HomeMy Public PortalAboutHosmer School SRTS Assesment (PDF)Hosmer Elementary School
Watertown, Massachusetts
Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program
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Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
1 Introduction
Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a federally funded initiative of the
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). SRTS encourages public
elementary and middle school students to walk and bicycle to school safely through
education and outreach as well as infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks,
pedestrian crossings, traffic calming, signals, signage, and bike lanes.
A Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Assessment was conducted for the
Hosmer Elementary School (Hosmer School) in Watertown. An assessment includes
gathering information on the selected school through reviewing the school's assessment
request, mapping student residency, conducting a preliminary meeting with school staff,
municipal officials, and community members, observing school arrival and dismissal
patterns, reviewing collision history, and collecting additional traffic counts or other
information necessary to assess the needs of the school. This information is compiled to
draw conclusions about the existing barriers to walking / biking to school, identify
missing or deficient infrastructure, and develop recommendations for infrastructure
improvements in the vicinity of the school. The purpose of this assessment is to identify
potential improvements that would make walking and bicycling safer and more attractive
modes for children traveling to and from school, and to identify the most applicable
improvements that could be implemented as part of the Massachusetts SRTS
Infrastructure Program.
2 The SRTS Program Overview
The SRTS program is a Federal -aided program implemented in Massachusetts in 2006.
It was created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), signed into Public Law
(P.L. 109-59) on August 10, 2005.
According to the Federal legislation that created SRTS, the program's purpose is:
(1) To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and
bicycle to school;
(2) To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing
transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from
an early age; and
(3) To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and
activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air
pollution in the vicinity of schools.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21St Century Act (MAP-2 1), which was signed
into law on July 6, 2012, consolidated a number of previous Federal funding programs.
As a result of the new law, the SRTS program and the Transportation Enhancements (TE)
program were incorporated into the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program. The TA
program provides Federal -aid Highway funds to state Departments of Transportation
(DOTS) for projects that were previously eligible under either SRTS or TE. These funds
are available for a range of different uses, which include the former SRTS categories of
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
infrastructure projects, as well as education and encouragement programs that benefit
elementary and middle school children in grades K-8.
The Massachusetts SRTS program is administered through the Massachusetts
Department of Transportation (MassDOT), and is composed of two parts: an education /
encouragement component and an infrastructure improvement component. MassRIDES,
the Commonwealth's travel option service, delivers the in -school education and
encouragement program for MassDOT. MassRIDES also works with communities and
schools to leverage support in identifying needs for improved walking and biking
infrastructure.
Where applicable, MassDOT then evaluates walking and bicycling access conditions at
the school; identifies potential infrastructure projects that would improve pedestrian and
bicycle access; and develops designs for a selected set of high priority pedestrian and
bicycle access improvements.
2.1 Policy Support for SRTS
The goal of the SRTS program is to increase children's physical activity, improve air
quality, ease traffic congestion, and foster the continued growth of safe and sustainable
communities. The program is strongly supported by key MassDOT policies, including:
• The GreenDOT Policy, MassDOT's comprehensive sustainability initiative that is
designed to integrate environmental responsibility into all MassDOT functions.
GreenDOT is driven by three primary goals: reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
promote the healthy transportation options of walking, bicycling, and public
transit; and support smart growth development.
• The Mode Shift Goal within GreenDOT was announced by MassDOT in October
2012. The Mode Shift Goal is an initiative to triple the share of travel by
bicycling, transit and walking in Massachusetts by 2030. In collaboration with
regional transportation partners, community leaders, advocates and customers,
MassDOT will reconsider what is possible for the Commonwealth's
transportation system and imagine healthier, greener and cleaner mobility.
• Healthy Transportation Policy Directive within GreenDOT was issued by
MassDOT in September 2013. The Healthy Transportation Policy formalizes
MassDOT's commitment to the implementation and maintenance of
transportation networks that serve all mode choices.
• Complete Streets, the comprehensive multi -modal design philosophy in
MassDOT's Project Development and Design Guide. Complete Streets calls for
safe and appropriate accommodation of all roadway users, and an approach to
roadway design giving critical early consideration not only to motor vehicles, but
also pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transit riders.
2.2 Project Selection Criteria
Federal funding legislation provides funding for SRTS projects and programs through its
Transportation Alternatives (TA) funding program, which requires that TA funding is
used most efficiently. Therefore, MassDOT carefully reviews the merits and potential of
each infrastructure investment project to ensure that TA funding supports the most
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
deserving projects. Potential projects are evaluated based on an analysis of feasibility,
safety and mobility benefits, number of students expected to benefit, property and other
impacts, and overall project costs.
2.3 The School Assessment Program
Since the program's start in 2006, MassDOT has visited more than 60 schools across the
Commonwealth, prepared more than 45 assessments, and initiated designs for more
nearly 30 schools. To date, 15 infrastructure projects have been built.
The minimum requirements for being eligible for an infrastructure assessment at the time
the Hosmer School applied were as follows:
A school must have participated for at least one year in the SRTS education and
encouragement program, and
The school must complete an assessment request that includes:
o A letter of support from the municipality's chief executive that names a
municipal liaison for project coordination,
o Commitment of the municipality to fulfill their responsibilities under a
SRTS infrastructure project.
An infrastructure assessment aims to provide a description of the travel characteristics of
a school's student population, issues related to pedestrian and bicycle access to the
school, and results of field observations. It identifies factors limiting walking and biking
to school, and makes recommendations for measures to increase the number of students
walking and biking or improve safety for those students already walking and biking.
