium
Long-term
High
Signage
Replace existing “Left on Arrow Only” sign with MUTCD compliant
signage. An R10-5 sign should be installed to better define the
exclusive left turn lane.
DCR
Medium
Short-term
Low
Traffic Congestion
Evaluate the need for signal timing and clearance adjustments at the
intersection.
DCR
Medium
Short-term
Medium
Signal Visibility
Consider the installation of Signal Ahead (W3-3) signage in advance
of the intersection on the northbound and eastbound approaches.
City
Low
Short-term
Low
Signal Visibility
Work with property owners to reduce the vegetation impacts to the
visibility of signals at the intersection.
City
Low
Short-term
Low
Signal Visibility
Reconstruct the existing traffic signal to a fully actuated signal with all
new equipment including mast arms, fixed-mounted overhead signals
with backplates, emergency preemption and countdown pedestrian
signal heads.
City/DCR
High
Long-term
High
Signal Visibility
Relocate existing D6/D8 guide sign blocking signal visibility on the
Quincy Shore Drive and Sea Street southbound approach further
back from the intersection.
DCR/City
Medium
Short-term
Medium
Signal Visibility
Consider installing a post-mounted supplemental signal head for the
eastbound approach of Quincy Shore Drive.
DCR
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Study pedestrian clearance times. The WALK and clearance
intervals should be determined from the existing traffic signal
controller and compared to minimum requirements calculated based
on the latest MassDOT guidance.
DCR
Medium
Short-term
Low
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Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Table 3. Potential Safety Enhancement Summary
Responsibility
Safety
Payoff
Time
Frame
Cost
Inspect pedestrian pushbuttons for working condition. If pushbuttons
are not functioning properly, they should be replaced.
DCR
Medium
Mid-term
Low
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Provide pedestrian accommodations at the intersection and along
Sea Street south of the intersection. Accommodation should be
provided throughout the intersections with sidewalks on both sides of
the street, ADA compliant wheelchair ramps, accessible pedestrian
signals, detectable warning panels, pushbuttons and crosswalks
across all legs to carry pedestrians safely across Sea Street, Quincy
Shore Drive, driveways and all side streets.
City/DCR
High
Long-term
High
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Stripe a crosswalk across the south leg of the intersection where
pedestrian signals are currently provided and provide a wheelchair
ramp to complete connections both sides of the crosswalk.
City
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Remove D6/D8 sign base in the sidewalk along the east side of Sea
Street.
City
Medium
Short-term
Low
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Provide consistent pedestrian accommodations along the sidewalk
along Sea Street, removing/relocating existing obstructions and
allowing for continuous clear-space throughout the intersection.
City
High
Long-term
High
Bicycle
Accommodations
Provide bicycle accommodations, where feasible. Accommodations
can be realized through dedicated bicycle lanes, shared use lanes
with sharrow markings, or widened shoulders meeting MassDOT’s
standard for bicycle accommodation.
City
High
Long-term
High
Pedestrian/Bicycle
Accommodations
Evaluate a shared-use path along the west side of Sea Street from
the intersection with Quincy Shore Drive to the intersection with the
Southern Artery.
City
High
Long-term
High
Access
Management
Consider access restrictions at adjacent commercial driveways by
either consolidating driveways or restricting them to a dedicated
enter/exit or right-in/right-out design. If existing access is legally
permitted, the City should coordinate with property owners to
determine if restrictions can be accommodated.
City
Medium
Mid-term
Medium
Signage
Upgrade the “No Left Turn” sign with an R3-2 sign for the Townhouse
Apartments driveway. Also upgrade the street name signage at the
intersection.
