Route 79/Davol Street Corridor Study
Fall River, MA
Public Information Meeting #1
March 21, 2013
Fall River Heritage State Park
Fall River, MA
Agenda
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Welcome and Introductions
Study Purpose and Background
Overview of Study Process
Study Framework
Public Involvement
Existing Conditions
Future No-Build Conditions
Issues, Constraints and Opportunities
Next Steps
Welcome and Introductions
• MassDOT - Ethan Britland – Project Manager
• Study Team
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Joe Cahill – Consultant Team Project Manager (TranSystems)
Lenny Velichansky – Consultant Deputy Project Manager/Traffic (TranSystems)
Jill Barrett – Public Involvement (Fitzgerald & Halliday)
Margaret Collins – Land Use/Economic Development (Cambridge Economics)
Bill Grace – Environmental (TranSystems)
Paul Schimek – Transit & Bicycle/Pedestrian (TranSystems)
Deanna Peabody – Traffic (TrafInfo)
Study Purpose and Background
• Study Purpose
• To identify and analyze conceptual alternatives to improve mobility and
connectivity while fostering economic development.
• Study Background
• Builds on previous studies conducted by the City of Fall River
• 1998 Harbor and Downtown Economic Development Plan
• Identified low amount of total and contiguous acreage along the waterfront with barrier created
by Route 79 as an impediment to economic development
• 2008 Route 79 Corridor Study
• Identified alternatives that altered the roadway network in the area of Route 79 and Davol
Street
• Recommended additional evaluation of alternatives related to impacts on the transportation
network, incorporation of South Coast Rail, and economic development potential
Study Process
Task 1
Task 2
Develop Goals &
Objectives,
Evaluation Criteria
and Public
Involvement Plan
Task 3
Identify Existing and
Future No-Build
Conditions and
Evaluate Issues
Task 4
Task 5
Analyze Alternatives
Develop Final
Recommendations
Develop
Transportation
Alternatives
Task 1
Task 1
Goals and Objectives
Study Area
Evaluation Criteria
Public Involvement Process
Goals and Objectives
Goals and Objectives
Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
•
Provide better multimodal connectivity between Fall River
neighborhoods and its waterfront
Enhance multimodal access to the future South Coast Rail
Balance local and regional mobility
Improve and enhance safety conditions
Increase opportunities for economic development and land use
Minimize potential impacts to the environment and community
Focus Area
Braga Bridge
Wilbur Avenue
Regional Transportation Impact Area
Veterans
Memorial
Bridge
I-195/Route 79
Interchange
Design-Build
Project
N. Main
Street
Route 79 /
Davol Street
Corridor
Eastern
Avenue
Watuppa Pond
Highland
Avenue
Taunton River
Evaluation Criteria
• Evaluation Criteria Categories
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mobility
Safety
Health and Environmental Effects
Land Use and Economic Development
Community Effects
Cost
Evaluation Criteria
• Mobility
•
•
•
Operational Functionality
Travel Time
Regional Efficiency
• Safety
•
•
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety
Vehicle Safety
Evaluation Criteria
• Health and Environmental Effects
•
•
Sustainable Design
Air Quality
• Land Use and Economic Development
•
•
Economic Development Potential
Socio-Economic and Fiscal Impacts
Evaluation Criteria
• Community effects
•
•
•
•
•
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations
Vehicular Accommodations
Visual Impacts
Compatibility
Construction Impacts
Evaluation Criteria
• Cost
• Implementation Cost
• Right-of-Way Cost
Task 1
Public Involvement
Working Group
• Consists of Representatives of Local and Regional Interests
Including:
•
•
•
•
•
Federal, state and local elected officials and agencies
Neighborhood community groups
Local advocacy and business groups
Southeastern Regional Transit Agency
Mass Coastal Railroad
• Role of the Group:
• To provide input to the team on the study process
• Represent respective organization with two-way communication
Public Involvement Plan
• Working Group
• Local officials & community members
• 6-8 meetings
• Public Meetings
• 2 meetings
• Newsletters
• Study Website:
www.mass.gov/massdot/route79
Task 2
Task 2
Existing Conditions
Future No-Build Conditions
Issues, Constraints and Opportunities
Task 2
• Assessment of Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
•
•
•
•
•
•
Land Use and Economic Development
Vehicular Traffic
Safety
Pedestrian and Bicycle Access
Transit
Environmental
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Land Use and Economic
Development
Key Economic Indicators
Fall River Compared to Massachusetts Average
Massachusetts Index = 1.0
2.5
2
12.4%
20%
1.5
Fall River
0.5
$65,500
38%
1
14%
11%
6.5%
$34,200
0
College
Household Income
Poverty
Unemployment
Mass Avg.