Student residency information is collected and mapped relative to the location of the
school. Additionally, existing pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure is mapped to help
identify critical gaps in infrastructure as well as provide a visual assessment of the
number of students that would benefit from implementing improvements. MassDOT also
completes observations of school arrival and dismissal patterns, described in Section 3.4,
to identify the need for improvements and potential safety benefits. Existing
infrastructure is evaluated for compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
Architectural Access Board (AAB), and Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
(MUTCD) standards to inform the range of mobility improvements. Impacts on right-of-
way, grading, drainage, wetlands, and other environmental resources are also evaluated to
assess the feasibility of constructing potential Safe Routes to School funded projects in an
expedited manner.
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
3 Hosmer Elementary School
The Hosmer Elementary School is an elementary school with a total of approximately
656 students, approximately 69 percent of whom live within walking distance of the
school. The school is located at One Concord Road in Watertown, on the corner of
Boylston and Chauncey Street. The school is bordered by a mixture of single and multi-
family housing on all sides. The school is located in close proximity to Mount Auburn
Street (Route 16) to the north, which is a major arterial roadways carrying over 11,000
vehicles per day. The heavy traffic volumes and wide roadway width cause Mount
Auburn Street (Route 16)to form a barrier to walking and biking to school and separate
the school from approximately seven (7) percent of its potential walking population.
Figure 1 shows the school's relationship to the network of arterial roadways within a 1-
mile radius of the school.
The Hosmer Elementary School has participated in the education and encouragement
program with MassRIDES since 2010. The program encourages and educates students
and parents through information distribution, teaming with local police, participation in
Massachusetts Walk and Bike to School Day, and surveying student travel behavior and
monitoring results. The school participates in weekly Walking Wednesdays during fair
weather months. During these events, school staff walk with students at the end of the
day before dismissal to allow students taking the bus to participate in the event. In
addition, the school offers pedestrian safety training to second graders annually, and has
partnered with MassRIDES to hold a pedestrian safety assembly for the entire school.
The Hosmer School previously offered a walking school bus along Common Street and
Bellevue Road, however, as students moved on to other schools, the walking school bus
lost parent and chaperone support.
An assessment request was submitted to MassDOT by the Hosmer Elementary School in
May 2012 and subsequently was selected as part of the seventh round of assessments to
receive an infrastructure evaluation. The school's assessment request presented potential
need for improvements at multiple locations residing within close proximity to the
school, as well as indicated a strong potential for increasing walking and biking due to
the number of students residing within walking distance to the school. See Section 3.1
below for the Assessment Request and overview of preliminary safety concerns.
This assessment focuses on the streets immediately adjacent to the school grounds, such
as Boylston Street between Chauncey Street and Hazel Street, because these streets had
been identified to have the greatest concentration of school -related walking and bicycling
trips.
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
3.1 Hosmer Elementary School Assessment Request
The assessment request received in 2012, focused on the issues of dangerous crossings of
busy roadways and missing connections to existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Additional concerns include heavy traffic volumes of over 11,000 vehicles per day on
Mount Auburn Street and over 7,000 vehicles per day on School Street. These traffic
volumes can be a barrier to walking and bicycling. Approximately 69 percent of the
school's student population resides within a 1-mile radius of the school with
approximately 29 percent of those students currently walking or biking to school.
Additional concerns include the number of parents dropping off and picking up at the
school causing congestion and operational problems that were described in the
assessment request.
Completed SRTS School Assessment Request Form
Submitted by the Hosmer Elementary School, Watertown, MA
School Information
Municipality
Information
School
Name
Hosmer Elementary School
Municipality
Name
Town Watertown
Street
Address
1 Concord Road
Watertown MA 02472
Mailing
Address
124 Orchard Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Contact
Name
Robert LaRoche, Principal
Contact
Name
Gideon Schrieber, Senior
Planner
Tel. No.
(617) 926-7740
Tel. No.
Email
robert.laroche@watertown.kl2.ma.us
Email
gschreiber@watertown-ma.gov
Start Time
8:10 AM
Dismissal Time
2:35 PM
School Population Information
Grade
K 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8
Sum
Number of Students
656
Actual number residing within
452
1 mile of school
Not Provided
Estimated number who
131
currently walk/bicycle
Are students bused within 1 mile of the school? Explain if yes.
Yes. Students may subscribe to a fee -paid program and ride the school bus to and/or from the
school regardless of where they live. There is often a waiting list to take the bus.
Describe the potential for increasing walking and bicycling to the school
Hosmer School is located at the intersection of Boylston and Chauncey Streets in Watertown. The
school is surrounded by residential neighborhoods and the Arsenal Mall, a local shopping center
and regional employment center. The school is adjacent to the O'Connell playground which abuts
Page 6 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
Mount Auburn Street, a major connector street to Cambridge and other regional destinations.
The majority of students live within a mile of the school and many students already walk and bike to
school; infrastructure improvements, especially to help students cross Mount Auburn Street, can
increase both the number of children walking and biking to school, and the safety of students who
already walk and bike to school.
Two main infrastructure concerns in this area are:
1. Lack of curbs on sidewalks around the school, which allows cars to park on the sidewalks,
obstructing the pathways for pedestrians.
2. High traffic and difficult crossing conditions at Mount Auburn Street and School Street,
where several children would need to cross to access the Hosmer School.
The school community has an interest in increasing walking and biking and improving safety for
walking and biking. The school participates in International Walk to School and MA Walk/Bike to
School, and weekly Walking Wednesdays in fair weather. The school has held pedestrian safety
training for students.
