Arsenal Street Corridor Study
Public Informational Meeting 1
February 24, 2016, 6:00 PM
Watertown Middle School Auditorium
68 Waverly Avenue, Watertown MA

Agenda
2
• Introductions
• Study Process
• Background
• Study Area
• Study Organization
• Schedule
• Goals, Objectives, & Evaluation Criteria
• Public Involvement
• Existing Conditions Evaluation
• Next Steps
• Questions/Discussion
| www.mass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016

Introductions
• Study Sponsor – MassDOT
• Project Manager: Michael Clark
• Study Consultants
• VHB, Project Manager: Laura Castelli
• Regina Villa Associates
• RKG
• Working Group
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Study Process
February 24, 2016

Study Background and Purpose
• Evaluate existing and future multimodal transportation conditions along
Arsenal Street
• Develop and analyze alternatives that are intended to improve transportation conditions
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Study Background and Purpose
(cont.)
6
• A primary focus on the bus service along
Arsenal Street and locations where the bus service ties into other crossing bus routes
• The alternatives will be evaluated relative to criteria that relate to the study goals and objectives
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Local Study Area (Quantitative)
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Regional Study Area (Qualitative)
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Study Organization
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Study Process - Schedule
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Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation
Criteria
February 24, 2016 11 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation
Criteria
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• Goals: Define study intentions and purpose.
Objectives: How goals could be accomplished.
Evaluation Criteria: Measure how each alternative meets goals and objectives.
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Study Goals
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Improve mobility and traffic flow
Enhance safety
Improve accessibility and connectivity for all modes
Meet transportation goals while supporting economic development and improving quality of life
Meet transportation goals while minimizing impacts to the environment
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Study Goals (cont.)
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Develop a range of multi-modal recommendations that support ongoing changes and have lasting benefits
Encourage consensus through an open and inclusive process
Develop recommendations that target demonstrated needs
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Public Involvement
February 24, 2016

Public Involvement – Stay Connected
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6 working group meetings (4 remaining)
3 public meetings (2 remaining)
Project Website
• (sign up for email updates!)
Email Blasts/Social Media
Public comment period
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• Working Group meetings will be scheduled at key project milestones
• The project team will solicit input from the members throughout the project to best guide project development
• The Working Group will advise on local issues, represent and report back to their respective organizations, and provide regular feedback on study topics
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1 8
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• MassDOT
MBTA
FHWA
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• Communities of Watertown, Newton, Cambridge, Belmont, Boston, Waltham
State and local elected/appointed officials
Watertown Public Safety (Police/fire)
Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Massachusetts Department of Housing and Economic Development
Mass Smart Growth Alliance
Perkins School for the Blind
Armenian Cultural and Educational Center
Area businesses
Watertown Public Transit Task Force
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• Watertown Pedestrian Bicycle Committee
Watertown-Belmont Chamber of Commerce
• Watertown Commission on Disabilities
February 24, 2016

Study Website mass.gov/massdot/arsenalstreet
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Existing Conditions Evaluation
February 24, 2016 20 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Land Use & Demographics
5,710 Residents
2,740 Households
6,630 Jobs
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2015 Estimates based on US Census, Alteryx,
Dun and Bradstreet, and RKG Associates, Inc .
February xx, 2016

Socio-Economic Conditions
Demographics
Population & Households Employment
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Watertown Resident Commuting
Patterns
Watertown residents commute to:
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Boston (27%)
Watertown (18%)
Cambridge (11%)
Waltham (6%)
Newton (5%)
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2006-2010 for Watertown.
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Watertown Employee Commuting
Patterns
Watertown employees live in:
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Watertown (17%)
Boston (16%)
Waltham (8%)
Newton (4%)
Cambridge (4%)
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2006-2010 for Watertown.
| www.mass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016

Transit
Existing Study Area Routes
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Transit
Corridor Bus Operations
Span of Service
Source: MBTA Bus Timetables (valid from 9/5/15 to 12/25/15), accessed from www.mbta.com
on 12/1/15.
Average Frequency of Service (minutes)
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Source: MBTA Bus Timetables (valid from 9/5/15 to 12/25/15), accessed from www.mbta.com
on 12/1/15.
| www.mass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016

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Transit
Corridor Bus Stop Summary
• 9 Inbound Stops
10 Outbound Stops
Mix of near-side, far-side, and mid-block stops
Most stops consist of posted sign only (no formal shelters or passenger amenities)
Covered shelters provided at
Watertown & Arsenal Mall stops
February 24, 2016 27 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Transit
Corridor Bus Stops (Inbound)
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Transit
Corridor Bus Stops (Outbound)
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Transit
Daily Transit Ridership
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Transit
Maximum Passenger Loading
• Based on MBTA’s current Service Delivery
Policy, for bus routes
70/70A along the
Arsenal Street Corridor:
• Max average acceptable load = 54 passengers during peak periods
• Max average acceptable load = 39 passengers
(100% of seated capacity) during all other periods
February 24, 2016 31 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Transit
Existing Passenger Loading
• Route 70 fails current loading standards during the following time periods:
• Early AM (Inbound)
• Midday School (Inbound)
• Evening (Inbound and Outbound)
• Night/Sunrise (Inbound)
• Route 70A fails current loading standards during the following time periods:
• Early AM (Inbound)
February 24, 2016 32 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Transit
AM Peak 30-Minute Vehicle Loads
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Transit
PM Peak 30-Minute Vehicle Loads
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Transit
AM Maximum Corridor Vehicle Loads
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Transit
PM Maximum Corridor Vehicle Loads
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Transit
Key Considerations for Next Steps
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• Passenger Loading
• Route locations, time of day, and frequency of individual trips with high/exceeded passenger loading
Schedule Adherence
• Frequency and range of delays
• Actual versus Scheduled time between buses
Passenger Hours of Delay
Travel Time Variability
February 24, 2016 37 | www.mass.gov/massdot

