Data Collection & Analysis
Local Technical Assistance Program
The scope and purpose of the Old Colony Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Local Highway Technical Assistance (LTA) Program is to provide a rapid and effective response mechanism to address special localized short term transportation issues and/or projects as they arise. Upon request from local, regional, or state officials and agencies, the planning staff is able to provide data collection, analysis, and options for action to address these issues. Typical projects prepared under the LTA program include traffic counts, roadway speed and safety studies, traffic signal and all-way STOP sign warrant analyses, road safety audits, heavy commercial vehicle studies and exclusion permit request assistance, and localized bicycle and pedestrian safety.
Since 2002, OCPC has provided nearly 300 studies to municipalities in the region, including:
- Abington: Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion (HCVE) Analysis for Multiple Roadways; Summer Street Traffic Study; Hancock Street at Chestnut Street Road Safety Audit
- Avon: Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion (HCVE) for West Spring Street; Traffic Safety Study of West Main Street at South Street and School Street
- Bridgewater: Bedford Street (Route 18) at Grove Street Traffic Study
- Brockton: Quincy Street Corridor Intersections Safety and Congestion Study; Route 123/Linwood/ Lorraine/ VA Hospital/ and Manley Streets Intersection analysis
- Duxbury: Effectiveness of 25 MPH Speed Limits (Adoption of Chapter 90 Section 17C) on Multiple Roadways; Powder Point Bridge Traffic Study
- East Bridgewater: East Street Traffic Study
- Easton: Pedestrian Counts Central Street; Washington Street (Route 138) and Elm Street Intersection Study; Route 138 and Route 106 Intersection Study
- Halifax: Technical Analysis of Implementation of Left Turn Lanes on Plymouth Street (Route 106); Analysis of Crosswalks on Route 106; Elm Street and Furnace Street.
- Hanover: Woodland Drive Neighborhood Traffic Study; Mill Street at Hanover Mall Drive / YMCA Drive Study
- Hanson: Safety Analysis of Route 58 Curvature and Alignment; East Washington Street Speed Study
- Kingston: Identification of Thickly Settled and Business District Areas; Green Street Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion Analysis; Kingston Historic District Traffic Study
- Pembroke: Pembroke Center Traffic Study; Chapel Street Traffic Study
- Plymouth: Clark Road / Beaver Damn Road Traffic Study; Carver Road at Montgomery Drive Traffic Study; Long Pond Road Speed Study
- Plympton: Main Street Traffic Study; Speed Safety Zones and HCVE Zones Analysis
- Stoughton: Turnpike Street Speed Limits Study; Island Street Traffic Study and Road Safety Audit; Canton Street (Route 27) at School Street and Summer Street; Park Street (Route 27) at Turnpike Street Traffic Study
- West Bridgewater: Traffic Study for Walnut Street, Howard Street, and Prospect Street; River Street Traffic Study; Route 106 at Howard Street Traffic Study
- Whitman: Traffic Study of Pleasant Street, South Avenue, and Franklin Street
Traffic Counts
Old Colony Planning Council regularly conducts traffic counts and intersection turning movement counts throughout the region. Traffic counts are conducted using automatic traffic recorder (0ATR) equipment. ATR equipment is typically placed at a location for a midweek period of 48 to 72 hours, from which a 24-hour midweek weekday average is derived. This data provides hourly volumes, bidirectional average weekday volumes, and includes speed and vehicle classification data. Intersection turning movement counts are collected manually, typically during the morning (7:00-9:00 AM) and afternoon (4:00-6:00 PM) peak commute hours. Traffic count and intersection turning movement count data is used to quantify congestion levels and crash rates on the system, along with calculating annual traffic growth.
The data from some of these collection activities, as well as reports and analysis, are available through our Annual Traffic Volumes Report and at the Old Colony Planning Council – Reports Page.
In addition, the data is uploaded to the MassDOT Transportation Data Management System.
Parking Studies
Parking studies allow Old Colony Planning Council and communities to assess existing parking inventory and determine supply and demand needs. Parking space turnover analysis provides insight into both parking supply and economic activity in community centers. This data also helps determine transit needs and guides how to improve existing transit service as well and bicycle and pedestrian connectivity.
Heavy Vehicle Exclusion Zones
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in its 2009 Massachusetts Amendments to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), allows communities to request permits for Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion Zones on roadways under local jurisdiction. Heavy Commercial Vehicle Exclusion Zones are subject to approval from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with need and appropriateness based on evaluation criteria prescribed in the Massachusetts Amendments to the MUTCD. A community may choose to request an HCVE zone to improve safety along a roadway, improve quality of life in a residential neighborhood, or to preserve pavement and culvert conditions. Old Colony Planning Council provides technical assistance to communities requesting HCVE zones with data and analysis.
Complete Streets
Complete Streets are streets designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users. Those include people of all ages and abilities, regardless of whether they are travelling as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or public transportation riders. The concept of Complete Streets encompasses many approaches to planning, designing, and operating roadways and rights of way with all users in mind to make the transportation network safer and more efficient. Complete Street policies are set at the state, regional, and local levels and are frequently supported by roadway design guidelines. The MassDOT provides funding for Complete Streets initiatives in Massachusetts. MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program provides technical assistance and construction funding to eligible municipalities. Eligible municipalities must pass a Complete Streets Policy and develop a Prioritization Plan. All Program news, guidance, and registration information are available through an online Portal at: https://www.masscompletestreets.com/
Old Colony Planning Council is available to provide technical assistance to communities with Complete Streets and mobility needs.