Describe the problems you school faces regarding safe routes to your school
There are several major areas of improvement that would encourage more students to walk/ride to
school.
Sidewalks: The majority of sidewalks approaching the school do not have curbs and cars have
been observed often parking on the sidewalk, obstructing the path of pedestrians and creating a
safety hazard for children by parking or backing up onto the sidewalk. Reconstructing the
sidewalks with curbs would deter drivers from parking on the sidewalk, freeing the space for
children to walk to school.
Intersections: There are two main intersections which are problematic for students walking and
biking to school.
1. Mount Auburn Street and School Street. Students who live north of Mount Auburn Street
cross Mount Auburn Street at the intersection with School Street. The street is wide and
very busy. Additionally, there is a right turn slip lane for westbound traffic on Mount
Auburn, which creates an additional hazard for pedestrians, especially children, crossing
this road.
2. School Street and Boylston Street. School Street is a major through street in Watertown.
Students approaching the school from the eastern neighborhoods typically cross School
Street at Boylston, however, there are no stop signs or signals to allow students to cross
School Street. Adding traffic calming or a stop device would improve the safety of
students using this crossing to approach the school.
Crossing Guard: There are sufficient crossing guards for school arrival and dismissal periods,
however, students would benefit from increased crossing guard time to assist children participating
in after school activities at the school.
Are there any recommendations within school district planning documents about potential
closure/relocation of this school?
No. Watertown has closed three elementary schools in the past few years, increasing the
population at Hosmer School. The town is considering transferring a small neighborhood to the
Cuniff School, however, these students are outside the 1-mile radius of Hosmer School and are not
in the target audience for SRTS improvements.
Based on the Assessment Request Form submitted by the school, Mount Auburn Street
(Route 16) and School Street were identified by both school administrative staff and
parents as a safety concern for students walking to school due to heavy commuter traffic
along the corridor. Additionally, School Street has been identified as a cut -through street
Page 7 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
and provides connections to multiple residential neighborhoods north of the school. This
assessment specifically focuses on the streets close to the school grounds, including
School Street, and Boylston Street because these streets have been identified to have the
greatest concentration of school -related walking and bicycling trips.
3.2 Student Residency Mapping
The Assessment Request submitted by the Hosmer Elementary School included a map
depicting the location where each of its students live within a half -mile radius of the
school. The density of the student population within a 1-mile radius of the Hosmer
Elementary School is shown in Figure 2.
The map demonstrates that approximately 11 percent (72 students) of the Hosmer
School's population that lives within half -mile of the school resides in neighborhoods to
the southeast of the school. These students travel along local roadways which feed into
School Street and Boylston Street in order to walk to/from school. An additional 45
students also live in neighborhoods to the north and must cross Mount Auburn Street to
travel to school. Due to the heavy traffic volumes on this arterial roadway and a lack of
traffic calming measures, this roadway forms a barrier for students walking to school.
Approximately 8 percent (55 students) of the Hosmer School's students live to the east of
School Street and must cross School Street at the intersection with Boylston Street to
walk to/from school. This intersection has been identified within the Assessment
Request as a difficult crossing due to heavy traffic volumes along School Street,
approximately 7,000 Average Daily Traffic (ADT) and lack of stop signs on approaches
from side streets.
Based on the safety concerns raised in the assessment request, and the high potential for
increasing walking and biking to school, the Hosmer Elementary School was selected to
receive an SRTS infrastructure assessment.
Page 8 of 29
Elementary Service Areas Hosmer Walking Distances
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Page 9 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
3.3 Infrastructure Assessment and Field Visit
The MassDOT team attended a preliminary assessment meeting and performed a field
visit and inventory of sidewalks at Hosmer School on October 10, 2012. The following
people attended the meeting:
Attendee:
Representing:
Anne Hardiman
Hosmer School, Principal
Mary Kate Fitzpatrick
Hosmer School, Assistant Principal
Gideon Schrieber
Watertown Department of Public Works
Steve Engler
Watertown Ped/Bike Committee
Mark Gravallese
MassDOT District 6
Rob Ballasty
MassDOT District 6
Heather Drake
MassRIDES
Laurie Pessah
Toole Design Group
Rebecca Brown
TEC, Inc.
At the preliminary assessment meeting, school and Town staff identified factors
impacting walking and biking to Hosmer Elementary School, including the issues that
were identified in the assessment request. As part of the field visit and inventory,
MassDOT observed school arrival and dismissal procedures and activities; catalogued the
locations of key walking and bicycle infrastructure, including sidewalks, pathways, and
traffic control features; and identified other factors impacting travel to and from the
school. The detailed walking and bicycling infrastructure inventory is shown in Figure 3.
MassDOT's observations and assessments on walking and bicycling operations at
Hosmer School are delineated in Section 3.4.
MassDOT performed additional field visits following the preliminary assessment meeting
to observe school dismissal procedures and to confirm the project scope as part of the
review process with Town staff.
Page 10 of 29
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Page 11 of 29 �+�.�
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
3.4 General Observations
The following observations are based on observations and the preliminary meeting unless
otherwise noted.
School Arrival and Dismissal
• Arrival: Hosmer School has an extended day program, which offers activities in
the morning and afternoon, before and after school. The program begins at 7:15
AM with breakfast and arts & crafts. The Community Education Program is
looking to offer courses before school such as a running club. A comment in the
parent survey suggests that school faculty are not always visible outside to receive
students. Some students arrive to the school on MBTA buses that travel on
Mount Auburn Street. The school places orange cones in front of the school to
designate drop off zones for private vehicles.
