Non-Motorized Crashes in the Merrimack Valley
The Road to Vision Zero
Ensuring that the transportation network is safe for all users is a priority for the region, the state and the country. Creating a safe environment for cyclists and pedestrians is paramount to making these modes a real choice for transportation for many people.
“Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy equitable mobility for all.” (Vision Zero Network, visionzeronetwork.org/about/what-is-vision-zero) The premise behind Vision Zero efforts is that all people have the right to move safely and that the goal is to PREVENT fatalities and serious injuries due to traffic collisions.
A Look at the Data
MassDOT, and subsequently the Merrimack Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (MVMPO), adopted targets for non-motorist crashes that result in serious injuries and fatalities. Note, that is a subset of all crashes that involve non-motorists. As shown in the table below, the numbers have declined statewide and are projected to continue that trend, though not demonstrably.
Statewide combined non-motorist fatalities and serious injuries with the target for reduction.
Unfortunately, the Merrimack Valley is trending upward over time.
The five year average for 2016-2020 is 21.4 crashes per year. The total number is 107 crashes that resulted in fatalities and serious injuries.
The data is based on 5-year rolling averages, which means that one year could have a large impact on the numbers. In 2020, statewide the number of crashes resulting in non-motorist fatalities and serious injuries experienced a steep decline. In the Merrimack Valley, non-motorist fatalities also saw a steep decline of 40%. However, serious injuries increased by 20%.
The table above shows the percentage change between 2019-2020.
The table below shows the breakdown of crashes resulting in fatal and non-fatal injuries by community. It is clear that the highest number of crashes involving non-motorists continues to be in the largest cities in the Merrimack Valley. The City of Haverhill has the highest number of fatalities. Interestingly, while the overall number of crashes is not as high as Haverhill and Lawrence, the City of Newburyport has the second highest number of fatalities.
This map overlays the 2016-2020 combined non-motorist crashes resulting in fatalities and serious injuries with MassDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) bicycle and pedestrian crash clusters. These clusters provide an historic view of crash clusters between 2009-2018.
As can be seen here in Haverhill, some of the more recent crashes continue to occur in those crash clusters. Haverhill's crash clusters center around the downtown.
The City of Lawrence tells a different story. While a few of the crashes continue to be in the same crash clusters, there is a greater distribution across the city, primarily in the northern half. This is consistent with past crash trends in the city.
Haverhill and Lawrence represent the largest cities that are more ethnically diverse, have the largest number of people who speak English as a second language, and are home to more low-income households.
MVPC took a look at the data to see if there were any obvious trends. Of the 2016-200 crashes resulting non-motorist fatalities and injuries (total is 107), 76 of the crashes involved pedestrians.
A quick look at the location of the motorist when hit tells us that in half of the crashes, non-motorists were in the roadway. This could mean that someone was walking, running or bicycling in the roadway, but it could also mean that a person was walking to their car or walking along the roadway waiting for a break in traffic to cross.
MassDOT also collects information on the driver contributing factor, but this data depends greatly on whether or not the police officer has provided information in this category. The purpose of looking at the data in this way allows us to see if speed might be a leading cause. MassDOT has highlighted speed as an increasing problem during the COVID pandemic. This does not seem to be the case at least with this subset of data.
A Road Safety Audit on Route 110 resulted in a safe crossing at a bus stop featuring a bus pullout, bus shelter, sidewalks, crosswalk with refuge island, and rapid flashing beacon lights. The left photo shows the bus stop before improvements and the right photo shows it after construction (credit: MassDOT).
Addressing Safety
Safety is one of MassDOT and the MVMPO's top priorities. Analyses and studies are often focused on prevention through infrastructure change. Every year, the MVMPO examines the most recent crash data provided by MassDOT and creates a Top 100 Crash Locations list, which is distributed to member communities and the public. Studies undertaken by the MVMPO are usually chosen either because a community has requested the study or it is a high crash location. The map below shows the crash locations juxtaposed with studies undertaken by the MVMPO.
Non-Motorist Crash Data (2016-2020) and UPWP Studies
In addition to studies, MVPC collected data on all sidewalks and their conditions as well as ADA ramps in 7 of the 15 communities. This data has been used by communities to create short- and long-term plans for improvements to the pedestrian environment. For example, in 2021, the City of Lawrence used the data to make improvements to all the sidewalks in one-quarter of the city, making huge advances in this area.
Programs
To better address safety and non-motorist mobility, MassDOT has implemented several programs that communities can take advantage of, including the Complete Streets Funding Program, Safe Routes to School, Shared Streets funding program, and a bicycle and pedestrian educational and enforcement program.
MassDOT's Complete Streets funding program was a game changer when it came to influencing communities to begin implementing infrastructure projects that made non-motorized transportation safer and easier. Through the program up to $400,000 may be awarded for a project, which is a significant contribution toward a community's ability to implement infrastructure improvements. While each community receives Chapter 90 funds to pay for a variety of projects, including road pavement, small communities received a very small allotment, which can be far less than the $400,000 Complete Streets project budget.
While a great program, like anything it does not come without challenges. Funding is limited and MassDOT wants to ensure that the program is equitable. Communities will not be awarded project funding every year. Anecdotally, MVPC heard from one community that they were asked to split a small project into two parts, but only one part was funded. Finding funding for finishing the project is a challenge and they have not been successful in receiving an addition Complete Streets grant.
MVPC mapped community prioritized Complete Streets projects. Use the map below to see where projects are located in your community.
Complete Streets in the Merrimack Valley
Nearly all Merrimack Valley Communities have schools participating in the Safe Routes to School program. Lawrence, Newburyport and North Andover have benefited from infrastructure projects and the newer signs and lines program. In addition, communities like the City of Lawrence has sought to implement some SRTS recommendations around schools using local funds.
The challenge with this program is that very few infrastructure projects are chosen and it takes a long time for the projects to make it through to process.
Walk to School Day in North Andover. Photo: Judy Crocker/MassDOT
Painted crosswalk in Amesbury. Photo: Caitlin Thayer
During the COVID-19 pandemic, MassDOT initiated the Shared Streets funding program to help communities implement quick bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects as well as projects to support local businesses. Several MV communities have received these grants and among the projects funded are sidewalks, protected bike lanes and painted crosswalks.
The most recent grant round includes funding to address speeding. MassDOT has also created a speed management web site for communities and advocates, including a treatment toolkit .