City/DCR
Medium
Short/
Long-term
Low
Safety Issue
Safety Enhancement
Pedestrian
Accommodations
Page 16
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix A. RSA Meeting Agenda
Road Safety Audit
Quincy, MA
Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
Meeting Location: Quincy Police Department,
2nd Floor Training Room
1 Sea Street, Quincy, MA
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
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
Discussion of Safety Issues
 Crash history – provided in advance
 Existing Geometries and Conditions
10:30 AM
Site Visit
 Drive to the intersection of Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
 As a group, identify areas for improvement
11:00 AM
Discussion of Potential Improvements
 Discuss observations and finalize safety issue areas
 Discuss potential improvements and finalize recommendations
11:30 AM
Adjourn for the Day – but the RSA has not ended
Instructions for Participants:
 Before attending the RSA on December 2nd, 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—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix B. RSA Audit Team Contact List
Participating Audit Team Members
Quincy – Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
Email Address
Date: December 2, 2015
Audit Team Member
Location:
Agency/Affiliation
Justin Curewitz
Jaklyn Centracchio
Zach Veaner
Tom Currier
Mahendra Ughreja
Irene Lutts
Kara Chisholm
Daniel Gorman
William Plant
Allan Gillan
Amitai Lipton
John Mastera
Chenyuan Wang
Deborah Finnigan
David Loutzenheiser
BETA
BETA
MassDOT – District 6
MassDOT – Proj. Man.
DCR
Quincycles
Quincy Planning
Quincy Fire
Quincy Police
Quincy Police
MassDOT – District 6
MassDOT – Hwy Safety
Boston MPO/CTPS
Quincy Traffic
MAPC
JCurewitz@BETA-Inc.com
JCentracchio@BETA-Inc.com
Zachary. Veaner@state.ma.us
Thomas.Currier@dot.state.ma.us
Mahendra.Ughreja@state.ma.us
Quincycles@gmail.com
KChisholm@quincyma.gov
Dagorman@ Comcast.com
WPlant@quincyma.gov
AGillan@quincyma.gov
Amitai.Lipton@state.ma.us
John.Mastera@state.ma.us
CWang@ctps.org
DFinnigan@quincyma.gov
DLoutzenheiser@mapc.org
Phone Number
781-255-1982
781-255-1982
857-368-6163
857-368-9348
617-626-4977
617-471-2982
617-376-1050
617-750-0947
617-745-5811
617-745-5798
857-368-6313
857-368-9648
857-702-3698
617-376-1962
617-933-9743
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix C. Detailed Crash Data
COLLISION DIAGRAM
SYMBOLS
Crash reports for crashes 1, 3, and 19 could not be obtained and were not mapped.
Intersection: Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
Date Range: January 2012 - December 2014
Moving Vehicle
Non-Involved Vehicle
Pedestrian
Bicycle
Animal
Parked Vehicle
Fixed Object
Fatal Accident
Injury Accident
COLLISION TYPES
Rear End
Head On
Side Swipe
Out of Control
Left Turn
Right Angle
Backing Vehicle
Crash Data Summary Table
Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
01/01/2012 - 12/31/2014
5:23 PM
7:30 PM
1:10 AM
3:45 PM
Manner of Collision
Type
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Light Condition
Type
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Weather
Condition
Type
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
51
55
Monday
Thursday
Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday
Friday
Saturday
Tuesday
Thursday
Sunday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Friday
10:32 PM
1:56 PM
11:30 AM
10:54 AM
12:04 AM
5:36 PM
5:08 PM
6:46 AM
6:45 AM
4:37 AM
9:13 AM
6:22 PM
7:12 PM
7:30 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Angle
Rear-end
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Rear-end
Sideswipe, same direction
Rear-end
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Dark - lighted roadway
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Clear
Rain
Clear
Clear
Rain
Clear
Rain
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Wet
Driving too fast for conditions
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Made an improper turn
Distracted
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
No Improper Driving
Fatigued/asleep
Unknown
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
No Improper Driving
24
23
49
48
54
54
44
42
21
39
73
44
24
33
47
40
28
65
30
56
23
69
60
56
27
1/19/13
3/9/13
3/26/13
5/2/13
6/17/13
8/4/13
Saturday
Saturday
Tuesday
Thursday
Monday
Sunday
12:00 AM
4:00 PM
2:34 PM
9:02 AM
12:00 PM
1:57 PM
Unknown
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Angle
Unknown
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Unknown
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Clear
Unknown
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Dry
