Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Project Manager Chen-Yuan Wang Project Principal Mark Abbott Data Analysts Chen-Yuan Wang Benjamin Erban Julian Chen Graphics Kenneth Dumas Kim DeLauri Cover Design Kate Parker-O'Toole The preparation of this document was supported by the Federal Highway Administration through MPO Planning Contract #101725 and MPO §5303 Contract #98873 and #102694. 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. December 2018 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 To request additional copies of this document or copies in an accessible format, contact: Central Transportation Planning Staff State Transportation Building Ten Park Plaza, Suite 2150 Boston, Massachusetts 02116 (857) 702-3700 (617) 570-9192 (fax) (617) 570-9193 (TTY) www.bostonmpo.org Page 2 of 54 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 Abstract The Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study is part of the MPO’s series of ongoing studies that address safety, mobility, and access on the Boston region’s priority roadways. This report identifies specific issues and concerns in the Medford Square study area; presents an in-depth analysis of multiple transportation-related factors; and recommends potential short- and long-term solutions to the problems, including improvement alternatives. Page 3 of 54 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 Page 4 of 54 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Executive Summary ......................................................................................... 11 Chapter 1—Introduction................................................................................... 13 1.1 Study Background ................................................................................. 13 1.2 Study Objectives ................................................................................... 13 1.3 Selection Procedure .............................................................................. 13 1.4 Study Area and Data Collection ............................................................ 14 1.5 Study Advisory Committee Meetings ..................................................... 15 Chapter 2—Existing Conditions and Issues .................................................. 17 2.1 Major Roadways in the Study Area ....................................................... 17 2.2 Transit Service ...................................................................................... 18 2.3 Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities ........................................................... 18 2.4 Issues and Concerns ............................................................................. 18 2.4.1 Traffic Conditions ............................................................................ 18 2.4.2 Truck Traffic .................................................................................... 20 2.4.3 Traffic Safety ................................................................................... 20 2.4.4 Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations ....................................... 20 2.4.5 Transit Services .............................................................................. 21 Chapter 3—Roadway Operations Analysis .................................................... 23 3.1 Daily Traffic Volumes............................................................................. 23 3.2 Intersection Traffic, Pedestrian, And Bicycle Volumes .......................... 23 3.2.1 Traffic Volumes ............................................................................... 23 3.2.2 Pedestrian Volumes ........................................................................ 24 3.2.3 Bicycle Volumes.............................................................................. 24 3.2.4 Heavy-Vehicle Volumes .................................................................. 24 3.3 Intersection Capacity Analyses ............................................................. 25 3.4 Traffic Signal needs Analysis ................................................................ 26 Chapter 4—Crash Data Analysis ..................................................................... 27 4.1 Crash Locations And Crash Clusters..................................................... 27 4.2 Crash Rates .......................................................................................... 28 4.3 Pedestrian And Bicycle Crashes ........................................................... 29 4.4 Collision Diagrams And Crash Statistics ............................................... 29 Page 5 of 54 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 Chapter 5—Proposed Improvements ............................................................. 31 5.1 Salem Street and the Adjacent City Hall Subarea ................................. 31 5.1.1 Issues and Concerns ...................................................................... 31 5.1.2 Proposed Short-Term Improvements .............................................. 32 5.1.3 Traffic Circulation Alternatives ........................................................ 33 5.1.4 Proposed Long-Term Improvements .............................................. 36 5.2 Main Street Corridor .............................................................................. 37 5.2.1 Issues and Concerns ...................................................................... 37 5.2.2 Proposed Short-Term Improvements .............................................. 38 5.2.3 Proposed Long-Term Improvements .............................................. 38 5.3 Mystic Valley Parkway ........................................................................... 42 5.3.1 Issues and Concerns ...................................................................... 43 5.3.2 Proposed Short-Term Improvements .............................................. 43 5.3.3 Proposed Long-Term Improvements .............................................. 44 5.4 Winthrop Street ..................................................................................... 46 5.4.1 Issues and Concerns ...................................................................... 46 5.4.2 Proposed Short-Term Improvements .............................................. 47 5.4.3 Proposed Long-Term Improvements .............................................. 47 5.5 High Street Corridor............................................................................... 48 5.5.1 Issues and Concerns ...................................................................... 48 5.5.2 Proposed Short-Term Improvements .............................................. 49 5.5.3 Proposed Long-Term Improvements .............................................. 50 5.6 Overview of Proposed Long-Term Improvements Under Projected 2040 Traffic Conditions ............................................................................................ 51 Chapter 6—Summary and Recommendations ............................................... 53 TABLES, FIGURES, APPENDIXES Tables: Table 1. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM Peak Hour, City Hall Subarea Table 2. Intersection Capacity Analysis: PM Peak Hour, City Hall Subarea Table 3. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM Peak Hour, City Hall Subarea Table 4. Intersection Capacity Analysis: PM Peak Hour. City Hall Subarea Page 6 of 54 Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study December 2018 Table 5. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM Peak Hour Main Street at Route 16 Ramps Table 6. Intersection Capacity Analysis: PM Peak Hour, Main Street at Route 16 Ramps Table 7. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM/PM Peak Hour, Main Street at Mystic Avenue Table 8. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM/PM Peak Hour, Route 16 (Mystic Valley Parkway) at Winthrop Street Table 9. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM/PM Peak Hour, Winthrop Square Table 10. Intersection Capacity Analysis: AM/PM Peak Hour, High Street at Governors Avenue Figures: Figure 1. Study Area Map—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 2. Transit Service and Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 3. 2017 Daily Traffic Volumes—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 4. 2017 Weekday Peak Hour Traffic and Pedestrian Volumes at Major Intersections Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 5. 2017 Saturday Peak Hour Traffic and Pedestrian Volumes at Major Intersections Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 6. On-Road Bicycle Volumes during Peak Traffic Periods (2017)— Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 7. Roadway Heavy Vehicle Percentage during Peak Traffic Periods (2017)—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 8. 2017 Weekday Peak Hour Intersection Capacity Analysis—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 9. 2017 Saturday Peak Hour Intersection Capacity Analysis Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 10. Crash Locations and Crash Clusters (MassDOT Crash Data 2013- 15)—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 11.Traffic Circulation Conceptual Diagrams: City Hall Subarea, Alternatives 1 and 2—Medford Square Priority Roadways Improvement Study Figure 12.Traffic