Study Advisory Group Meeting 4

Presentation given at the Interstate 495/Route 9 Interchange Improvement Study Advisory Group Meeting Number 4

Transcript

1. Interstate 495 & Route 9 Interchange Improvement Study SAG Meeting #4 June 29, 2012 MassDOT
2. MassDOT Study Purpose   Develop viable short-and long term transportation improvements that   Reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality   Improve highway safety and operations   Enhance mobility by increasing choices   Support economic development and smart growth
3. MassDOT I-495 Peak Hour Traffic Volume Growth 9,700 9,650 9,850 9,850 9,990 10,100 8,900 8,550 9,000 9,190 9,210 9,620 10,350 9,900 10,700 10,600 10,800 11,350 10,985 10,595 11,315 11,345 11,360 11,715 0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000 AM PM AM PM AM PM 2004 2011 2035 RTP 2035 PDA North of Rt. 9 South of I-90 - 8% +16% +16% +19% +15% +17% +18% -11% - 9% -7% - 7% - 5% South of Rt. 9 +6% +7% +6% +7% +5% +3%
4. MassDOT What We Have Done Since the Last Meeting?  Westborough Planning Board Meeting – March 20  495/MetroWest Partnership Public Meeting – March 27  Southborough Selectmen’s Meeting – April 23  MassDOT Working Meeting – May 22  Capacity analysis based on CTPS Traffic Forecasts for 2035 PDA Scenario  Refinement of Alternatives – Layout, impacts, costs
5. MassDOT Future Land Use East of I-495   Regionally significant Priority Development Area   Proposed 2.2 million square feet EMC expansion   Potential redevelopment of Verizon Site   Potential development site off Park Central Drive
6. MassDOT Future Land Use West of I-495   Regionally significant Priority Development Area   Proposed 1.2 million square feet EMC commercial office space
7. MassDOT Traffic Issues Mainline Congestion Ramp Delays AM Peak Hour Interchange Weaving Ramp Delays PM Peak Hour Toll Plaza Weaving High Volume On-Ramp Merges Mainline Congestion Delay Poor LOS PM Queues WB Off-Ramp/ Side Street Conflict SB Ramp to Pike Queues Back to Mainline H O P K I N T O N H O P K I N T O N N O R T H B O R O U G H N O R T H B O R O U G H S O U T H B O R O U G H S O U T H B O R O U G H W E S T B O R O U G H W E S T B O R O U G H 495 90 9 85 30 85 135 9 90 2035 PDA Scenario Level of Service -495/Route 9 D-F -495/I-90 F t 9/Computer Dr C-E t 9/Research Dr C-F  I I    R  R    
8. MassDOT Open Space and ndangered Species E   I-495/I-90 Interchange located within Cedar Swamp ACEC   Few environmental constraints at I-495/ Route 9 Interchange
9. MassDOT Water Resources   Wetlands abut I-495/ I-90 ramps   Wetlands in I-495 mainline median north of Flanders Road   Wetlands in vicinity of Route 9/Crystal Pond Road
10. MassDOT Preliminary Screening Criteria   Viable Transportation Improvements  Meet design standards  Consistent with existing transportation investment  Can be developed based on conditions in study area   Reduce Traffic Congestion  Reduce vehicle delay  Provide additional capacity   Improve Highway Safety  Address high crash locations  Address identified safety issues and reduces conflicts
11. MassDOT Preliminary Screening Criteria  Enhance Mobility  Provide alternate transportation modes  Reduce single-occupancy vehicle use  Supports Economic Development  Improve access/infrastructure for designated development areas
12. MassDOT Alternatives for Further Development   Roadway improvements   Traffic operations   Alternatives to driving alone
13. MassDOT Roadway Improvements: HT-1 Add a Collector- Distributor Road to I-495 Existing I-495 CD Road Alternative Convert Mainline to CD Road No Increase in Overall ROW Width Shift Mainline to Median 0 100 50 Feet 0 100 50 Feet
14. MassDOT Short Option 495 FLANDE Legend LOS AM/PM A/B C/F RS RD WASHINGTON ST F/C 9 in INTERSTATE 495 TURNPIKE RD BOSTON WORCESTER TURNPIKE FLAGG RD S O U T H B O R O U G H W E S T B O R O U G H B/B B/F Collector-Distributor Road Alternative HT1A 30  CD Road – Short Option  Eliminates weaving congestion for through traffic •  CD weave improves from LOS D/E to LOS B •  NB CD weave LOS F in PM  Mainline I-495 at Capacity in peak direction south of Route 9 •  New NB diverge LOS F in AM •  New SB merge LOS F in PM  Operations for most ramps improve •  EB to SB improves from LOS E to LOS C PM  
15. MassDOT Long Option 9 90 495 TURNPIKE RD BOSTON WORCESTER TURNPIKE FLAGG RD FLANDERS RD MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE INTERSTATE 495 WASHINGTON ST H O P K I N T O N W E S T B O R O U G H S O U T H B O R O U G H W E S T B O R O U G H B/C C/B C/F F/F D/C F/F C/F F/C Legend LOS AM/PM A/B Collector-Distributor Road lternative HT1B   CD Road – Long Option  Eliminates congestion for I-495 through traffic at both I/Cs  CD Road carries more traffic than mainline  Mainline I-495 at Capacity in peak direction south of Route 9  Operations mixed at ramps •  NB & SB ramps to I-90 remain at LOS F •  NB on-ramp improves from LOS F to LOS D in AM A
