ICYMI:Acton Intersection Improvements Quickly Approach: Report

ACTON, MA—Safety improvements at the intersections of Rte. 27, Newton Rd. and Concord Rd. may begin as early as this spring after a presentation was made to Acton Selectmen at the Mar. 7 meeting.

Selectmen heard a presentation from the consulting firm Howard Stein Hudson including recommendations for the improvements to the intersections at the Mar. 7 meeting, according to a report by Wicked Local Acton.Four out of five selectmen supported the first phase of the project, with Chingsung Chang being absent.

Molly Loughman of Wicked Local Acton broke the story on its website:

Phase 1 would improve pedestrian warning signs at the Main Street crosswalks to better alert motorists, said Joe SanClemente, HSH associate principal and senior transportation engineer.

“In this particular case, we’re seeing speed’s an issue where we have unusual geometry, not that great of signage markings up there, and I think that is our recommendation -- at least try the first step and see if we can reduce crashes,” said SanClemente. “So there’s no-one-size-fits-all and everyone has said this is a difficult location, that’s why we thought we thought it’d be easier to take an incremental approach.”

SanClemente explained that in 2001, the town completed a study of these intersections known as the Route 27 (Main Street) Corridor Study, which recommended upgrades to the Main Street /Concord Road/Newtown Road intersection, including signals. Funds to modify and expand the study at the intersections, which are located in the Acton Center Historic District, were approved during the 2013 annual Town Meeting to determine the most favored alternative that restores the historic character and considers potential impacts on surrounding roads, intersections and neighborhoods.

HSH conducted initial field observations and data collection in November 2014 and January 2015, including vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle count data. Peak hours of traffic at the study area intersections were found to be from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. and from 5 to 6 p.m. Since January 2015, consultants and the town have held two public input sessions to discuss existing conditions, present possible design options and obtain initial feedback, said SanClemente.

Out of the four proposed design concepts that were presented during the second public input session, HSH brought the plan that was the most popular with the public to selectmen. The recommended concept aims to improve safety and slow speeds and inflict minimal impact on the historic character of the area.

The plan includes raised crosswalks on Main Street at the locations of the existing crosswalks to the east and west of Concord Road. Raised crosswalks would force drivers to slow down in order to ramp up to the pedestrian level and then back down to the roadway level. HSH also recommends replacing existing speed signs along each direction of Main Street with radar speed feedback signs. In addition, the plan includes narrowed lanes, utility pole relocation, Concord Road one-way conversion and realigning Newtown Road, SanClemente said.

According to Loughman's report, which you can also view here, the town will seek feedback from the Historical Commission, and the town hopes to begin work on phase 1 during the spring.