1. Reducing Speeds in our
Rural Communities and
Increasing Safety
Neil E. Boudreau
MassDOT State Traffic Engineer
January 18, 2013
1 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
2. MUTCD Speed Zoning Criteria
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
3. 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)
3 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
4. 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
4 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
5. 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
5 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
6. Engineering Measures for
Managing Speed
Context Sensitive Design – Urban Areas
Traffic Calming
Roundabouts
Perceptual measures
Vehicle activated speed displays
Roadway design elements
6 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
7. Contact Sensitive Design
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.
7 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
8. Traffic Calming
8 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
9. Roundabouts
9 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
10. Perceptual Measures
10 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
11. Vehicle Activated Speed Displays
11 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
12. 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
13. Contact Information:
Neil Boudreau, State Traffic Engineer
Phone: (857) 368-9655
Email: neil.boudreau@state.ma.us
13 | Leading the Nation in Transportation Excellence | www.mass.gov/massdot January 30, 2013
