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Reducing Speeds in our

Rural Communities and

Increasing Safety

January 30, 2013 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot

Neil E. Boudreau

MassDOT State Traffic Engineer

January 18, 2013

Standard – Requires Engineering study

Post only in 5 MPH multiples

Guidance – Within 5 mph of 85 percentile

Re-evaluate every 5 years

Optional Factors – Road characteristics

Roadside development

Parking and pedestrian activity

Crash experience (min. 12-months)

2 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013

MUTCD Speed Zoning Criteria

State Guidelines

MGL Chapter 90, Sections 17 & 18

define speed limit control in MA

MassDOT’s Speed Zoning Procedures helps

municipalities understand the process

Regulatory – Requires an engineering study

to determine 85th% speed and guide the

setting of the “posted” limit

Statutory - maximum speed limit applicable to a

particular type of roadway characteristics

(i.e. Thickly Settled, Business District)

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 3

Functional Classification

Categorization of roadways by the character

of service they provide

Service characteristics

Access

Mobility

Roadway connectivity

Adjacent land use

Topography

Road Function defines speeds | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 4

Rural Road Challenges Higher speed roadways passing through Town Centers or near schools with different roadside environments

Higher speed roadways that also share the road with farm equipment, bicycles and pedestrians

Lack of pedestrian and bicycle facilities

Frequent horizontal and vertical curvatures in the roadway – poor sight distance

Lighting and visibility – few rural roadways are lit making it particularly hard to see other road users at night

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 5

Engineering Measures for

Managing Speed

Context Sensitive Design – Urban Areas

Traffic Calming

Roundabouts

Perceptual measures

Vehicle activated speed displays

Roadway design elements

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 6

Contact Sensitive Design

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 7

Context Sensitive Solutions is a

collaborative, interdisciplinary approach

that involves all stakeholders to develop a

transportation facility that fits its physical

setting and preserves scenic, aesthetic,

historic, and environmental resources,

while maintaining safety and mobility.

Traffic Calming

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 8

9 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013

Roundabouts

Perceptual Measures

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 10

Vehicle Activated Speed Displays

| Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013 11

Roadway Design Elements

Gateway treatments and roadside plantings

Help inform the driver of a changing environment

Help define town centers and other areas (e.g.

schools, recreational parks)

Help with speed reductions and can

also help narrow the roadway

Roadway Cross Section/Road Diet

Narrow lane widths

Inclusion of bike lanes and/or parking

Sidewalks offset by grass strip

January 30, 2013 13 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot

Contact Information:

Neil Boudreau, State Traffic Engineer

Phone: (857) 368-9655

Email: neil.boudreau@state.ma.us