Selection of FFY 2022 Subregional Priority Roadway Study Location

During the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) outreach to develop the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) subregional groups and other entities submit comments that identify transportation issues that concern them. Often, these issues are related to bottlenecks, safety, or lack of safe or convenient access to abutters along roadway corridors. These issues can affect mobility and safety along a roadway and its side streets, and also livability, quality of life, economic development, and air quality.

To address these concerns, MPO staff developed a work program titled Addressing Safety, Mobility, and Access on Subregional Priority Roadways. The program adheres to the following MPO goals:

The program has been well received by municipalities and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) district offices. The program has been in the UPWP since 2013, including this federal fiscal year (FFY) 2022.1

A primary purpose of the program is to identify roadway segments in the Boston region that are of concern to subregional groups but have not been cited in the LRTP regional needs assessment.2 Each year, a study conducted through the program emphasizes issues identified by the relevant subregional groups and provides recommendations to address the identified issues. These studies typically focus on mobility, safety, and access, as well as the topics of bicycle, pedestrian, and freight transportation, transit feasibility, and other subjects raised by subregional groups.

This memorandum presents the procedure used to select roadways for the FFY 2022 study, including the methods for data gathering, developing selection criteria, rating candidate roadways, and choosing the roadway corridor for study.

2 Selection Procedure

2.1 Gathering Data and Identifying Potential Roadways for Study

For the FFY 2022 study, MPO staff identified potential roadways to study through various means:

Locations with projects that currently are under construction, in design, under study, or programmed in the TIP were excluded from further consideration. After the exclusion, MPO staff identified 20 roadway segments in the region for potential study. Table 1 presents data assembled for each roadway segment and indicates the municipality, MAPC subregion, MassDOT district office, jurisdiction, length, functional class, average daily traffic, overall crash rates, bicycle and pedestrian crashes per mile, crash clusters eligible for Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding, and relevant studies and projects.3 Table 1 also cites the results of applying the selection criteria and priority ratings. Roadway segments are sorted by score, MassDOT District, and roadway name.

2.2 Selection Criteria

MPO staff examined roadway locations more closely and prioritized locations by applying a score based on safety conditions, multimodal significance, subregional priority, implementation potential, and regional equity:

2.3 Rating Potential Roadways for Study

Roadway segments with a score of five points or fewer were rated as low priority. Roadway segments with a score of six to seven points were rated medium priority. Roadway segments with a score of eight or more points were rated high priority. Among the 20 potential locations, MPO staff identified five as high priority:

Among the five high-priority locations, Washington Street in Canton was rated highest. Meanwhile, the corridor is highly qualified for pedestrian accommodation or safety improvement requirements based on the MPO’s Pedestrian Report Card Assessment.6 Appendix A contains detailed results of the assessment.

3 Selected study Location: WASHINGTON street in cANTON

MPO staff recommends Washington Street in Canton for this study cycle. The selection was based on the following considerations:

Figure 1 shows the locations of this study and the previously studied corridors in the region. Washington Street is a major north-south corridor that passes through the center of Canton, with an average of about 15,000 vehicles per day. All the segments in the selected corridor are classified as Urban Principal Arterial and are under the Town of Canton’s jurisdiction.

Washington Street from Cobbs Corner to Sherman Street, including the intersections at both ends, is the potential study limit (approximately 1.6 miles in length). It contains downtown Canton and a major commercial district near Cobbs Corner (Washington Street at Route 27). The Town of Canton recently completed a town master plan, which identified these two areas as priorities for implementation. The Town is very supportive of this study. The section in between the two areas is a densely settled residential district with local businesses scattered throughout.

The Town of Canton also expressed that the corridor contains multifamily buildings and affordable housing units, including Canton Housing Authority units for seniors. Thus, improving the accommodation and safety for people who walk would significantly benefit the seniors and people with disabilities. Meanwhile, improving the accommodation and safety for people who bike on Washington Street is one of the high priorities in the town master plan. A letter of support for this study from the Town’s administrator and select board is attached in Appendix B.

4 Summary

The selection of this corridor meets the objectives of this study. Meanwhile, it will support the MPO goals by improving subregional transportation safety and mobility and promoting regional economic vitality.

MPO staff is submitting this proposal to the MPO for discussion and approval. If the MPO approves this selection, staff will meet with officials from Canton, MassDOT, and MAPC to discuss the study specifics, conduct field visits, collect data, and perform various analyses.

APPENDICES

The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) operates its programs, services, and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, and related statutes and regulations. Title VI prohibits discrimination in federally assisted programs and requires that no person in the United States of America shall, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency), be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity that receives federal assistance. Related federal nondiscrimination laws administered by the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Transit Administration, or both, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, sex, and disability. The Boston Region MPO considers these protected populations in its Title VI Programs, consistent with federal interpretation and administration. In addition, the Boston Region MPO provides meaningful access to its programs, services, and activities to individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with U.S. Department of Transportation policy and guidance on federal Executive Order 13166.

