On April 2nd and 3rd 2015, a Pedestrian and Bicycle Roadway Safety Assessment (RSA) was performed by engineering firm VHB in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team comprised of safety, traffic, and highway engineers, local enforcement, and local community organizations. The objective of the RSA was to identify issues and potential near and longer term solutions focusing on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Below are the recommendations VHB put forward based on the assessment.
Immediately (within the next 6 months)
- Pedestrian – Provide signing and striping enhancements, coupled with an educational campaign and additional enforcement, to encourage use of crosswalks and push buttons. Review the pedestrian signal wiring and equipment so they are working properly.
- Bicycles – Improve area signage and pavement striping related to bicycle use and partner with community groups to develop a plan to raise safety awareness for bicyclists.
- Autos – Implement signal retiming and restriping to improve capacity and progression throughout the corridor.
- Transit – Restripe to provide bus pull-offs/lanes.
In the Near Term (between 6 months and 2 years)
- Pedestrians – Provide minor infrastructure improvements and pedestrian crossing technologies to better define pedestrian crossings for both pedestrians and vehicles.
- Bicycles – Provide on-street bicycle facilities within Olneyville Square including connections to the Broadway bike lanes, East Coast Greenway, and Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
- Autos – Provide minor infrastructure improvements to improve capacity and progression throughout the corridor.
- Transit – Implement modifications to transit facilities to match up with pedestrian activity.
In the Long Term (beyond 2 years)
- Pedestrians – Provide transportation options for vehicles to travel through and around the square, offering an opportunity to incorporate “complete streets” to benefit the diversity of users including bicycles, pedestrians, motorists, and transit riders.
- Bicycles – Provide off-road bicycle facilities within Olneyville Square including connections to the Broadway bike lanes, East Coast Greenway, and Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
- Autos – Provide transportation options for vehicles to travel through and around the square through enhanced circulation within the corridor for local traffic as well as offering additional freeway connections for transient vehicle to by-pass the square.
- Transit – Consider providing separated right-of ways or technologies to allow transit to by-pass congestion in the square.