| CATEGORY |
CRITERIA |
PROPOSED MEASUREMENT |
| Internal
Circulation |
Vehicle route continuity,
directness, connectivity |
Qualitative assessment of changes to a sample set
of internal origin-destination pairs within the
Study Area based on:
· Changes in the number of turns
· Number of changes in roadway facility type.
· Estimated travel time from model. |
|
Access/mobility for
transit passengers |
Qualitative assessment of access/mobility changes
based on:
· Frequency of transit service
· Estimated transit travel times from model
· Population within catchment area. |
|
Access/mobility for
pedestrians and bicyclists |
Qualitative assessment of access/mobility changes
based on:
· Miles of bicycle facility by type.
· Changes in gaps in pedestrian network. |
|
Traffic congestion |
Qualitative assessment based on changes to:
· Vehicular delays from model
· Roadway link level of service
· Intersection level of service
· Intersection queues |
| External
Access |
Vehicular |
Qualitative assessment of travel time changes
(from model) between a sample set of internal
origin-destinations and:
· Vermont border (north)
· Great Barrington (south)
· Springfield (east)
· Albany (west) |
|
Rail |
Qualitative assessment of service based on
changes to:
· Frequency of service
· Reliability
· Travel time to rail station from sample set of
origin-destinations |
|
Air |
Qualitative assessment of service, based on
changes to:
· Availability of commercial service
· Travel time (from model) to airport from
sample set of origin-destinations |
| CATEGORY |
CRITERIA |
PROPOSED MEASUREMENT |
| Safety |
Vehicular safety |
Qualitative assessment of changes in different
accident types (e.g., all vehicle s, trucks, etc.)
based on:
· Estimated number of accidents
· Severity of accidents
· Accident rate
· Changes in conditions (e.g., lack of lighting,
warning devices, etc.) that contribute to safety
concern. |
|
Pedestrian and bicycle
safety |
Qualitative assessment based on changes in
vehicular conflicts with pedestrians and bicycle |
|
Access to regional
emergency facilities |
Qualitative assessment of changes in emergency
response time base on:
· Estimated future travel times (from model)
between a sample set of internal origin-destinations and 1) the Berkshire Medical
Center and 2) North Adams
· Review with local Fire Chiefs |
| Environmental
Impacts |
Air Quality |
Assessment of change in vehicle emissions based
on traffic projections from model |
|
Noise |
Qualitative impact on sensitive receptors (e.g.,
neighborhoods, schools, open space, etc.) |
|
Wetlands and floodplains |
Impacted areas (acres) |
|
Hazardous materials sites |
Number of sites impacted |
|
Archeological and
historic sites |
Number of sites and districts impacted |
|
Open space |
Impacted areas (acres) of protected and
unprotected open space |
|
Rare and endangered
species habitat |
Number of impacted areas |
| Neighborhood
Impacts/
Quality of Life |
Cut-through traffic |
Qualitative assessment of change in traffic
volumes and mix (from model) based on:
· Changes in volumes on sample set of
corridors/streets in residential neighborhoods.
· Changes in traffic volumes of local street
category (from traffic model) |
|
Aesthetics |
· Qualitative assessment of change in visual
character attributable to alternative based on:
Visible features from distant points
· Visible features from close views |
|
Neighborhood cohesion |
Qualitative assessment of change in neighborhood
cohesion based on:
· Home takings
· Barriers between neighborhoods
· Impacts to parks. |
| CATEGORY |
CRITERIA |
PROPOSED MEASUREMENT |
| Neighborhood
Impacts/
Quality of Life |
Truck Traffic |
Qualitative assessment of change in truck volumes
on sample set of streets/corridors with abutting
residential uses. |
| (continued) |
Construction impacts |
Qualitative assessment of potential air, noise, dust,
traffic impacts of construction. |
|
Effect of sprawl,
development patterns,
rural character,
farmlands |
Qualitative assessment of sprawl based on
changes to:
· Access to undeveloped "green" areas
· Traffic impacts to rural areas and town
centers.
· Change in acres of farmland. |
|
Effect on cultural
attractions |
Qualitative assessment of impact to quality of
experience at cultural attractions based on:
· Congestion
· Noise
· Air quality |
| Economic
Considerations |
Access to existing
parcels |
Qualitative assessment of changes in travel time
(from model) between sample set of potential
development areas and Study Area origin-destinations |
|
Impact on established
downtown businesses |
§ Changes in the number of parking spaces
§ Changes in traffic volumes |
|
Truck access |
Qualitative assessment of truck access based on:
· Travel time changes (from model) between
regional highway system and select number of
truck origin-destinations
· Changes in on-street linear-feet of loading
zones
· Changes in the number of off-street loading
docks. |
|
Railroad access/
availability |
Qualitative assessment based on:
· Travel time (from model) between freight
shipping businesses and rail head
· Number sites with direct rail access |
|
Access to local and
regional airports |
Qualitative assessment based on:
· Travel time between sample set of origin-destinations and regional airport
· Travel time between sample set of origin-destinations and airports outside the Study
Area |
|
Access to labor force |
Qualitative assessment based on travel time (from
model) between sample set of employee and
employment origin-destinations |
|
Impacts on tourism |
Qualitative assessment based on travel time (from
model) between sample set of Study Area tourist
destinations and external points |