The Boston Region MPO also complies with the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law, M.G.L. c 272 sections 92a, 98, 98a, which prohibits making any distinction, discrimination, or restriction in admission to, or treatment in a place of public accommodation based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or ancestry. Likewise, the Boston Region MPO complies with the Governor's Executive Order 526, section 4, which requires that all programs, activities, and services provided, performed, licensed, chartered, funded, regulated, or contracted for by the state shall be conducted without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, disability, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background.

To request this information in a different language or in an accessible format, please contact

Title VI Specialist
Boston Region MPO
10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150
Boston, MA 02116
civilrights@ctps.org

For people with hearing or speaking difficulties, connect through the state MassRelay service:

1 The FFY 2022 Unified Planning Work Program was endorsed by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization on August 19, 2021.

2 Boston Region MPO Work Program for Addressing Priority Corridors from the Long-Range Transportation Plan Needs Assessment: Federal Fiscal Years 2012–21.

3 HSIP-eligible crash clusters are defined by MassDOT as crash clusters that rank within the top five percent of crash clusters for each Regional Planning Agency, based on the Equivalent Property Damage Only (EPDO) index. In the EPDO index, crashes resulting in property damage only and crashes in which the severity is unknown are given one point each, and fatal crashes and crashes involving injuries are given 21 points each. In the Boston region, 452 intersections are identified from MassDOT’s 2015–17 Crash Data as the top five percent crash clusters with a minimum EPDO value of 114.

4 Sufficient pedestrian accommodation is defined as having more than 80 percent of the roadway containing a minimum of five-foot sidewalks in both directions. Sufficient bicycle accommodation is defined as having more than 80 percent of the roadway containing a minimum of five-foot shoulders (or bicycle lanes) in both directions.

5 The adjacent areas are within one-half mile of the analyzed location. The thresholds of the six MPO transportation equity indicators are 1) minority population equal or greater than the region’s average of 28.2%, 2) low-income population (200% of poverty level) equal or greater than the region’s average of 23.0%, 3) people with limited English proficiency equal or greater than the region’s average of 10.6%, 4) elderly population (75 and older) equal or greater than the region’s average of 6.7%, 5) youth population (17 and under) equal or greater than the region’s average of 20.6%, and 6) people with disabilities equal or greater than the region’s average of 10.0%.

6 Ryan Hicks and Casey-Marie Claude, Pedestrian Level-of-Service Memorandum, Boston Region Metropolitan Organization, January 19, 2017.

