REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

Peer Reviews

 

Peer Review of Proposed Retail and Industrial Projects, Charlton, Massachusetts
Conley Associates, Inc. peer reviewed two projects for the Town of Charlton, a proposed CVS Pharmacy and a proposed industrial park. The proposed CVS Pharmacy would be located at the signalized intersection of Route 20 at North Main Street/Center Depot Road and the industrial park would be located at the intersection of Route 20 at Griffin Road. In the analysis for the pharmacy, Conley Associates, Inc. commented on the collection of Saturday traffic volumes on a holiday weekend, which could cause irregular traffic patterns. Conley Associates, Inc. also thoroughly reviewed the site circulation, particularly as the site was located on a busy, signalized intersection. The primary concern for the industrial park project was truck access, given a steep slope on the Griffin Road approach to Route 20 and tight turning radii for right turns from Route 20 onto South Sturbridge Road.

Sutton Plaza Shopping Center and Cold Spring Brook Place Residential Developments, Sutton, Massachusetts
Conley Associates, Inc. conducted a peer review and independent analysis for two projects in Sutton, Massachusetts. One project was a proposed 116,000 square foot expansion of the Sutton Plaza Shopping Center and the other was Cold Spring Brook Place, a proposed mixed-use development. Both projects were located adjacent to the signalized intersection of Boston Road at Route 146 (Boston Worcester Turnpike). MassHighway had previously studied this intersection and had proposed a number of improvement alternatives, and future mitigation would likely include grade separation of Boston Road and Route 146. The Sutton Plaza proponent would install separate left turn lanes on Boston Road and the Cold Spring Brook Place proponent would install an additional left turn lane for southbound vehicles on Route 146. In addition, Boston Road would be widened to accommodate the additional through lane (from the signal) all the way to the proposed Cold Spring Brook Place site driveway. Conley Associates, Inc. worked closely with the Town of Sutton to ensure that all potential mitigation alternatives were feasible and that the access points would also work with the potential grade separation.

Peer Review of Proposed Amesbury Heights Residential Development in Amesbury, Massachusetts
Conley Associates, Inc. conducted a peer review and independent analysis for a proposed residential development in Amesbury. The proposed 240 units would be located on Route 110 in Amesbury. The study area included the ramps to I-495, the signalized intersection of Route 110 at Route 150, and several unsignalized intersections. Conley Associates, Inc. recommended that the study area should be expanded to include the ramps to I-95, where approximately 60 percent of the site traffic was oriented. An adjacent parcel is also slated for development, and Conley Associates, Inc. recommended that the access points between the two sites should be coordinated to minimize conflicts on Route 110. Conley Associates, Inc. recommended further analysis on slip ramps located at the signalized intersection of Route 110 at Route 150. Although the slip ramps allow turns from Route 150 onto Route 110 to bypass the signal, any backup on these ramps could significantly impact operations. Conley Associates, Inc. also recommended that MassHighway officials should be consulted regarding the feasibility of adding separate left turn lanes on Route 110 at this intersection.

Peer Review, Millbury, Massachusetts
Conley Associates, Inc. conducted a peer review for a proposed 16,000 square foot commercial development to be located on Canal Street in Millbury, Massachusetts. The proposed commercial development would consist of a mix of retail uses including a donut shop with drive through window, a distribution area for the donut shop, a bank with drive through bays, and additional retail and office space. The Town was concerned with the project`s traffic impacts on the existing signal network on Canal Street. Conley Associates, Inc. determined that the existing signal network on Canal Street would be able to handle the expected project traffic. Conley Associates, Inc. also reviewed the complicated internal site circulation pattern, which included both one-way and two-way circulation patterns near the proposed drive through windows. Conley Associates, Inc. recommended the relocation of several handicapped parking spaces due to their close proximity to a number of conflicting movements.

Peer Reviews in Wareham, Massachusetts
Conley Associates, Inc. has conducted several peer reviews for the Town of Wareham. In one review, Conley Associates, Inc. was retained by the Town of Wareham to conduct a peer review and independent analysis of the traffic and safety impacts of a proposed Staples development. Conley Associates, Inc. conducted a thorough field survey and reviewed the traffic analysis prepared by the proponent`s consultant. It was determined that the assumptions made in the study were reasonably accurate and that their recommendations for mitigation were sufficient for the site. In addition, at the Town`s request, Conley Associates, Inc. reviewed the stopping sight distance that would potentially be affected by the installation of a Staples sign. Conley Associates, Inc. recommended that the base of the Staples sign remain below a determined height in order to ensure adequate sight distance for vehicles exiting the site.

High Point Subdivision Peer Review and Safety Evaluation, Grafton, Massachusetts
The Planning Department of Grafton retained the services of Conley Associates, Inc. to conduct a peer review and safety evaluation of the proposed High Point Subdivision. Conley Associates, Inc. reviewed the Traffic Impact and Access Study (TIAS) for the development and conducted an extensive field visit to record roadway widths, sight distances, and speed limits. It was determined that the primary roadway that the proposed site would access was deficient with respect to MassHighway design standards. Conley Associates, Inc. made recommendations to widen the roadway and modify the alignment of a nearby intersection to improve sight lines and safety to conform to Mass Highway standards.