Dismissal: School is dismissed at 2:35 PM and a crossing guard is present until
3:00 PM. Parents let teachers know how their students will be traveling home
after school. The teacher will bring kids outside at the end of the day to meet
their parents or walk home. Parents must notify teachers in writing if they change
their child's plan for getting home.
• The school offers a variety of after school programs. Although there are crossing
guards provided during school dismissal at the following intersections, there are
no crossing guards present when after school activities are released.
➢ Mount Auburn Street and Boylston Street
➢ Mount Auburn Street and Winthrop Street
➢ Nichols Avenue and Arlington Street
o The lack of crossing guards makes it difficult to cross these roadways
when competing with weekday commuter traffic.
Sidewalk and Pathway Infrastructure
• The intersection of School Street and Boylston Street was identified as a difficult
pedestrian crossing due to the volume and speed of traffic on School Street and
the presence of on -street parking on School Street obscuring drivers' vision of
students crossing the roadway. Approximately eight (8) percent of the Hosmer
School's student population lives in the neighborhoods east of School Street and
crosses at this intersection. This issue is addressed in the proposed SRTS project
described in Chapter 4.
o The heavy traffic volumes on Mount Auburn Street limit the number of
gaps in traffic of an adequate length of time between the flow of vehicles
to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway. As a result, pedestrians must
wait a long time to cross and may choose to take gaps that are too short.
• The intersection of Mount Auburn Street and School Street was identified as a
difficult and dangerous intersection for students crossing to/from school,
Page 12 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
o The intersection is dangerous due to a channelized right -turn slip lane that
allows higher vehicle turning speeds. The existing pedestrian signal
equipment is not compliant with the MUTCD and pedestrian signals and
push -buttons are not provided on the northeast corner of the intersection.
This issue is addressed in Recommendation 1 in Chapter 4.
o The one of the existing traffic signal heads on the School Street
southbound approach are obscured by tree branches.
o There is only one signal head mounted overhead per approach which
could potentially create visibility problems if blocked by a heavy vehicle
or solar glare. While not an MUTCD requirement, it is considered
preferable to have one signal head mounted overhead per lane.
o The existing pedestrian signals do not provide countdown indicators or
updated regulatory (R10-3) signage.
• Mount Auburn Street was identified by the parent surveys and at the preliminary
meeting as a dangerous and intimidating street, both for walking and crossing.
o People have been hit by cars at the corner of Mount Auburn Street and
Russell Avenue, as this is a somewhat midblock crossing due to the fact
that the southerly ramp is placed at a point between Otis Street and
Franklin Street. It was noted at the preliminary meeting that a student was
hit by a car at the Mount Auburn Street / St. Mary's Street intersection
while getting off the bus. This issue is addressed in Recommendation 3 in
Chapter 4.
o Six (6) crashes have been recorded by MassDOT at the Mount Auburn
Street / Russell Avenue intersection between 2011 — 2013. The resulting
annual crash rate is 2 crashes per year.
• There is a mid -block pedestrian signal on Mount Auburn Street just west of
Oakley Road, which provides pedestrian access to O'Connell Park. However, the
majority of students cross Mount Auburn Street at Boylston Street or Winthrop
Street, as these provide direct access into the Hosmer School.
o It is presumed that this behavior causes the Mount Auburn Street
pedestrian signal to be underutilized. This issue is addressed in
Recommendation 4 in Chapter 4.
• Although almost all of the streets surrounding the school have sidewalks on both
sides of the street, there is limited curb reveal or sloped paved curbs separating
the sidewalks from the travel way,
o The results of the limited infrastructure have vehicles parking on the
sidewalk as observed during site walk. This issue is addressed in the
proposed SRTS project described and in Recommendation 2 in Chapter 4.
Snow clearance can pose a problem for pedestrians. The DPW clears the
sidewalks on Winthrop Street and Mount Auburn Street. Although
businesses and residents are required to clear the snow in front of their
buildings, this is not enforced.
Page 13 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
Traffic Speeds and Volumes
• Based on traffic counts collected by MassDOT in 2014, School Street north of
Mount Auburn Street adjacent to Hosmer School carries approximately 7,000
vehicles per day.
• There is a perception of speeding and unsafe driving on Mount Auburn Street.
There have been pedestrian/vehicle crashes on this street.
o According to the parent survey, vehicles do not reliably stop for traffic
signals or stop signs. This issue is addressed in Recommendation 3 in
Chapter 4.
Crossing Guards
• A crossing guard is stationed at the following locations during school arrival and
dismissal periods:
➢ Mount Auburn Street and Boylston Street
➢ Mount Auburn Street and Winthrop Street
➢ Nichols Avenue and Arlington Street
3.5 Currently Planned Municipal and State Construction
Projects
There are two (2) transportation improvement projects proposed in Watertown within a 1-
mile radius of the Hosmer Elementary School. These projects are taken into account in
developing the recommendations for the SRTS infrastructure assessment in order to
ensure that the SRTS recommendations are not conflicting with or redundant to other
planned projects. A brief summary of these projects is provided below.
• Mount Auburn Road Diet Concept: The Town of Watertown conducted an initial
study of improvements to the Mount Auburn Street corridor, which includes
alternatives for road diets and bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Mount
Auburn Street between Common Street and Coolidge Hill. The study suggests
curb extensions at the Winthrop Street and Boylston Street intersection with
Mount Auburn Street, both of which are in close proximity to the Hosmer School.
The curb extensions recommended in this school assessment should be vetted
with the Town of Watertown to determine if they are compatible with any
proposed recommendations to Mount Auburn Street.
• Bike Path Spur: A multi -use path was constructed in Spring 2011 along the
abandoned rail corridor from School Street to the intersection of Arlington Street
and Nichols Avenue. A bike path spur is planned to connect this multi -use path to
the Charles River Path (south of Hosmer School), although a specific route has
not been determined yet. The Town is in the permitting process for a spur to
connect Arsenal Street to North Beacon Street and Greenough Boulevard. The
Town is also in the permitting process for a spur to connect School Street to
Watertown Square. Although it is unlikely that these paths will be used by
Hosmer School students to walk and bike to/from school, any improvements
along roadways connecting to the path should be coordinated with this project to
Page 14 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
incorporate connections and bicycle access to the path. The town hopes to begin
construction in 2-3 years.
Page 15 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
4 Recommendations for Improvement
Through the assessment request process, Hosmer Elementary School and Town of
Watertown staff have identified a number of existing safety concerns and infrastructure
deficiencies related to walking and bicycling access to the school (See Sections 3.1
through 3.4). During the field visit, additional deficiencies and needs were identified
(See Section 3.4).
The MassDOT team has made a number of recommendations described below for
infrastructure improvements that address these issues and deficiencies described in
Chapter 3 and shown graphically in Figure 4. The recommendations are focused
principally on unsafe crossings on School Street and Boylston Street. Preliminary
conceptual improvement graphics (See Figure 5) and narrative descriptions of potential
improvements (see Sections 4.1 and 4.2) were prepared and shared with Town of
Watertown Planning and Engineering staff to gain concurrence on the need, scope, and
priority of the recommendations. Multiple follow-up meetings and field visits were
conducted to verify the recommendations. The recommendations and potential projects
described are derived from the culmination of these discussions, the assessment request,
the field observations, and additional analyses described in prior sections of this
assessment.
The Hosmer Elementary School's assessment has identified a substantial benefit
associated with an improvement project and a high potential for increasing walking /
biking, in addition to a significant safety enhancement for students already walking and
biking to this school, as well as the adjacent high school. Furthermore, the recommended
projects for the Hosmer Elementary School will also provide a benefit to the surrounding
community by providing additional options for alternative mode travel and recreation.
Not all of the recommendations identified by this assessment will be funded by
MassDOT with Federal Transportation Alternatives (TA) funds. The project that is likely
to have the greatest benefit to walking and biking to school has been proposed as a SRTS
project. Additional recommended infrastructure recommendations serve to improve
safety and mobility for the Hosmer School's walking and biking population. These
recommendations are described to help assist the Town of Watertown to consider further
improvement projects to help support SRTS within their community.
4.1 Proposed MassDOT SRTS Infrastructure Project
The MassDOT team recommends the following project under the SRTS infrastructure
program: reconstruct sidewalks, crosswalks, and signage on Boylston Street and School
Street between Chauncey Street and Fairfield Street. The upgraded sidewalk connections
will feature curb bump -outs which will reduce crossing distance for pedestrians and
motorists travel speeds and provide additional green space. This project was selected for
potential SRTS funding as it provides access to the school for a number of residential
neighborhoods and has been identified in the assessment request and preliminary meeting
as a dangerous crossing for pedestrians walking to school.
Upgrade Pedestrian Crossings and Install Bump -outs Along Boylston Street
As discussed in Section 3.2, approximately 55 students live in the residential areas east of
Page 16 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
the Hosmer School and approach the school via Boylston Street. An additional 45
students live north of the Hosmer School and walk via School Street to/from school.
Boylston Street sidewalks lack vertical curbing, which allows drivers to park on the
sidewalk, creating obstructions to walking and biking. Boylston Street's intersections
with Hazel and Hosmer Streets have wide turning radii, which allow high vehicle turning
speeds and creates unnecessarily long crosswalks for pedestrians. In addition, the
intersection of Boylston Street and School Street has been identified as a difficult
pedestrian crossing due to perceived high travel speeds and heavy vehicle congestion,
combined with limited sight distance of pedestrians in the roadway due to on -street
parking on School Street.
To improve pedestrian safety along this major route to the school, The MassDOT team
recommends reconstructing sidewalks to provide curb reveal and curb bump -outs. Bump
outs would help reduce travel speeds increase distance of parked cars to SW to help with
conspicuity of crossing pedestrians as well as reduce pedestrian crossing widths along
Boylston Street between Fairfield Street and Chauncey Street. The major elements of the
project include:
• Reconstruct sidewalks on both sides of Boylston Street between Chauncey Street
and Fairfield Street, and along Chauncey Street between Boylston Street and the
Hosmer School Entrance, to add 6-inch curb reveal.
• Realign Chauncey Street at the intersection with Boylston Street to form a
standard T-intersection. Install curb extension at this intersection to reduce curb
radii and pedestrian crossing distance.
• Reconstruct the intersections of Boylston Street with Hosmer Street and Hazel
Street to reduce curb radii and pedestrian crossing distances.
• Construct bump -outs at the intersection of Boylston Street and School Street to
reduce curb radii and pedestrian crossing distances.
• Restripe crosswalks along Boylston Street between Fairfield Street and Chauncey
Street.
• Construct ADA-compliant accessible ramps and install pedestrian crossing
warning signs at crosswalks along Boylston Street between Fairfield Street and
Chauncey Street.
• Provide a pavement overlay along Boylston Street between Chauncey Street and
Fairfield Street within the limits of the project.
The proposed improvements at the School Street / Boylston Street intersection will
significantly improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians crossing the intersection, as
well as for bicyclists traveling through the intersection. The curb bump -outs will reduce
the travel speed of turning vehicles and improve visibility for pedestrians to cross the
roadway. The reconstructed curb ramps will improve accessibility for all pedestrians.