Unknown
Followed too closely
Followed too closely
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
Failed to yield right of way
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
31
49
37
41
66
57
27
44
55
60
33
25
26
27
28
29
8/16/13
8/20/13
9/10/13
10/8/13
11/2/13
Friday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Saturday
11:51 AM
7:44 AM
12:46 PM
6:58 AM
6:08 PM
Rear-end
Angle
Angle
Angle
Angle
Daylight
Dawn
Daylight
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
30
19
35
91
21
50
30
31
32
11/7/13
11/30/13
12/6/13
Thursday
Saturday
Friday
4:24 PM
1:14 PM
5:39 PM
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Dusk
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Rain
Clear
Rain
Wet
Dry
Wet
33
23
54
46
34
36
33
34
35
12/20/13
12/23/13
1/4/14
Friday
Monday
Saturday
7:30 AM
7:57 PM
2:45 PM
Sideswipe, same direction
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Dry
Wet
Wet
58
43
35
22
25
Hit and Run
Both veh tried to merge into middle lane
Solar Glare WB
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
2/5/14
3/11/14
4/8/14
4/21/14
5/10/14
5/23/14
5/30/14
6/3/14
Wednesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Monday
Saturday
Friday
Friday
Tuesday
6:26 AM
1:23 PM
12:35 PM
10:37 AM
10:57 AM
10:15 AM
6:33 AM
11:59 AM
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Angle
Angle
Rear-end
Rear-end
Dawn
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Daylight
Clear
Rain
Clear
Severe
Crosswinds
Clear
Clear
Clear
Cloudy
Cloudy
Clear
Clear
Snow
Dry
Dry
Dry
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Inattention
Unknown
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
Unknown
Failed to yield right of way
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or
aggressive manner
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Inattention
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or
aggressive manner
No Improper Driving
Glare
Swerving or avoiding due to wind, slippery surface, vehicle, object,
non-motorist in roadway, etc.
Distracted
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
Failed to yield right of way
Inattention
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
Glare
Distracted
20
55
24
26
63
44
39
36
30
33
44
22
32
27
36
33
V1 slid into V2 due to icy road conditions
Distracted by child passenger
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
44
7/3/14
Thursday
5:46 PM
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or
aggressive manner
21
18
45
46
47
7/5/14
7/23/14
8/2/14
Saturday
Wednesday
Saturday
3:49 PM
3:24 PM
4:46 PM
Single Vehicle Crash
Angle
Sideswipe, same direction
Daylight
Unknown
Daylight
Clear
Unknown
Cloudy
Dry
Unknown
Dry
Operating Vehicle in erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or
aggressive manner
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
No Improper Driving
70
36
51
55
45
48
49
50
8/25/14
12/3/14
12/12/14
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
7:08 AM
9:32 PM
1:30 PM
Rear-end
Rear-end
Angle
Daylight
Dark - lighted roadway
Daylight
Clear
Rain
Cloudy
Dry
Wet
Unknown
Inattention
Unknown
Failure to keep in proper lane or running off road
48
26
22
24
20
37
51
12/27/14
Saturday
5:18 PM
Rear-end
Dark - lighted roadway
Clear
Dry
No Improper Driving
28
50
Crash
Diagram
Ref #
1
2
3
4
Crash Date
Crash Day
m/d/y
Sunday
1/22/12
Saturday
1/28/12
Sunday
5/27/12
Sunday
5/27/12
Time of Day
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
6/4/12
6/14/12
7/4/12
7/19/12
7/28/12
8/3/12
8/4/12
9/18/12
10/4/12
10/28/12
11/6/12
11/7/12
12/5/12
12/7/12
19
20
21
22
23
24
Wet
Dry
Dry
Dry
Road Surface
Type
Driver Contributing Code
Type
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
Unknown
Unknown
Disregarded traffic signs, signals, road markings
*Courtesy Crash - A term used to describe a crash that occurs subsequent to a non-involved mainline driver who gives the right of way, contrary to the rules of the road, to another driver.
Summary based on Crash Reports obtained from the City of Quincy Police Department and MassDOT
D1
Ages
D2
Comments
D3
No Crash Report
30
50
44
34
No Crash Report
Ran Red Light
V2 hit planter in median attempting RT from QSD. Planter knocked off median
into V1.
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Both vehicles tried to merge into middle lane
Out of roadway (in parking lot)
Hit and Run, attempting to squeeze by for right turn
Driver fell asleep
Courtesy Crash*
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Report does not contain narrative or diagram. Based on driver information it
appears V1 struck a planter.
