Braintree Split) Operational Assessment and Potential Improvements
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I-93/Southeast Expressway/Route 3 (Braintree Split) Operational Assessment and Potential Improvements A report produced by the Central Transportation Planning Staff for the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization ADVISORY TASK FORCE Town of Braintree Massachusetts Highway Department Susan Kay, Executive Secretary Robert Boone, District 4 Robert Campbell, Town Engineer Joseph Onorato, District 4 Timothy G. Egan, former member of Board of Selectmen Hasmukh Patel, Highway Design Peter LaPolla, Planning Director Greg Prendergast, Environmental Stephen O’Donnell, former District 4 Highway Director Town of Quincy Patricia A. Leavenworth, District 4 Highway Director Jay Fink, former Commissioner Department of Public Works Stanley Wood, Highway Design Roy C. LaMotte, former Traffic Engineer Richard Meade, former Planning Director Executive Office of Transportation William J. Phelan, Mayor Adriel Edwards, Office of Transportation Planning Robert Frey, Office of Transportation Planning Town of Milton Walter Heller, Town Engineer Metropolitan Area Planning Council Aaron Henry, Town Planner William Clark, Transportation Planner James G. Mullen, Jr., Board of Selectmen James Gallagher, Transportation Planner David Owen, former Town Administrator Barbara Lucas, Chief Transportation Planner Town of Weymouth South Shore Chamber of Commerce Georgy Bezkorovainy, Traffic Engineer Terry Fancher, South Shore Chamber of Commerce Paul Halkiotis, Economic Development Planner Ron Zooleck, South Shore Chamber of Commerce To request additional copies of this document or copies in an State Legislators South Shore Coalition accessible format, contact: Bruce J. Ayers, Massachusetts State Representative Paul Halkiotis, Chairman Joseph R. Driscoll Jr., Massachusetts State Representative Ann Burbine, Vice Chairman Seth Asante, Project Manager Frank M. Hynes, Massachusetts State Representative Central Transportation Planning Staff Brian A. Joyce, Massachusetts State Senator 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Ronald Mariano, Massachusetts State Representative Boston, Massachusetts 02116 Michael W. Morrissey, Massachusetts State Senator Walter F. Timilty, Massachusetts State Representative (617) 973-7098 Stephen A. Tobin, Massachusetts State Representative (617) 973-8855 (fax) (617)-973-7089 (TTY) Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority [email protected] Joseph Cosgrove, Director of Planning I-93/Southeast Expressway/Route 3 (Braintree Split) Operational Assessment and Potential Improvements Project Manager Seth Asante Project Principal Efi Pagitsas Project Analysts Lourenço Dantas Paul Reim Data Collection Thomas Nixon Hiral Gandhi Geographic Information Systems Kathy Jacob David Knudsen Mark Scannell Paul Reim Cover Photography Carol Bent Cover Design Jane M. Gillis The preparation of this document was supported by the Massachusetts Highway Department and Federal Highway Administration through MassHighway SPR Highway Planning Contracts #33097 and 31049. Central Transportation Planning Staff Directed by the Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO is composed of state and regional agencies and authorities, and local governments. March 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................3 6.2.3 South Weymouth Naval Air Station .....................30 3 Braintree Split: External Problems ..............................................9 1 INTRODUCTION......................................................................7 6.2.4 Route 3 South Transportation Improvements.......30 4 Average Weekday Traffic Volumes.........................................10 2 INVENTORY OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS ............................8 7 ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS.......................................33 5 2003 AM Peak Period: Balanced Traffic Volumes..................11 2.1 Internal Problems................................................................8 7.1 Safety Improvement Package ...........................................33 6 2003 PM Peak Period: Balanced Traffic Volumes ..................12 2.2 External Problems...............................................................9 7.1.1 Improvements at Location #1 ...............................33 7 2003 AM and PM Peak Period Levels of Service....................13 3 CURRENT TRANSPORTATION ........................................10 7.1.2 Improvements at Location #2 ...............................33 8 2003 AM Peak Hour Travel Times ..........................................14 3.1 Highways..........................................................................10 7.1.3 Improvements at Location #3 ...............................33 9 2003 PM Peak Hour Travel Times...........................................15 3.1.1 Highway System...................................................10 7.1.4 Improvements at Location #4 ...............................33 10 High-Crash Locations (Based on 1997–1999 crash data)........16 3.1.2 Traffic Volumes....................................................11 7.2 Traffic Flow Improvement Package .................................33 11 MBTA Bus Service in the Study Area .....................................17 3.1.3 HOV Lane Traffic Volumes .................................11 7.2.1 Improvement at Location #5.................................33 12 Southeast Massachusetts Transit Service Map.........................18 3.1.4 Traffic Queues......................................................12 7.2.2 Improvements at Location #6 ...............................34 13 Southeastern Massachusetts Park-and-Ride Lots.....................19 3.1.5 Levels of Service...................................................12 7.2.3 Improvement at Location #7.................................34 14 Total Journey-to-Work Trips by Town of Residence ..............23 3.1.6 Travel Time...........................................................14 7.2.4 Improvement at Location #8.................................34 15 Percentage of Drive-Alone Trips by Town of Residence ........23 3.1.7 Crashes..................................................................16 7.2.5 Improvements at Location #9 ...............................34 16 Percentage of Transit Trips by Town of Residence .................24 3.2 Transit ...............................................................................17 7.2.6 Improvements at Location #10 .............................34 17 Percentage of Carpool Trips by Town of Residence................24 3.2.1 Bus........................................................................17 7.2.7 Improvements at Location #11 .............................34 18 Planned and Proposed Transit Projects ....................................27 3.2.2 Rapid Transit (Red Line) ......................................18 7.3 Traffic Simulation Model .................................................39 19 Planned and Proposed Highway Projects.................................32 3.2.3 Commuter Rail......................................................18 7.4 Measures of Effectiveness ................................................39 20 Safety Improvement Package...................................................35 3.3 Park-and-Ride Lots...........................................................19 7.4.1 No-Build Option ...................................................39 21 Traffic Flow Improvement Package.........................................37 4 SOCIOECONOMIC TRENDS...............................................22 7.4.2 Build Option..........................................................40 22 AM Peak Hour Travel Speeds and Times (2025 No-Build) ....41 4.1 Population.........................................................................22 7.5 Summary...........................................................................45 23 PM Peak Hour Travel Speeds and Times (2025 No-Build).....41 4.2 Household.........................................................................22 7.5.1 AM Peak Period Benefits of the Build-Option.....45 24 AM and PM Levels of Service (2025 No-Build) .....................42 4.3 Employment......................................................................22 7.5.2 PM Peak Period Benefits of the Build-Option......45 25 AM Peak Hour Travel Speeds and Times (2025 Build) ..........43 4.4 Growth Impacts.................................................................22 7.5.3 Transit Improvements ...........................................45 26 PM Peak Hour Travel Speeds and Times (2025 Build) ...........43 5 TRAVEL PATTERNS ............................................................23 7.5.4 Next Steps .............................................................45 27 AM and PM Peak Period Levels of Service (2025 Build) .......44 5.1 Drive-Alone Trips.............................................................24 8 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS............................48 28 Travel Speed Change and Travel Time Savings (AM) ............46 5.2 Transit Trips......................................................................24 8.1 Recommendations.............................................................48 29 Travel Speed Change and Travel Time Savings (PM).............46 5.3 Carpool and Vanpool Trips...............................................25 8.2 Implementation Process....................................................49 5.4 Future Traffic Volumes.....................................................25 TABLES 5.5 Summary...........................................................................25 APPENDIX A – Public Participation ............................................50