Installation of MUTCD compliant signage pavement markings will help convey message
to drivers.
The conceptual cost estimate for the potential SRTS-funded infrastructure project is
$693,000. See Figure 5 for additional detail and a graphical depiction of the
improvements. As described in Chapter 5, the Town will be required to provide a
Page 17 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
commitment to acquiring these easements prior to advancing this project into design.
Page 18 of 29
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Page 20 of 29
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Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
4.2 Other Recommendations for Implementation by the Town
of Watertown
MassDOT has identified additional recommended infrastructure improvement projects
that were not included in the proposed SRTS project. These recommendations would
improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the school property from adjacent
neighborhoods. The list of potential projects for the Town of Watertown to consider
includes the following:
• Improve Pedestrian Crossing at Mount Auburn Street and School Street
Intersection
• Reconstruct Sidewalks with Curbs along Nichols Avenue from Boylston Street to
Arlington Street
• Install Traffic Calming Measures and Pedestrian Improvements on Mount Auburn
Street Corridor
• Relocate Pedestrian Signal on Mount Auburn Street
• Install Bicycle Improvements on School Street Connecting to Watertown
Greenway
While these projects will improve safety for students walking to school, they are not
anticipated to see the same level of use as the improvements included in the proposed
SRTS infrastructure project. In comparison, approximately 10 students would walk
along Nichols Avenue between Boylston Street and Arlington Street. Although the
Mount Auburn Street corridor is in need of pedestrian safety improvements, there is a
potential for conflict between these recommendations and other corridor -wide road diet
initiatives. Therefore, the Mount Auburn Street corridor has not been identified for
Federal TA funding. In addition, there are two elementary schools located in close
proximity to the Hosmer School: St. Stephen's School and Atrium School, both on
Nichols Avenue. Pedestrian and bicycle improvements surrounding the Hosmer School
are likely to also benefit students of the St. Stephen's and Atrium Schools.
Recommendation 1— Improve Pedestrian Crossing at Mount Auburn Street and
School Street Intersection
Approximately 93 students (45 students within a half -mile radius) live in the residential
area directly north of the Hosmer School on the northerly side of Mount Auburn Street.
In order to walk or bike to school, students travel along School Street, cross School Street
at the signalized intersection with Mount Auburn Street, and continue along Mount
Auburn Street to Chauncey Street. The intersection at Mount Auburn and School Street
does not currently have ADA compliant accessible ramps at crosswalks. In addition, the
slip lane for right -turning vehicles on the northeast corner of the intersection requires
pedestrians to cross first to a small island before completing crossing either School Street
or Mount Auburn Street. This crosswalk is not signalized and the crossing guard does
not assist with crossing to this island. Furthermore, the right -turn slip lane allows high
vehicle turning speeds, increasing the danger to pedestrians.
Page 21 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
To improve the pedestrian safety, the MassDOT team recommends removing the right -
turn slip lane at this intersection and upgrading the pedestrian crossings. The major
elements of the project include:
• Remove the right -turn slip lane and splitter island on the northeast corner of
Mount Auburn and School Street, and provide a landscaped curb extension to
reduce the pedestrian crossing width across School Street. The reconstructed curb
would be designed to accommodate trucks and emergency vehicles.
• Construct ADA-compliant accessible ramps on all corners of the intersection and
restriped crosswalks.
• Install new pedestrian signals with count -down indications and push -buttons at all
crosswalks.
• Provide a pavement overlay within the limits of the project and restripe all
pavement markings, including lane delineation and STOP lines.
The proposed improvements at the School Street / Mount Auburn Street (Route 16)
intersection will significantly improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians crossing
the intersection, as well as for bicyclists traveling through the intersection. The
pedestrian signals will provide dedicated phases for pedestrians to cross the roadway
without conflict with vehicular traffic. The reconstruction of crosswalks and removal of
vehicle channelizing islands at the northeast corner of the intersection would improve
safety for pedestrians crossing the roadway by reducing crossing distance. The
reconstructed curb ramps will improve accessibility for all pedestrians. Installation of
MUTCD compliant signals and signage will ensure driver compliance with the intended
messages.
Recommendation 2 — Reconstruct Sidewalks with Curbs along Nichols Avenue from
Boylston Street to Arlington Street
The sidewalks along Nichols Avenue have limited to no curb reveal, allowing vehicles to
park on the sidewalks and restricting pedestrian access. The MassDOT team
recommends reconstruction of the sidewalks along Nichols Avenue between Boylston
Street and Arlington Street to provide 6-inch vertical curb to improve pedestrian safety.
The reconstruction of sidewalk will provide physical separation from parked vehicles and
inhibit the ability for vehicles to encroach on the sidewalk.
Recommendation 3 — Install Traffic Calming Measures and Pedestrian
Improvements on Mount Auburn Street Corridor
Mount Auburn Street presents a barrier to walking and bicycling to the Hosmer School
for students living north of this roadway due to its width, heavy traffic congestion, and
high vehicle travel speeds, which make crossing the roadway dangerous. The Watertown
Police Department has recorded 110 crashes along Mount Auburn Street. Of these
crashes 15 crashes (approximately 14%) have been pedestrian or bicyclists between 2010
and 2012. Consistent with the Town of Watertown's Mount Auburn Street corridor
study, which includes alternatives for road diets and bicycle and pedestrian improvements
on Mount Auburn Street between Common Street and Coolidge Hill, the MassDOT team
recommends installation of traffic calming measures and pedestrian upgrades along the
Mount Auburn Street corridor to improve safety. The major elements of this project
Page 22 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
include:
• Restripe Mount Auburn Street to provide a single travel lane separated by a two-
way left -turn lane and 5-foot bicycle lanes on either side of the roadway.