Roadway	Location	Community	MAPC Subregion	MassDOT District	Jurisdiction	Length (Miles)	Functional Classification*	Average Daily Traffic	Number of Crashes 2013–17	Number of Injury and Fatal Crashes 2013-17	Number of Bicycle Crashes 2013–17	Number of Pedestrian Crashes 2013–17	Statewide Average Crash Rate (MVMT)	Corridor Overall Crash Rate (MVMT)	Pedestrian and Bike Crashes Per Mile	HSIP-Eligible Crash Clusters 2015–17	Study, Project, or TIP Project	Safety Conditions	Multimodal Significance	Subregional Priority	Implementation Potential	Transportation and Regional Equity	Score	Overall Assessment	Summary of Comments
Washington Street	Sherman Street to Cobbs Corner	Canton	TRIC	6	Canton	1.6	3	15,000	248	47	1	9	3.58	5.7	6.3	0	No recent projects.	2	2	2	2	2	10	High	In FFY 2021 TRIC meeting, Canton cited the corridor as a focus area in the Town's Master Plan to improve walkability and bikeability and to support increasing economic activities. Canton requested a study of the downtown section for signal coordination and pedestrian and bicycle safety and mobility improvements (2015 UPWP outreach).
Route 135	Hopkinton town line to Framingham city line	Ashland	MWRC	3	Ashland	3.1	3	12,000	233	53	4	6	3.58	3.4	3.2	0	MassDOT Project 603602: Ashland- Bridge Replacement, A-14-002, Route 135 (Union Street) over the Sudbury River. The proposed project consists of replacing the existing Union Street (Route 135) bridge over the Sudbury River in its present location with minor improvements to the approach roadways. Completed in 2012.	1	2	2	2	1	8	High	In FFY 2018 MWRC meeting, Route 135 from Hopkinton to Natick was cited as a regional corridor needing Complete Streets improvements.
Power Mill Road (Route 62)	High Street (Acton) to Waltham Street (Maynard)	Acton, Maynard	MAGIC	4	MassDOT	1.4	3	12,000	112	13	1	2	3.58	3.7	2.1	0	No recent projects.	2	1	2	1	2	8	High	In FFY 2021 MAGIC meeting, Maynard cited it as a priority corridor to improve walkability and bikeability and to support potential economic investments. A study to create redevelopment vision for economic activities in the corridor was recently completed.
Lafayette Street (Route 1A/114)	Derby Street to Marblehead town line	Salem	NSTF	4	Salem	1.8	3	20,000	306	98	8	18	3.58	4.7	14.4	0	No recent projects.	2	2	1	1	2	8	High	North Shore Community Development Coalition cited this location in 2019 MPO outreach meeting.
High Street (Route 1A/Route 133)	Lord Square to Haverhill Street (Rowley)	Ipswich, Rowley	NSTF	4	MassDOT, Ipswich	2.8	3	15,000	160	43	2	7	3.58	2.1	3.2	0	No recent projects. MassDOT Project 602146: Resurfacing and pedestrian improvements on the section of Route 133 in Ipswich between Route 1A and the Essex town line. Project implemented in 2009.	1	2	2	2	1	8	High	In FFY 2021 NSTF meeting, High Street was cited as a hstorical street that needs infrastructural and Complete Streets improvements.
Route 1	Plainville town line to Foxborough town line	Wrentham	SWAP	5	MassDOT	2.5	3	27,500	223	65	0	0	3.58	1.8	0.0	1	MassDOT Project 608497: Resurfacing project along Route 1 in Wrentham between Plainville and Foxborough town lines. In preliminary design phase.	1	2	2	2	1	8	High	MassDOT District 5 proposed this location for study (August, 2019). This undivided highway carries a high volume of traffic and and lacks pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. There are a number of ongoing and planned developments in the corridor.
Route 109	Millis town line to Dover town line	Medfield	TRIC	3	Medfield	3.2	3	16,000	296	47	3	1	3.58	3.2	1.3	0	MassDOT Project 609344:Medfield- Millis- Bridge Preservation, M-11-002, West Street over the Charles River and M-11-003, State 109 (Main Street) over the Charles River. This project is in the preliminary design phase.	1	2	2	1	1	7	Medium	In FFY 2018 UPWP outreach, Route 109 is cited as a major subregional travel route to Interstate 95/Route 128.
Route 85	Hopkinton town line to Malborough city line	Southborough	MWRC	3	Southborough	4.3	5	8,000	194	31	0	0	3.49	3.1	0.0	0	MassDOT Project 603793: Rreplacement of the Route 85 (River Street) bridge over the Sudbury River, which connects Hopkinton and Southborough. Construction ended in Summer 2014.	1	2	2	1	1	7	Medium	In FFY 2018 MWRC meeting, Route 85 (Cordaville Road) was cited as a corridor needing improvements.
Route 2A (King Street)	Route 495 Southbound ramps to Ayer town line	Littleton	MAGIC	3	MassDOT	2.5	3	14,000	139	38	0	1	3.58	2.2	0.4	0	MassDOT 608443: Intersection Improvements on Route 2A at Willow Road and Bruce Street. The project involves intersection improvements, including geometric modifications, widening and signalization. Additional improvements involve updated signage and pavement markings. 75% functional design commented (as of 08/26/2021 ).	1	2	2	0	2	7	Medium	Requested by Littleton in 2015.
Edgell Road	Water Street to the north of Route 9 in Framingham	Framingham	MWRC	3	Framingham	2.2	5	18,500	257	77	0	2	3.49	3.5	0.9	0	MassDOT Project 608889: Traffic Signal Installation at Edegell Road and Central Street. This project is in the preliminary design phase. Pre-TIP 602038 Edgell Road Corridor Project: Reconstruct pavement and improve signalization at Water Street, Brook Street, Central Street, and Vernon Street.	0	2	2	1	2	7	Medium	The roadway was cited in 2017 MWRC subregional meeting.