Average House Prices (Based on Actual Sales)
$350,000
Average House Price
$300,000
$250,000
LEGEND:
$200,000
Fall River
Massachusetts
$150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Land Uses in the Focus Area
Residential,
7%
Office, 9%
Industrial, 35%
Recreation, 12%
Vacant, 15%
Retail, 22%
Property Taxes in the Focus Area
• Waterfront Assessed values avg. $100,000 an acre.
• Assessed Valuation totals $43 M
• Generates $763 K in taxes
• 1.1% of City Tax Base
• Occupies just 0.3% of land area
Business Survey Results
• Field Survey of Businesses
• 36 businesses in the Focus Area
• 500 jobs
• Major Employers
• Teknikor – 60 jobs
• Rectoseal/Airtec – 50 jobs
• Commonwealth Landing
•
7 businesses & 200 jobs
• Executive Plaza
•
12 businesses & 70 jobs
2035 Developments (No-Build Scenario)
Restaurant on Remington Ave.
125 New Jobs
Marina at City Pier
6 New Jobs
Commonwealth Landing Mill
Population – 112
525 New Jobs
Regata Club
70 New Jobs
South Coast Rail
Focus Area Total
Population – 112
726 New Jobs
No-Build Scenario
Change in Population & Jobs (2010-2035)
120%
104%
Focus
AreaArea
Corridor
Area
Focus
100%
Fall
River
City
Fall
River
80%
Average
Average
60%
State
Massachusetts
Mass.
Average
Average
40%
20%
14%
19%
0%
Population
Population
8%
14%
JobsJobs
8%
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Traffic
Level of Service Criteria
Level of Service
Signalized Intersections
Ramp Merge/Diverge
Delay (sec/veh)
Density (pc/mi/ln)
A
≤ 10
≤ 10
B
>10-20
>10-20
C
>20-35
>20-28
D
>35-55
>28-35
E
>55-80
>35
F
>80
Demand exceeds capacity
2012 Existing Traffic Operation – Focus Area Level
Legend
AM PM
2012 Existing Traffic Operation – Regional Level
Legend
Braga Bridge
Wilbur
Ave
AM PM
Veterans Memorial
Bridge
Taunton River
President
Avenue
Eastern Avenue
Watuppa Pond
Future No-Build Conditions
• Travel Demand Model Developed by Central Transportation
Planning Staff (CTPS)
• Horizon Year: 2035
• Forecasts Based on Projected Socio-Economic Data:
• Population
• Housing
• Employment
• Roadway Network Generally Unchanged
• Includes I-195 / Route 79 Interchange Modifications
• South Coast Rail is Active
2012 Existing Traffic Operation – Focus Area Level
Legend
AM PM
2035 No-Build Traffic Operation – Focus Area Level
Legend
AM PM
2012 Existing Traffic Operation – Regional Level
Legend
Braga Bridge
Wilbur
Ave
AM PM
Veterans Memorial
Bridge
Taunton River
President
Avenue
Eastern Avenue
Watuppa Pond
2035 No-Build Traffic Operation – Regional Level
Legend
Braga Bridge
Wilbur
Ave
AM PM
Veterans Memorial
Bridge
Taunton River
President
Avenue
Eastern Avenue
Watuppa Pond
Three-Year Crash History (2008-2010)
10 Crashes
Rate = 1.00
3 Crashes
Rate = 0.28
14 Crashes
Rate = 1.21
9 Crashes
Rate = 0.54
2 Crashes
Rate = 0.18
48 Crashes
Rate = 1.75
16 Crashes
Rate = 0.84
6 Crashes
Rate = 0.48
45 Crashes
Rate = 2.00
7 Crashes
Rate = 2.09
Selected Crash Statistics
• Total of 160 crashes within the corridor over 3 years
• 6 intersections exceed statewide average rate of 0.81
• 2 Intersections are on MassDOT and SRPEDD High Crash
listing (President Ave. @ Davol St. NB and @ N. Main St.)
