Interstate Route I-91 Corridor Planning Study Springfield, Massachusetts: Interchanges 1 through 5. Existing Conditions Report Photography by PVPC Staff Imagery ©2013 Terra Metrics, Map data © 2013 Google. July 2015 Prepared in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The views and opinions of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission expressed herein do not reflect those of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation or the U.S. Department of Transportation. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 1 I.1 STUDY AREA ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 I.1.1 Roadway Network ........................................................................................................................................... 1 II. PREVIOUS STUDIES REVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 5 II.1 INTERSTATE 91 CORRIDOR STUDY: AN IMPACT ANALYSIS OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE ...... 5 II.1.1 Project Orientation ....................................................................................................................................... 5 II.1.2 Historic Review of the I-91 Highway Construction ....................................................................................... 6 II.1.3 Visual Assessment of the Corridor ................................................................................................................ 7 II.1.4 Zoning Bylaw Review .................................................................................................................................... 8 II.1.5 Recommendations.......................................................................................................................................... 8 II.2 CONCEPTUAL DESIGN STUDY FOR I-91 ....................................................................................................... 8 II.2.1 Design Concept Alternatives ......................................................................................................................... 9 II.3 SPRINGFIELD FLOOD EVACUATION STUDY ............................................................................................ 18 II.3.1 Existing Conditions ..................................................................................................................................... 18 II.3.2 Flood Process .............................................................................................................................................. 20 II.3.3 Evacuation Logistics ................................................................................................................................... 20 II.3.4 ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC IMPACTS ....................................................................................................................... 21 II.3.4.1 Impact on Bridges .................................................................................................................................... 21 II.3.5 Identification of Diversion Routes ............................................................................................................... 23 II.3.6 Pre-disaster Preparedness for the Springfield Levies ................................................................................. 25 II.3.7 Recommendations for Addressing Transportation Issues ........................................................................... 25 II.4 WEST COLUMBUS AVENUE URBAN RENEWAL AND RIVERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT ................. 25 II.5 SUMMARY OF ALTERNATIVES, AGAWAM ROTARY, INTERSECTION OF ROUTES 5, 57, RIVER ROAD AND MEADOW ROAD ........................................................................................................................ 27 III. EXISTING TRANSPORTATION CONDITIONS ........................................................................................ 37 III.1 DATA COLLECTION ...................................................................................................................................... 37 III.1.1 Daily Vehicle Volume ................................................................................................................................ 37 III.1.2 Hourly Vehicle Volumes............................................................................................................................. 44 Peak Hour Volumes .............................................................................................................................................. 44 III.1.3 Vehicle Classification ................................................................................................................................ 50 III.1.4 Posted Speed Limits ................................................................................................................................... 52 III.1.5 Travel Time and Speed Field Data ............................................................................................................ 53 III.1.6 Green House Gas Emmissions ................................................................................................................... 57 III.1.7 Highway Weave Analysis ........................................................................................................................... 59 III.2 CRASH EXPERIENCE ..................................................................................................................................... 65 III.2.1 Crash Cluster Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 70 III.2.2 Local Intersection Crashes ........................................................................................................................ 77 III.3 TRANSIT SERVICE ......................................................................................................................................... 82 III.4 NON-MOTORIZED MODES OF TRANSPORT ............................................................................................. 84 III.5 PARKING .......................................................................................................................................................... 85 III.6 INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS .......................................................................................... 87 III.7 EMERGENCY VEHICLE ACCESS ................................................................................................................. 87 III.8 ENVIRONMENTRAL CONSTRAINTS .......................................................................................................... 89 Interstate Route I-91 Corridor Planning Study -i- July, 2015 Existing Conditions Pioneer Valley Planning Commission III.8 ENVIRONMENTRAL JUSTICE ...................................................................................................................... 90 III.9 LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY .............................................................................................................. 91 III.10 HIGHWAY VISUAL SURVEY OF SIGNS AND LANE MARKINGS ......................................................... 92 IV. TRANSPORTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................... 106 IV.1 SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS ...................................................................................................... 106 IV.2 RECOMMENDATIONS INFORMED BY CRASH CLUSTER ANALYSIS ................................................ 111 V. APPENDICES APPENDIX A: DATA SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS RESULTS APPENDIX B: TRAFFIC COUNTS APPENDIX C: POLICE CRASH REPORTS LIST OF TABLES Table 1 - Conceptual Designs Identified by 1998 Corridor Study for Further Consideration. ..................... 11 Table 2 - Estimated Traffic Volume Change on Bridges Across the Connecticut River. ............................... 22 Table 3 - Estimated Traffic Volumes Change on I-91 Exits Outside the Flood Zone. .................................... 22 Table 4 - Increase in Traffic Volumes and Congestion on Urban Streets........................................................ 23 Table 5 - Decrease in Traffic Volume and Congestion on Urban Streets. ....................................................... 23 Table 6 - I-91 Ramp Reversals Around Exit 6, Completed in 2002. ................................................................ 25 Table 7 - Rotary Design Alternatives. ................................................................................................................. 27 Table 8 - Daily Traffic Volumes. ......................................................................................................................... 38 Table 9 - List of Available Turning Movement Counts. .................................................................................... 45 Table 10 - Percentages of Vehicles by Class ........................................................................................................ 51 Table 11 - Highway Sections with Weave Challenges. ....................................................................................... 59 Table 12 - Level of Service Definitions