Data Collection
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Arsenal Street daily counts
• 14,500 to 23,500 vehicles/ day
AM & PM peak period counts
• Cars, trucks, pedestrians, bicycles
• 14 signalized intersections
• 6 unsignalized intersections
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AM Peak Hour Multimodal Demands
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PM Peak Hour Multimodal Demands
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Vehicular Traffic Evaluation
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Infrastructure review
Signal inventories
Peak hour intersection analysis
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Intersection Operations
F E
A A
F D
B C
A A
B B
A A
A A
C C
B B
A A C C
A A
A B A A
D A
F F
F D
E F
AM PM
Signalized Intersection LOS
AM PM U nsignalized Intersection LOS
A/B
A/B
C/D
C/D
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E/F
E/F
February 24, 2016

Galen Street at Watertown Street/
Nonantum Road and Watertown Square
Imagery Source: Google Earth
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F D
F E
AM PM
I ntersection LOS
Average Queues
AM P
PM P eak Hour eak Hour
February 24, 2016

Arsenal Street (from Arlington Street/Coolidge
Ave to SFR/Western Ave/Birmingham Parkway)
F D
AM PM
Int ersection LOS
Average Queues
A
P
M Peak Hour
M Peak Hour
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F F
February 24, 2016
E F

Safety
Crash Data Reviewed
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• Top 200 Crash Locations Report
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP)
• Achieve significant reduction in traffic fatalities and serious injuries
• HSIP Eligible Cluster: Total number of “equivalent property damage only crashes in the cluster” within top 5% of all clusters in the region
• Weighted scale: Fatal Crash-10, Injury Crash-5, Property Damage
Crash-1
MassDOT Crash Database (2011-2013)
• Crash Rates – “crashes per million entering vehicles” for intersection
• Watertown – District 6 Average Crash Rates (ACR)
• Signalized Intersection: 0.76
• Unsignalized Intersection: 0.58
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Safety
Source: MassDOT
2011 – 2013 Top 200 Intersection Crash Cluster
2011 – 2013 HSIP Cluster
2004 – 2013 HSIP Bicycle Cluster
2004 – 2013 HSIP Pedestrian Cluster
2011 – 2013 Crash Rate Exceeds District 6 Average
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HSIP: Highway Safety Improvement Program
| www.mass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016

Safety
MassDOT Crash Database (2011-2013)
• 255 reported crashes over 3 years
• Majority of crashes
• Occur during weekday non-peak hours
• Property damage only
• Angle crashes
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Pedestrian Accommodations
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Sidewalks provided along both sides of the Arsenal Street corridor
Sidewalks mostly in fair to good condition
Curb ramp inventory conducted
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Sidewalk Deficiencies
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• Trees / roots
Telephone poles
Uneven surfaces
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Bicycle Accommodations
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Environmental Resources
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Limited natural resources in study area
Limited historical/cultural resources in study area
Limited hazmat in study area
NOT expected to affect development of alternatives, but will be evaluated
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Public Health Assessment
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Limited public health data at corridor level
Available community-wide data indicates that the top three health concerns affecting Watertown include:
• Obesity and inactive living
• Poor self-management of chronic disease
• Mental health issues
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Primary Public Health Contributors
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Access to public transit options
• MBTA 70 and 70A bus services
• MBTA rapid transit and commuter rails accessed via bus services
Access to ped/bike facilities
• Sidewalks on both sides
• Presence of on/off road and shared bike lanes
Prevalence of signalized intersections
Presence of mixed use development
Presence of parks/trails and school play grounds
Presence of street trees
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ass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016

Primary Public Health Barriers
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• Bus services at or over capacity
Lack of bus stop amenities
Insufficient pedestrian safety features (signal, ADA compliance, sidewalk accommodations)
Presence of high crash locations
Congestions and delays
High automobile traffic volume and noise levels
Lack of public-health conducive land uses and building façades (curb cuts, vacant land, automobile service establishments, large format retail)
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Next Steps
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Project 2040 Future Conditions
Identify issues, opportunities, & constraints
Develop and analyze alternatives
Working Group Meeting 3 – early spring
Public Meeting 2 – Summer 2016
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Open Discussion
Michael Clark | Michael.Clark@state.ma.us | 857.368.8867
Laura Castelli | LCastelli@vhb.com | 617.607.2764
mass.gov/massdot/arsenalstreet
56 | www.mass.gov/massdot February 24, 2016