Route 129	Lynn town line to Marblehead town line	Swampscott	NSTF	4	Swampscott, DCR (less than 0.1 mi)	2.5	3	11,600	175	45	6	6	3.58	3.3	4.8	0	No recent projects	1	2	2	1	1	7	Medium	NSTF cited this roadway in 2013 as one of the subregion's priority roadways for study in the 2014 UPWP. Segment in Downtown Swampscott is a bottleneck for those traveling from Marblehead to Lynn.
Route 62	Olson Street to Middlesex Avenue	Wilmington	NSPC	4	Wilmington	2.0	5	12,100	217	57	2	1	3.49	4.9	1.5	0	MassDOT Project 605021: Wilmington Intersection Improvements on Route 62 (Middlesex Avenue) at Glenn Road and Wildwood Street. The project involves the installation of new traffic signal at the intersection of Route 62 (Middlesex Avenue) at Glen Road and Wildwood Street, reconfiguration of Glen Road intersection and widening of Route 62 (Middlesex Avenue) and Glen Road. The project is recently completed.	2	2	1	1	1	7	Medium	CTPS identified this location as a potetnial study site.
Route 109	Walpole town line to Interstate 95	Westwood	ICC	6	Westwood	4.0	3	14,000	545	103	6	1	3.58	5.3	1.8	0	MassDOT Project 608947: Trafic SIgnal Improvements on Route 109. This project is at 25% design phase (9/13/2019). MassDOT Project 601315: Reconstruction of Route 109 (High Street) from Grove Street to Hartford Street, including new traffic signals at Hartford Street, Gay Street, Windsor Road/Public Library Entrance and Summer Street. Construction ended in Spring 2008.	2	2	2	0	1	7	Medium	Route 109 was mentioned as a major regional travel route in a 2018 SWAP subregional meeting. MassDOT Project 608947 covers a major portion of the corridor.
Willard Street	I-93 to Copeland Street/California Street	Quincy	ICC	6	MassDOT	1.7	5	15,000	171	33	1	7	3.49	3.7	4.7	1	MassDOT Project 610823: Intersection Improvements at Willard St and Ricciuti Dr. Project is in design phase.	2	1	2	1	1	7	Medium	MassDOT District 6 proposed this location for study (August, 2020).
Route 37 (Granite Street)	Five Corners (West Street/Franklin Street) to I-93	Braintree	SSC	6	MassDOT	1.0	3	35,000	342	137	1	9	3.58	5.1	9.6	2	MassDOT Project 608651: Installation of adaptive traffic control signal equipment, vehicle detection, communication equipment, and managing software at 7 traffic signals on Route 37 (Granite Street) in Braintree. Project completed.	2	1	2	1	1	7	Medium	MassDOT Project 608651 covers this section of Route 37 in Braintree.
Route 135	West Main Street to Ashland town line	Hopkinton	MWRC	3	Hopkinton	2.6	3	9,500	264	43	3	4	3.58	5.9	2.7	0	MassDOT Project 606043: Signal and Intersection Improvements on Route 135. The project involves intersection improvements at Route 85, Pleasant Street and Wood Street. Major improvements include signal equipment upgrade and additional lanes at Route 85; geometric and equipment improvements at Pleasant Street and at Wood Street; pavement rehabilitation from Ash Street to Wood Street; installation of sidewalks and wheelchair ramps, and streetscape enhancements in the town center. The project is currently under construction.	2	2	1	0	1	6	Medium	In FFY 2018 MWRC meeting, Route 135 from Hopkinton to Natick was cited as a regional corridor needing complete-street improvements. MassDOT Project 606043 covers a major portion of Route 135 in Hopkinton.
Route 27	Medfield town line to Natick town line	Sherborn	SWAP	3	Sherborn	4.3	3	12,500	271	69	2	0	3.58	2.8	0.5	1	No recent projects.	1	2	1	1	1	6	Medium	The location is identified by CTPS mainly due to the lack of pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. Major concern location in the Route 16 and Route 27 intersected area has been studied.
Main Street	Wakefield town line to Central Street	Saugus	ICC	4	Saugus and MassDOT	2.9	5	16,950	285	103	5	7	3.49	3.2	4.1	0	No recent projects.	1	2	1	1	1	6	Medium	In FFY 2012 UPWP outreach, Saugus requested the MPO to consider performing a roadway/sidewalk/traffic light/pedestrian access assessment study, to be called a Main Street/Saugus Center Corridor Study.
Route 115	Wrentham town line to Millis town line	Norfolk	SWAP	5	Norfolk	5.3	5	6,500	172	34	1	2	3.49	2.7	0.6	0	MassDOT Project 602496: Foxborough- Norfolk- Wrentham- Reconstruction of Route 115, Pond Street and Pine Street, from Needham Street in Norfolk to Route 140. The project consists of safety and transportation improvements for 2.7 miles of Route 115 between Needham/North Street and Route 140, and 0.3 miles of Pine Street between Route 115 and Route 1. Completed in 2012.	1	2	1	1	1	6	Medium	MassDOT Project 602496 covers half of the corridor.
Route 37	Brockton town line to Braintree town line	Holbrook	SSC	5	MassDOT and Holbrook	3.6	3	10,000	481	135	2	3	3.58	7.3	1.4	1	MassDOT Project 608543: Corridor Improvements and Related Work on South Franklin Street (Route 37) from Snell Street to King Road. Work on this project consists of roadway rehabilitation to provide a consistent cross section, sidewalk reconstruction, ADA compliant curb ramp installation and drainage upgrades along Route 37 (South Franklin Street) for a length of 0.6 miles. Minor modification to the Route 37/King Road traffic signals is proposed. This project is in the preliminary design phase.	1	1	2	1	1	6	Medium	The Town of Holbrook has been in contact with the district and is interested in improvements, particularly multimodal transportation improvements (2012).

1 BAckground