• Construct bump -outs at intersections to narrow the roadway and reduce the
pedestrian crossing width.
• Install ADA-compliant ramps and pedestrian crossing warning signs at pedestrian
crossings, and restripe crosswalks.
The proposed improvements along Mount Auburn Street (Route 16) will improve safety
and accessibility for pedestrians crossing the intersection, as well as for bicyclists
traveling through the intersection by reducing motorists travel speed. The construction of
curb bump -outs at key intersections will provide choke points which will encourage
motorists to reduce speed while providing dedicated lanes for bicyclists. The
reconstructed curb ramps will improve accessibility for all pedestrians. Installation of
MUTCD compliant signage and pavement markings will help convey the intended
messages to drivers.
Recommendation 4 — Relocate Pedestrian Signal on Mount Auburn Street
The is a pedestrian signal located on Mount Auburn Street just west of Oakley Road,
which provides a connection to O'Connell Park. During the observations at arrival and
dismissal of school, the MassDOT team observed less than 5 students utilize the Oakley
Road crossing. The majority of students walking to Hosmer School to/from
neighborhoods north of Mount Auburn Street use Winthrop Street or Boylston Street to
access the school. Therefore, the signal at Oakley Road is underutilized. The MassDOT
team recommends removing the pedestrian signal at Oakley Road and installing a fully -
actuated traffic signal with pedestrian phases, push-button, and countdown indications at
the Mount Auburn Street intersection with Boylston Street. This is also consistent with a
proposal by World Tech Engineering as part of the Mount Auburn Street Corridor Study
in 2011.
The pedestrian signals will provide dedicated phases for pedestrians to cross the roadway
without conflict with vehicular traffic. The ADA-compliant push buttons and accessible
ramps with tactile warning devices would improve accessibility for elderly, vision -
impaired, or disabled pedestrians. The reconstructed curb ramps will improve
accessibility for all pedestrians. Installation of MUTCD compliant signals and signage
will help convey the intended messages to drivers.
Recommendation 5 — Install Bicycle Improvements on School Street Connecting to
Watertown Greenway
The Watertown Greenway runs from the intersection of School Street and Arsenal Street
to the intersection of Arlington Street and Nichols Avenue. There are plans to extend this
path to the Charles River Path to the south and to Cambridge bike paths. Although this
path would not likely serve as a route to the Hosmer School, it is an important regional
bicycle connection that would benefit biking in Watertown, especially combined with
local traffic calming. The MassDOT team recommends that the Town of Watertown
consider installing bicycle improvements along School Street to improve the connection
to the Watertown Greenway. Due to the presence of on -street parking and the width of
Page 23 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
the roadway, these bicycle accommodations are likely to include installation of "sharrow"
pavement markings and Share -the -Road signage along the corridor. Installation of
MUTCD compliant signage and pavement markings will help convey the intended
messages to drivers.
Page 24 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
5 Next Steps
MassDOT intends to advance the proposed infrastructure project due to its ability to help
increase the number of children walking and bicycling to school and substantially
improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. The benefit of the proposed SRTS
infrastructure project was assessed based on the inventory of existing infrastructure and
identification of critical gaps, student residency / density information indicating the
number of students that would benefit from infrastructure improvements as well as
pedestrian / bicycle collision occurrence.
In order to successfully complete an SRTS infrastructure project, MassDOT and the
Town of Watertown must work together to advance it through the SRTS Infrastructure
Program process. The next steps include design and permitting, which are described in
detail in Section 5.2 below. Schedules related to these activities can vary depending upon
the school calendar (especially summer vacation), ability to reach a consensus on
recommended actions, timing of Town Meeting, logistics of the Town's right-of-way
acquisition process, and other factors.
Although the project development process is comprehensive and can take a significant
amount of time, each step is necessary to satisfy requirements for the use of Federal
money to build these projects. MassDOT and the Town of Watertown each have
important responsibilities, described below. Cooperation and communication between
MassDOT and the Town will help to make the process move as smoothly and quickly as
possible.
5.1 Project Approval (Step 1)
In order to advance the identified projects, the Town of Watertown must formally accept
the recommendations in the report. This formal acceptance will entail the following
steps:
Collaborative Review and Final Concept Development
The SRTS infrastructure project proposed for funding by MassDOT will be reviewed by
the Director of Engineering, the Town Manager, and other relevant Town staff, and
refined in collaboration with MassDOT and its consultants.
Formal Review and Approval
Assuming endorsement by the Director of Engineering and Town Manager, the proposed
SRTS project must then be submitted to the Town Council for approval. The Town's
legal counsel should review the assessment and provide guidance to the Town regarding
the right-of-way process, including the need for a permanent easement(s) on school
property for any areas where Federal funds will be used for new or upgraded pedestrian
or bicycle facilities.
To ensure community support for a proposed project, MassDOT strongly encourages the
Town to invite public comment from both the project abutters and the school community.
Should the Town's staff require assistance in presenting the recommendations, a
representative of MassDOT would be available to participate in such a meeting.
Page 25 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
Formal approval requires a vote of the Town Council and a letter from the Town
Manager stating the Town's support of the proposed SRTS infrastructure project in its
conceptual form.