• Highest crash location is intersection of President Avenue
with northbound Davol Street: 48 crashes in 3 years (crash
rate of 1.75)
• 6 crashes within the corridor involving pedestrians or
bicycles
• 3 crashes involving pedestrians occurred at the intersection
of Lindsey Street with President Avenue
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Access
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Routes
Proposed South Coast Bikeway
Study Area Includes
Proposed Regional
Bikeway Link
Quequechan River Bike Trail and Regional Connections
Existing Path
Braga Bridge
Wilbur
Avenue
Planned Path
Future Connector
Future
Connector
Veterans
Memorial
Bridge
N. Main Street
Planned
Path
President
Avenue
Existing Bike
Path
Watuppa Pond
Taunton River
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Transit
Existing Bus Transit Routes
Future Transit – South Coast Rail
SouthCoast Rail – Fall River Depot
Local Bus
Connections
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Environmental
Mass Coastal Zone and Tidelands Jurisdiction
Wetlands and FEMA National Flood Hazards
Surficial Geology
Area Topography
MassDEP AUL Sites and Watershed Delineations
Protected Open Space and Cultural Resources
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Issues, Constraints and
Opportunities
Issues & Constraints
Transportation
• High crash rates on President Avenue and Davol Street
• A number of crashes involving pedestrians
• Lack of continuity in pedestrian paths of travel
• Lack of designated provisions for bicycles
• Limited connectivity between areas east and west of Rte. 79
• Developing congestion along Route 6
Issues & Constraints
Economic:
• Low income/high unemployment/poverty
• Low Real Estate prices indicate weak demand
Issues & Constraints
Economic:
• Low income/high unemployment/poverty
• Low Real Estate prices indicate weak demand
Land Use:
• Underutilized sites on the west side of Davol Street
• Shallow sites on east side of Davol St.
• Rail barrier on east side of study area from Central to Pearce
Street
Issues & Constraints
Natural Resources:
• Taunton River - Wild & Scenic River Designation
• Preserves & Protects the River for Future Generations to Enjoy
• Would Require Numerous Federal & State Agency Permits if Impacts to the River are
Proposed
Social and Economic Resources:
• Design Needs to be Sensitive to:
• Recreational Facilities (Bicentennial Park & the Boardwalk)
• Environmental Justice Population
• Employment Opportunities
Cultural Resources:
• Historic Neighborhoods Provide Ties to our Past
• Protected by Federal and State Regulations
Opportunities
• Excess capacity on Route 79 allows some flexibility in
development of alternatives
• Reconfiguration of Route 79/Davol Street Corridor will
facilitate safety and circulation improvements for all modes
• Pedestrian and bicycle access to and along the Taunton River
waterfront
• Bus service to sites along the Focus Area
• South Coast Rail – Transit Oriented Development potential
• Good supply of redevelopment sites along the river
• Riverfront becoming a regional draw
Existing and Future No-Build Conditions
Next Steps
Study Schedule and Next Steps
• Initiate Task 3: Alternatives Development
Aug
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3
Task 4
Task 5
Task 6
Define Study Area Goals and Objectives
Data Collection, Future Year Conditions,
Issues Definition, Constraints Identification
Alternatives Development
Alternatives Analysis
Draft and Final Recommendations
Final Report
Sep
W
2012
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
W
Mar
Apr
May
2013
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
W
P
Oct
Nov
W
(W)
W P
W
W – Working Group Meeting
P – Public Information Meeting
(W) – Working Group Meeting if Necessary
W
Dec
Questions
Questions or Comments?
www.mass.gov/massdot/route79