D1 deliberately bumped V2 as they were not moving on green signal.
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Uninvolved veh let a vehicle in, V1 slowed. Combo Rear-end V3>V2>V1. D2
35 transported
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
V2 = Bus, Traveled Straight in LT Lane
Hit and Run, attempted to take left turn from outer-most lane
26
V1 merged into V2
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Misjudged due to solar glare
Distracted by child passenger
V1 lost control due to speed after RT from QSD, struck V2. D2 transported
V1 struck telephone pole, then continued into parking lot striking fence and 6
parked cars.
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
V1 attempted to scoot around stopped veh for RT to QSD but stopped. V2
continued.
Slid due to wet roadway
Traveled straight in left turn Lane/making a left turn from middle lane
Uninvolved veh stopped for Ambulance on opposite side of street. V1
stopped, V2 sweved right into rear of V1 and fence/tree
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
CRASH MONTH
20%
15%
10%
12%
8%
10%
8%
6%
5%
12%
16%
14%
4%
2%
4%
6%
0%
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
CRASH DAY OF WEEK
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
20%
15%
18%
10%
Monday
Tuesday
N
D
24%
16%
12%
12%
Wednesday
Thursday
10%
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
CRASH TIME OF DAY
16%
14%
18%
16%
12%
10%
10%
6%
4%
5%
0%
O
6AM8AM
8AM10AM
2% 2%
10AM12PM
12PM2PM
2PM4PM
4PM6PM
6PM8PM
8PM10PM
10PM12AM
0%
12AM2AM
2AM4AM
2%
4AM6AM
CRASH MANNER OF COLLISION
37%
40%
31%
30%
20%
20%
10%
0%
4524 Crash Reports.xlsx
8%
0%
Single
Vehicle
Crash
Rear-end
Angle
Sideswipe, Sideswipe,
same
opposite
direction
direction
2 of 3
0%
0%
Head on
Rear to
Rear
4%
Unknown
11/23/2015
Crash Data Summary Tables and Charts
Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive
CRASH LIGHT CONDITION
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
61%
27%
Daylight
4%
2%
Dawn
Dusk
Dark Lighted
Roadway
6%
0%
0%
0%
Dark Roadway
not lighted
Dark unknown
roadway
lighting
Other
Unknown
CRASH WEATHER CONDITION
0%
Other
Severe
Crosswinds
Blowing
sand, snow
0%
6%
Unknown
2%
0%
Fog, Smog,
Smoke
0%
Sleet, Hail,
Freezing
Rain
Rain
0%
Snow
14%
Cloudy
16%
Clear
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
63%
CRASH ROAD SURFACE
80%
65%
60%
40%
25%
20%
0%
Dry
Wet
2%
0%
Snow
Ice
0%
0%
Sand, mud, Water
dirt, oil, (standing,
gravel
moving)
0%
0%
0%
Slush
Other
Unknown
CRASH DRIVER AGES
30%
26%
26%
18%
20%
10%
0%
4524 Crash Reports.xlsx
17%
7%
2%
15-20
21-29
30-39
40-49
3 of 3
50-59
60-69
2%
1%
70-79
80+
11/23/2015
Road Safety Audit—Sea Street at Quincy Shore Drive – Quincy, MA
Prepared by BETA Group, Inc.
Appendix D. Turning Movement Counts
May 2013 Traffic Counts
Quincy Shore
Drive
Sea Street
Sea Street
Condo Dwy
AM (PM) Peak Hours:
7:15-8:15AM
4:00-5:00PM
Count Dates: Thursday, May 9, 2013
Legend:
Vehicle Travel
Pedestrian Travel (Crosswalk)
Pedestrian Travel (No Crosswalk)
Not To Scale
Quincy Shore
Drive
May 2015 Traffic Counts
Sea Street
Sea Street
Condo Dwy
AM (PM) Peak Hours:
7:15-8:15AM
5:00-6:00PM
Count Dates: Thursday, May 28, 2015
Legend:
Vehicle Travel
Pedestrian Travel (Crosswalk)
Pedestrian Travel (No Crosswalk)
Not To Scale
SEA STREET AT
QUINCY SHORE DRIVE
Quincy, MA
Figure D-1
2013 and 2015
Weekday Peak Hour Counts