Assumption of Town Responsibilities
The Town of Watertown must also formally accept its responsibilities for implementing
the project. This requires a vote of endorsement from the Town Council and submission
of a letter from the Town Manager that acknowledges municipal responsibility for the
right-of-way acquisition process and the municipality's assumption of costs associated
with legal counsel review and fee takings, if required. Right-of-way needs are generally
limited to narrow strip easements adjacent to the public right-of-way to provide space for
a sidewalk; as a result, costs are usually not high.
The Town of Watertown must also identify a municipal liaison who will be responsible
for leading future design reviews with municipal staff, organizing public meetings, and
coordinating the right-of-way acquisition process described below.
5.2 Design, Evaluation, and Construction (Steps 2 & 3)
Once the SRTS infrastructure project is proposed and approved by MassDOT, a project
design will be advanced in coordination with MassDOT and the Town's municipal
liaison. This project design will require conformance with MassDOT's Project
Development and Design Guide and HTC Directive as applicable.
Ground Survey
The design work will require detailed topographic ground survey and right-of-way layout
research to properly locate the proposed infrastructure. The detailed ground survey is
needed for any required utility design, including drainage, and to identify and minimize
any impacts to the abutting parcels. Ground survey costs are covered by the SRTS
program.
Right -of -Way Certification (Municipal Responsibility)
The survey and design process would identify any fee takings and any easements (both
temporary and permanent) on private property that are needed for construction. The
Town would be required to secure all fee takings and easements necessary to complete
the project. The identification and legal clearance of the public right-of-way must be
completed prior to MassDOT's issuance of a Right -of -Way Certificate, which is
necessary to enable the use of Federal funds for construction activities as part of the
SRTS program.
As Watertown is a town with a city form of government, the acquisition of land generally
requires a 2/3 vote of the Town Council. The vote is typically scheduled following the
preparation of the Final Right -of -Way Plans. As Town Meetings are typically conducted
once or twice per year, the timing of the submission of the warrant article for the Town's
legal counsel review is critical to the overall schedule of the project. MassDOT will fund
the preparation of roadway layout and easement plans that may be required for the
project. Although the school is publically-owned property, the Town of Watertown
would still be required to perform an Oder of Taking for any easements on the school
Page 26 of 29
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
property; this plan needs to be recorded at the Registry of Deeds and is a requirement to
secure the Federal funds for this project.
Permitting
MassDOT would coordinate any necessary Categorical Exclusion (CE) requests as part
of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting. These permitting elements
require coordination with the MassDOT Highway Division's Environmental Section,
Right -of -Way Bureau, and relevant District office.
Final Design and Programming
As part of the SRTS program, the MassDOT Highway Division may accept a combined
submission at the 25 percent/75 percent design stage in order to expedite the design
review process for projects that are primarily associated with new sidewalk construction
or reconstruction. Figure 6, presents a generalized summary of the steps required as part
of the design and permitting process with associated time frames. All design costs are
managed and funded as part of the MassDOT SRTS program.
Construction
After final plans, specifications, and cost estimates (PS & E) are completed and
approved, the MassDOT Highway Division would publicly advertise the project for
construction bids. Upon selection of a construction firm, a contract would be prepared
and signed. The Highway Division would oversee the project through the appropriate
District office. All eligible construction costs would be covered by MassDOT's SRTS
program.
Pre -and Post -Construction Evaluation
To quantify the benefits of the project, pre -construction and post -construction evaluations
would be undertaken by MassDOT.
For additional information about the SRTS Infrastructure Program or to provide written
comments on this Preliminary Assessment, please contact:
Nikki Tishler
MassDOT Office of Transportation Planning
Ten Park Plaza, Room 4150
Boston, MA 02116-3973
nicole.tishlerkstate.ma.us
Page 27 of 29
K
a
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Design and Permitting Timeframe
isMunicipality invites public comment and project receives positive vote
from Board of Selectmen or City Council.
commitment to fulfill responsibilities from chief executive.
Obtain approval from the MossDOT project review committee (PRC) to
- initiate a design/construction project with a specific funding program
(e.g., Safe Routes to School FY2017) and project schedule.
4 Complete field surve
Prepare 25/75% design package & preliminary Right -of -Way plan.
• Send early environmental coordination letters.
Conduct an early coordination meeting with the municipality to review the
current design and address any comments.
btain MassDOT/municipal review of 25/75% design.
6 Conduct a ROW coordination meeting with the municipality to review
the ROW acquisition process.
•' Schedule, advertise, and conduct design public hearing.
..�.,r.,......, �.,......�...�, r. ter... � . ,,,, ,....��.y........ ....... .
Right -of -Way plans.
Obtain environmental permits (if required).
• Obtain MossDOT/municipal review of 100% design.
Municipality acquires takings and easements.
Prepare PS&E plan package for final review and advertisement;
Project programmed (Federal funds obligated).
onMossDOT advertises project to solicit construction bids.
> = MassDOT prepares construction contract and issues
a 12 contractor's Notice to Proceed.
e» Ca
Total Approximate Design & Permitting Schedule
1
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2
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1-2
Hosmer Elementary School — Watertown, Massachusetts — Preliminary Assessment Report
This report was prepared by the TEC, Inc. Team:
TiEC
AMW
Kevin Dandrade, PE, PTOE
TEC, Inc.
Principal / Project Manager
65 Glenn Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
kdandrade&theen in�gcorp.com
with
Toole Design Group
33 Broad Street
Boston, MA 02201
J#■
Toole
Design
Group
the COLLABORATIVE
Planners Collaborative
Design Collaborative
Communications Collaborative
Page 29 of 29