North Shore
Active Member
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2014
- Messages
- 238
- Reaction score
- 251
I know we've historically derided Somerville's use of painted curb extensions as basically useless, so they're putting in actual raised refuge islands on Holland @ Cameron, and Cameron itself. They've also installed a bus stop island for the 85 & 87, in addition to planned raised crosswalks and actual curb extensions at Winter, the park, and Paulina, (feat. a bus stop bumpout) and bus lane segments. PDF presentation of improvements here.
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However, a few notes. While its better than paint or the solitary flexipost they previously had on the Cameron centerline to keep people from cutting that corner which lasted about 2 weeks before it got taken out, those refuge islands are notably low profile, with extremely generously chamfered corners (unlike the bus island). Something about the geometry feels unnatural, which would hopefully force slower more considered movement... but I hope they're going to get some flexipost toppers, because I've witnessed so many people clip these with their back wheel while turning, if not straight up run over them. I nearly did my first time through this at night, but while I'll withhold final judgement until after they repave and repaint, I still think this intersection needs a traffic light.
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As a traffic engineer, it pains me to see newly constructed islands where the curb reveal is less than 6" for no apparent reason. The use of sloped granite edging here (as opposed to vertical granite) is usually done to allow for some sort of vehicular accommodation (in this case it could be buses and/or trucks).
The justification for any potential traffic signal here would have to meet one of the MUTCD traffic signal warrants.