16. MassDOT How the CD Road Affects Regional Travel Patterns  Short CD Road  Modest shifts in traffic Southbound (2%), Northbound (1%), I-90 Westbound (3-12%)  Shifts traffic from Route 9 EB to I-90 EB (7-14%) Long CD Road    Modest shifts in traffic Southbound (1-2%), Northbound (1-3%), I-90 Westbound (3-12%)  Shifts traffic from Route 9 EB to I-90 EB (7-14%)  Shifts traffic from Route 9 WB to I-90 WB (2-4%)  Traffic shifts to I-90 from Route 9 due to less conflicting traffic at I/C
17. MassDOT Legend New Road/Ramp New Bridge Pavement Removed A/B LOS AM/PM B/C C/C F/A   Eliminates weave on I-495 NB and SB   Improves most ramp operations   NB diverge remains LOS F Roadway Improvements: HT-3 I-495/Rt.9 Braided Ramps B/A
18. MassDOT Cost & Impacts of CD Road vs. Braided Ramps CD Road Braided Ramp cts s  $ 150 Million – Long   $19.2 Million  $ 56 Million – Short   Existing ROW Ex   isting ROW   No wetland impa  Relocation of cell tower access road  Median wetland impacts     
19. MassDOT   Cost – $2.4 Million Roadway Improvements: HT-9 I-495/I-90 Short-Term Safety Improvements
20. MassDOT   New NB I-495 ramp to I-90 EB   Extend 2-Lane SB I-495 off- ramp   Widen SB I-495 on-ramp to 2 lanes   Separate movements at toll plaza area HT-10: I-495/I-90 Interchange Ramp Modifications
21. MassDOT Legend LOS AM/PM A/B I-495/I-90 Improvements
22. MassDOT I-495/I-90 Ramp Modifications Cost and Impact  $ 60 Million  Existing ROW  Wetland impact and Sudbury River crossing from new I-495 NB to I-90 EB ramp  Potential for noise impact from elevated I-90 WB to I-495 SB ramp on residences in Hopkinton (Roosevelt Lane) south of toll plaza  I-495 NB off-ramp to I-90 EB improves to LOS E in AM  I-495 SB off-ramp to I-90 improves to LOS A/B  I-90 to I-495 SB improves to LOS B/B
23. MassDO F/C Legend LOS AM/PM A/B T Route 9 West Auxiliary Lane   Eliminates merge on Route 9 WB from I-495 SB   Creates weaving segment on Route 9 WB between I-495 and Computer Drive   Similar LOS as merge   Cost $600,000
24. MassDOT B/A D/C Legend LOS AM/PM A/B Route 9 Widening West of I-495   Retains Merge with Added Lane   Improves I-495 SB to WB LOS F to LOS D
25. MassDOT Legend LOS AM/PM A/B F/F E/F B/B Route 9 Widening East of I-495   Provides additional weaving capacity WB with Added Lane   WB Weave improves from LOS D to LOS B Increases vehicle gaps for exiting side street traffic  
26. MassDOT Route 9 Widening East of I-495 (continued)   Provides 3 continuous WB travel lanes   Works with Crystal Pond Road Improvements
27. MassDOT * Improvements can accommodate approximately 1.2 million SF of development on Crystal Pond Rd * Improvements can accommodate approximately 1.2 million SF of development on Crystal Pond Rd Route 9 at Crystal Pond   Allows full access to/from Verizon Driveway   Eliminates EB to WB U-turn movement   Improves overall intersection capacity – LOS E*
28. MassDOT Crystal Pond and Route 9 Widening Costs and Impacts  $ 4.7 Million WB and $2.3 Million EB Widening; Total $7 Million   $1.5 Million - Crystal Pond Road/Route 9 Intersection  Mostly within existing ROW, but additional ROW required:  ½ acre for Crystal Pond Road realignment  ¼ acre for WB Route 9 widening at Verizon site W   etland impact from WB Route 9 widening at Verizon site and Crystal Pond Road realignment
29. MassDOT B/D D/F Legend LOS AM/PM A/B   Cost - $1.4 Million Computer Drive, Research Drive & Connector Road Improvements
30. MassDOT Legend LOS AM/PM A/B F/F A/A   Cost - $900,000 Route 9 Improvements at Park Central Drive and Flagg Road
31. MassDOT Transit Alternative Recommendation Westborough Office Park Westborough Technology Park EMC 85 85 N Legend MBTA Framingham-Worcester Commuter Line Route 9 Limited Stop Bus Service West Route 9 Limited Stop Bus Service East Shuttle Connector with Commuter Rail – Westborough Route 85 Route Marlborough-Hopkinton (by others) Existing MWRTA Route 7 Existing Commuter Rail Station Shuttle Connector with Commuter Rail – Southborough Intermodal Park & Ride TMA Employer Shuttles
32. Walking and Bicycling Recommendations   Install sidewalks where appropriate and improve on-site connections   Improve options for bicycle commuting such as dedicated parking and storage MassDOT
33. MassDOT Next Steps   Develop a Recommended Plan   Final Report
34. MassDOT Project and Study Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule TASK MEETING DATE 1. Study Area September 2011 2. Existing Conditions & Issues Evaluation December 2011 3. Future Conditions & Alternatives Development February 2012 4. Alternatives Analysis June 2012 5. Recommendations September 2012 6. Final Report December 2012 www.massdot.state.ma.us/planning/I495Route9InterchangeStudy.aspx
35. MassDOT Discussion