Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of this study?

The goal of this study is to develop improvements that will reduce congestion and improve mobility in the I-91 Interchange 19 area.

Are major improvements definitely going to occur in the Interchange 19 area?  Does it make sense to do nothing at all? 

No, major improvements are not definitely going to occur.  The study process will examine the impacts of a variety of alternatives.  One of these alternatives is to do nothing, called a No Build Alternative.

Will this study examine non-engineering related alternatives, such as incentives to get users out of their single-occupant vehicles and into transit or prohibiting vehicles on campus for first- and second-year UMass students?

The study will include the examination of “non-engineering” related alternatives as they relate to the project goals of reducing congestion and improving mobility in the I-91 Interchange 19 area.  This includes so-called “Transportation Demand Management” (TDM) which attempts to reduce or re-allocate during different time-periods, the demand for trips or shift trips to different modes in the study area.  This will specifically include a review of the alternatives identified in TDM Package 2 from the Connecticut River Crossing Study.  Other alternatives may be included as appropriate. 

What is included in the project study area?  Does it include the Coolidge Bridge? 

The study area includes the I-91 Exits 18 through 20 and is generally bordered by King Street on the west, I-91 on the southeast, and Damon Road on the northeast.  The study area does not include the Coolidge Bridge.

What is an origin-destination survey?

An origin-destination survey, often referred to as an O-D survey, is a survey conducted to better understand where traffic, in particular motor vehicles, on select routes are coming from (their origin) and going to (their destination).

How were the traffic counts, particularly for the origin-destination analysis, taken?

The study team conducted a license plate survey in 2009 to collect data for the origin-destination survey. Counters posted at designated intersections in the study area recorded license plate data by turning movement.  The license plates were then matched using a computer program, and the origin and destination information compiled.  This origin-destination survey completed for this project is based on actual data, not assumptions. 

For the traffic analysis, what is the assumed growth rate for future year projections in the study area?

A growth rate of one-percent per year will be applied to the background traffic and anticipated traffic from known developments will be added to the street network.

How many at-grade train crossings and fire/ambulance signal preemptions are there on a daily basis in the study area?

The at-grade railroad crossing at Damon Road is closed for one train crossing per day, for two minutes.  The intersection at King St and Damon Road typically has 12 fire/ambulance emergency signal preemptions per day, and the intersection at Route 9 and Damon Road typically has 10 fire/ambulance emergency signal preemptions per day.

What is LOS stand for and what does it mean? 

LOS stands for Level of Service.  It is a term used in traffic analyses and often refers to a driver’s level of comfort on a roadway.  LOS is measure A, B, C, D, E, or F, with A being the best and F being the worst measure.  An intersection with a LOS A is much better, often less congested, than an intersection with a LOS F.

Are there bicycle and pedestrian trail counts available?

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has supplied the project team with bicycle and pedestrian trail counts.  The project team will present this data to the PAC in the Winter 2010.

Has public transit ridership increased in recent years?

PVTA data show total ridership on the system was relatively steady between fiscal years 1992 and 2001, with an overall increase of 5% during that whole period. Between 2001 and 2005, ridership declined 22%. Ridership regained some of these losses in subsequent years, growing 7% by 2008 above the 2005 low point. The most recent data available, for the fiscal year ending in 2009, show a slight 0.7% decline over 2008.

How far along are the proposed improvements for the Damon Road Reconstruction Plan?

The Damon Road Reconstruction Plan improvements are currently in the design phase of development.  The improvement designs are approximately 25% complete and can be viewed on the Project Documents page.

How can a member of the public provide comments on the study or study products?  

The public can provide comments a number of ways.  They include: