Select Board to discuss truck exclusions

Board to hear findings from commissioned study of Heavy Vehicle traffic in town

Above: The presentation shows how class 5+ vehicles travel in town and options for revamping exclusions. (images L-R from Federal Highway Administration and 8/9/22 meeting packet)

On Tuesday, the Select Board will hear recommendations for handling the problems caused by heavy trucks on Town roads.

Based on consultant VHB’s presentation, the Board may consider swapping the truck exclusion on Route 30 for ones on five Southborough back roads – plus two more overnight exclusions.

For years, residents have complained about safety issues on Flagg Road. Last year, the Select Board received a renewed a request to exclude large trucks on the road.

The Board learned that under state regulations, doing that would require designating an alternate route that meets state criteria. That was complicated by the pre-existing exclusion on Route 30.

Some Main Street residents expressed concern about the impact that lifting an exclusion on Route 30 would have.

Rather than quickly making changes that could have domino effects, the Board decided to study how trucks travel throughout town. VHB Engineering, the consulting firm for Public Works, was commissioned to look at the data.

Special Town Meeting voters approved funding that last fall. Data was collected in March. Now the long awaited (and seemingly overdue) report is scheduled to be presented at tomorrow night’s Select Board meeting.

A printed presentation in the packet previews some key findings.

FHWA vehicle classifications- Heavy Vehicles highlighted in yellow boxVHB explains that HVEs (Heavy Vehicle Exclusions) are meant to apply to commercial vehicles with a carrying capacity greater than 2 ½ tons (vehicle classes 5-12, see image right). There are exceptions for those making deliveries on excluded streets or offshoots without alternative access. (Other exceptions are for public vehicles, ones owned by municipalities, or ones operated by utilities or for road construction.)

MassDOT will consider exclusions if HVs make up 5-8% of the road traffic OR the existing pavement structure/road condition is not suitable for heavy vehicles. (I think it is fair to assume that residents of Flagg Road and its offshoots would argue that the narrow road, narrowed even more in places by large trees, would qualify under the second condition.)

Towns can also apply for nighttime exclusions for residential neighborhoods. (According to MassDOT’s regulations, that only applies “during hours of darkness”.)

It appears the current Route 30 exclusion pre-dates regulation revisions in 1995 that made state numbered routes ineligible for exclusions.

Based on their look at traffic volume/patterns and the state restrictions for exclusions and alternate routes, VHB found that the Select Board could “consider”:

  • finding from VHB presentationRemoving the HVE on Route 30
  • Seeking HVEs on:
    • Flagg Road
    • Deerfoot Road
    • Johnson Road
    • Oak Hill Road
    • Acre Bridge Road
  • Applying for overnight HVE’s on:
    • Oak Hill Road
    • Pine Hill Road

The analysis was based on data collected over 48 hours on an unspecified Wednesday and Thursday in March. Automatic Traffic Recorders were located at 12 locations and “Peak Hour Turning Movement Counts” were conducted at 9 locations. (You can find those locations in the agreement with VHB here.)

HV traffic patterns from VHB presentationAmong Town owned roads that don’t already have HVEs*, VHB’s study found that:

  • HVs make up over 5% of the traffic on Flagg and Parkerville roads
  • There are over 100 HV trips per day on Oak Hill Road
  • Southville Road was on both of the above lists

The presentation notes that the Board can also consider evaluating the existing signage for HVEs and monitoring traffic to identify changes in truck patterns.

You can see the entire presentation here. To attend the August 9th Select Board meeting (in person or over zoom) find the agenda and details here.

*Other roads listed with significant HV traffic already have exclusions and/or are state numbered routes.

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Kelly Roney
1 year ago

This sounds like a reasonable plan, except that heavy vehicles should be excluded from Main St. east of Cordaville/Marlboro/Rte. 85. Is that possible?

David Parry
1 year ago

New Truck Route Along Main St ?

How many residents are aware of this proposal? Probably very few, because it arose during summer vacations.

The “Heavy Truck Exclusion” (HVE), now existing along Main St, may be removed.
It was originally put in place by the Town Selectmen over 50 years ago, and has been very effective. Ironically, it is the current Town Select Board which is now considering it’s removal.

This HVE has been very effective for several reasons. It was intended to keep truck traffic on Rte 9, and prevent trucks from using Rte 30 (because it is approximately parallel to Rte 9). But in addition, it was intended to prevent trucks from using local side roads which connect at one end to Rt 30 (because of “Truck Exclusion Ahead” if they turn onto Rte 30).

Of course not all trucks could be excluded. Local deliveries are always allowed. And some other trucks do not obey the restriction, due to ignorance, or due to lack of enforcement. But for 50 years, most trucks have avoided Rte 30.

Rte 30 / Main St is almost entirely residential thru our town. It has schools (Fay, St Marks) and serves our tiny downtown, recently pedestrianized. It is not a suitable or safe route for huge, noisy, tractor-trailer trucks, which will seriously affect the quality of life of residents.

