2007 TRAFFIC STUDY c•
TRAFFIC IMPACT AND ACCESS STUDY
PROPOSED TRANSFER STATION EXPANSION
SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
Prepared,for:
NORTHSIDE CARTING
North Andover, Massachusetts
December 2007
Preparedly),.
VANASSE & ASSOCIA ! !S, INC.
10 New England Business Center Drive
Suite 314
Andover, lv1A 01810
(978) 474-8800
Copyright (0 2007 by VAI
All Rights Reserved
I
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Vanasse & Associates, Inc. (VAI) has conducted a Traffic Impact and Access Study (PIAS) in order to
determine the impacts on the transportation infrastructure associated with the expansion of the existing
Northside Carting Transfer Station located off Swampscott Road in Salem, Massachusetts. The proposed
project will entail an expansion in the operating capacity of the existing transfer station from 100 tons of
material per day to 400 tons per day. This study was prepared in consultation with the Massachusetts
Highway Department (MassHighway) and the City of Salem, and was perforated in accordance with the
state standards for the preparation of Traffic Impact Assessments(TIAs).
The study area evaluated for the project was selected to contain the major roadways providing access to
the site, including highland Avenue (Route 107), Marlborough Road, and Swampscott Road, as well as
the two major intersections located along these roadways through which project-related traffic will
travel: Highland Avenue at Marlborough Road and Traders Way and Highland Avenue at
Swampscott Road and Dillietro Avenue. Each of these locations and the access drives to the project site
were assessed with regard to traffic volumes, safety, and operating conditions (motorist delays and
vehicle queuing), both at present and in the future and with and without the proposed project.
As detailed as a part of this assessment, relative to the transportation system serving the project site, the
net result of the project will be an increase of approximately 54 vehicle trips on an average weekday over
current conditions (27 additional vehicles entering and 27 exiting over the operational period of the
facility), with 6 additional vehicle trips expected (3 entering and 3 exiting)over a one-hour period during
the weekday peak periods. Such increases are relatively minor in nature and were not shown to
materially impact traffic operations at the study intersections over existing or anticipated future
conditions without the project (No-Build conditions). That said, a detailed transportation improvement
program has been developed that is designed to maintain safe and efficient access to the site while
minimizing impacts to motorists traveling along adjacent roadways and address any deficiencies
identified at off-site locations evaluated in conjunction with this study. The following improvements
have been recommended as a part of this evaluation and will be completed in conjunction with the
project subject to receipt of the necessary approvals.
:• Site Access - Access the project will be provided by way of two driveways: the southern
driveway will be situated at the location of the existing driveway serving the site and will
accommodate full access to the project; the northern driveway (proposed) will be situated
approximately 200 feel south of the northern property line and will function as a one-way,
exit-only facility. It is recommended that the north site driveway be a minimum of 16-feet in
width and that appropriate signs and pavement marking be provided indicating the function of
,the driveway as a one-way, exit-only facility. The south site driveway should be a minimum of
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24-feet in width. Vehicles exiting the site should be placed under STOP-sign control, with any
signs or landscape features located, designed and maintained so as not to restrict lines of sight to
or from the site driveways. In addition, it is recommended that the existing fence located along
the pro;cct frontage on Swampscott Road be relocated within the site in order to provide the
required lines of sight to and from the site driveways. Further, it is suggested that "Trucks
Entering Ahead" warning signs be installed on Swampscott Road approaching the site
(both directions) in order to inform motorists of the potential for slower moving traffic to be
entering the roadway. ,
+i Highland Avenue at Marlborough Root! and Traders Way - In order to improve operating
conditions at this intersection, the proposed timing, phasing, and coordination plan to be
implemented by MassHighway should be reviewed and refined/adjusted as necessary to achieve
optimal operating conditions at this location. This review will be undertaken by the project
proponent within one-year of the expansion of the transfer station and will include an updated
evaluation of the motor vehicle crash history at the intersection,
Highland Avenue of Swampscott Rood and DiYielro Avenue - In order to improve operating
conditions at this intersection, the following recommendations are offered:
1. The Swampscott Road northwestbound approach should be restriped to convert the
existing left-turn lane to an optional left/right-turn lane in order to accommodate the
predominant turning movement at the intersection (right-turn movements) and to reduce
both motorist delays and vehicle queuing;
2. The traffic signal timing, phasing, and coordination plan should be refinediadjusted as
may be necessary; and
3. Double-yellow centerline pavement markings should be provided along
DIPietro Avenue, for a minimum distance of 100 feet in advance of the intersection in
order to separate the directions of travel approaching and departing the intersection.
With implementation of the above recommendations, safe and efficient access will continue to be
provided to the transfer station and the proposed project can be constructed with minimal impact on the
roadway system.
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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
The proposed transfer station expansion is expected to result in an additional 54 vehicle trips on an
average weekday (27 entering and 27 exiting), with 6 additional vehicle trips (3 entering and 3 exiting)
during both the weekday morning and evening peak hours. Such increases over the course of a one-hour
period during the peak hours would not be readily apparent on the roadway network over existing
conditions and would not materially impact the flow of traffic along the roadway network from current or
projected future conditions without the project,
An analysis of traffic operations at the study area intersections indicates that the proposed project will
not result in a significant change in motorist delays or vehicle queuing at the study intersections over
anticipated future conditions without the project (No-Build conditions). All movements at the site
driveway intersections with Swampscott Road were shown to operate at a level-of-service (LOS) C or
better during the peak periods, with negligible vehicle queuing.
RECOMMENDATIONS
A detailed transportation improvement program has been developed for the proposed project that is
designed to provide safe and efficient access to the site while minimizing impacts to motorists traveling
along adjacent roadways and address any deficiencies identified at off-site locations evaluated in
conjunction with this study. The following improvements have been recommended as a part of this
evaluation and will be completed in conjunction with the project subject to receipt of the necessary
approvals.
Site Access
Access the project will be provided by way of two driveways: the southern driveway will be situated at
the location of the existing driveway serving the site and will accommodate full access to the project; the
northern driveway (proposed) will be situated approximately 200 feet south of the northern property line
and will function as a one-way, exit-only facility. It is recommended that the north site driveway be a
minimum of 16-fect in width and that appropriate signs and pavement marking be provided indicating the
function of the driveway as a one-way, exit-only facility. The south site driveway should be a minimum
of 24-feet in width. Vehicles exiting the site should be placed under STOP-sign control, with any signs
or landscape features located, designed and maintained so as not to restrict lines of sight to or from the
site driveways. In addition, it is recommended that the existing fence located along the project frontage
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on Swampscott Road be relocated within the site in order to provide the required lines of sight to and
from the site driveways. Further, it is suggested that"Trucks Entering Ahead" warning signs be installed
on Swampscott Road approaching the site (both directions) in order to inform motorists of the potential
for slower moving traffic to be entering the roadway.
Off Site
Highland Avenue at Marlborough Road and Traders Way
Overall operating conditions at the signalized intersection of Highland Avenue at Marlborough Road and
Traders Way were found to be at capacity (LOS E) during the weekday morning and evening peak hours
under 2007 Existing conditions. Under 2012 No-Build conditions, with the completion of the
intersection and traffic signal improvements by MassHighway, overall operating conditions were shown
to remain at capacity during the weekday morning peak hour and to be over capacity(LOS F)during the
weekday evening peak hour as a result of traffic volume increases independent of the proposed project.
In order to improve operating conditions at this intersection, it is recommended that the proposed timing,
phasing, and coordination plan to be implemented by MassHighway be reviewed and refined/adjusted as
necessary to achieve optimal operating conditions at this location. This review will be undertaken by the
project proponent within one-year of the expansion of the transfer station and will include an updated
evaluation of the motor vehicle crash history at the intersection. The results of the review and the
associated findings and recommendations will be provided to the City and MassHighway. As can be
seen in Table 12, with the implementation of a refined traffic signal timing, phasing, and coordination
plan, overall operating conditions were shown to improve (lower volume-to-capacity ratios) over
2012 No-Build conditions under 2012 Build with Mitigation conditions.
Highland Avenue at Swampscott Road and Dipietro Avenue
Overall operating conditions at the signalized intersection of Highland Avenue at Swampscott Road and
DiFietro Avenue were found to be over capacity (LOS F) during the weekdaymorning peak hour under
2007 Existing conditions. Under 2012 No-Build conditions, with the completion of the traffic control
improvements by MassHighway, overall operating conditions were shown to remain over capacity during
the weekday morning peak hour and to operate at capacity (LOS E) during the weekday evening peak
hour as a result of traffic volume increases independent of the proposed project. In order to improve
operating conditions at this intersection, the following recommendations are offered:
I. Restripe the Swampscott Road northwestbound approach to convert the existing left-turn lane to
an optional left/right-turn lane in order to accommodate the predominant turning movement at
the intersection (right-turn movements)and reduce both motorist delays and vehicle queuing;and
2. Refine/adjust as necessary the traffic signal timing, phasing, and coordination plan to be
implemented by MassHighway.
As can be seen in Table 12, with the implementation of the recommended improvements, overall
operating conditions were shown to improve to LOS E during the weekday morning peak hour and to
LOS D during the weekday evening peak hour under 2012 Build with Mitigation conditions.
Independent of the proposed project, it is recommended that double-yellow centerline pavement
markings be provided along Dipietro Avenue, for a minimum distance of 100 feet in advance of the
intersection in order to separate the directions of travel approaching and departing the intersection.
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With implementation of the above recommendations, safe and efficient access will be provided to the
planned development and the proposed project can be constructed with minimal impact on the roadway
System.
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