What will happen if the restriction is removed? The State-administered truck routes, which are linked to all truck computers with GPS (eg Waze), will change. They will intentionally guide trucks to use Rte 30 as a shortcut … to avoid Rte 9 congestion, and as a faster route from Framingham to the huge trucking warehouses, now being rapidly developed west of I-495, in both Marlborough and Westborough.

So why is the happening? At the Aug 9th Select Board meeting, a traffic consultant (paid by the Town) suggested the Town petition the State Highway Dept to remove the truck exclusion on Rte 30, in return for restricting trucks from other roads. In effect, swapping and sacrificing Rte 30 for safety elsewhere.

But the consultant had absolutely NO data on the possible consequences for future traffic on Rte 30. No data, just a personal opinion and speculation … “I don’t think there’s reason to be concerned”.

Well, even a cursory look reveals two, big trucking terminals along Rte 30, near or in Framingham … UPS and FedEx. So changing Rte 30 into a trucking route will allow all those trucks (not only the small delivery trucks, but also the much larger tractor-trailers) to use Main St to get to Westborough and further west, instead of using Rte 9 when it is frequently congested.

In addition, as several people commented at the August 9 meeting, unintended consequences will probably arise.

Be forewarned … If our town voluntarily removes this long-standing and effective HVE, then the State will NEVER give it back. Why not? Because the State wants more new truck routes, not less.

Please note what is happening, and make your concerns known. For instance, by sending your email to:
selectboard@southboroughma.com

David Parry
1 year ago

LATEST NEWS .. STATE DOT HAS JUST APPROVED A “TRUCK EXCLUSION” ON FLAGG RD !

This news was read by the Planning Board, from a letter received from State DOT, on Monday evening, March 13, 2023.

What INCREDIBLY good news that is ! After so many years of complaints, about big trucks using Flagg Rx … as a short-cutoff, getting off Rt 9 westbound, trying to get back to Rt 9 further east (and avoid using the interchange at 9/ 495).

This restriction applies to all trucks over 2 1/2 tons weight (typically a heavy duty pick-up would qualify). But of course, local deliveries and construction trucks will be permitted. This is State Law.

And this is very important news to residents who live along Main Street, and on local streets which connect to Main (like Sears, Parkerville, Middle rd etc.). This is because State DOT did NOT remove the existingt truck exclusion presently imposed on Rt 30 / Main St. This will continue.

NOTE …Karen Galligan (our former D]W Sup’t ) offered to TRADE (or give up) the existing restriction on Main , in exchange for the new restriction on Flagg.

“COMPROMISE” was a word Galligan often used. She had no firm policy positions. The Compromise came out of a study she designed … prepared by her extended staff at Vanesse Hangen. ( town consultant road engineers … who have been on our town payroll for far too long … possibly over 20 years.

DOT agreed that Flagg qualified for a TRUCK RESTRICTION purely on its own merits, because it is so NARROW AND WINDING.

What a timely reminder how fortunate we are that Galligan is gone . CLEANING HOUSE NEEDS TO CONTINUE … WITH YOU-KNOW-WHO NEXT …

David Parry
11 months ago
Reply to  David Parry

SPEED HUMPS NEEDED DOWNTOWN.

HAVE YOU NOTICED … After Main St was rebuilt in 2018 — how traffic heading east toward Boston, speeds over the newly smoothed road surface, gaining speed on the downhill section past the old Post Office, slap bang into the narrow block of stores with parking both sides … WHOA SLOW DOWN ! it seems inevitable that a pedestrian will get clobbered (or an open car door bashed in).

In hindsight, we should have anticipated this. But is there a possible solution? … For instance, could we instal a “speed hump” on the downhill section, to slow down this danger ? Are humps allowed on a State numbered route? If not, then what else can be done to prevent what seems to be horribly
inevitable?

Any suggestions?

Robert Bezokas
11 months ago
Reply to  David Parry

David, I certainly agree speed is a problem downtown, however speed bumps are just another bandage to fix a problem. How about enforcing the speed limit posted at 20 MPH. Sure, a number of townies along with the cut through traffic will be ticketed, I mean ticketed and not just a warning, however that’s the price you pay for speeding.

David Parry
11 months ago
Reply to  Robert Bezokas

Thanks for the comment, but unfortunately fines for speeding aren’t enough …. because there are too few police. Also, typically cars go fastest during periods of low traffic volume — (typically in mid morning and afternoon, or late night) — when police are not around.

Might one of the octagonal, flashing, speed indicators help? — Facing west, so you see it when you drive eastwards, toward Framingham / Boston, gaining speed downhill, past the old Post Office ?

Any more suggestions ?

Robert Bezokas
11 months ago
Reply to  David Parry

David, although the fines may be a bit low, speed bumps are as I previously mentioned a bandage on the problem. A number of years ago there was a Police Chief in Bolton, MA who strictly enforced the speed limit on Route 117. No if’s and’s or but’s, you speed you get a ticket. Every time a drove through Bolton on Route 117 everyone was going the speed limit or less. When I had my Corvette speed bumps were a curse as many times, I had to just about crawl over them.
I was born and brought up in Southborough and it’s comforting to see a number of residents keeping an eye on how the town is run.
Thanks

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