Beach Avenue Traffic Study Recommends Maintaining Status Quo

Town explores $20 million project for Manomet and Samoset Avenues

HULL, MA - November 19 - A recent traffic study of Beach Avenue in Hull recommends keeping the current two-way configuration, citing low traffic volumes and speeds. The study, presented to the Select Board on Nov. 19, suggests improving sight lines at beach entrances and potentially adding signage to enhance pedestrian safety.

Merrick Turner of BETA Group, the consulting firm that conducted the study, reported that Beach Avenue sees between 500 and 700 vehicles per day on weekdays and Sundays, with slightly lower volumes on Saturdays. The 85th percentile speed was recorded at 20 to 24 mph.

"Speeds are low, and the volumes are low along the street," Turner said. "We saw what we felt were reasonable interactions between most of the users."

The study considered various options, including converting Beach Avenue to one-way traffic, adding sidewalks, and installing crosswalks. However, Turner noted that these changes could potentially create more problems than they solve.

"One of our concerns was, if we start to implement some of the changes we just talked about, we may create some more negatives than positives," he said.

The study recommends maintaining the existing conditions while making some improvements, such as enhancing sight lines at beach entrances and adding periodic reminders via message boards about the need for slow operation due to pedestrian activity.

In a separate agenda item, the board discussed a potential $20 million Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) project to reconstruct Manomet and Samoset Aves. The project could include bike lanes, sidewalks, and parking improvements, but may require converting the streets to one-way traffic.

Turner presented several options for the Manomet and Samoset project, including two-way and one-way configurations. The most viable option for a two-way road with parking on both sides would only allow parking on about 50% of the street length due to right-of-way constraints.

A one-way configuration could accommodate more features, including a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists, parking on both sides, and a travel lane. This option would be more competitive for TIP funding, according to Turner.

Town Manager Jennifer Constable recommended pursuing the project as a TIP project, citing the potential for a more comprehensive community improvement despite the longer timeline and higher town contribution.

"I think if it's a TIP project, it's a more inclusive project. It's a more comprehensive community project," Constable said. "I think it's a much larger return on a local investment, even though it's $3 million that's out of the town's or contribution from the town, that's in comparison to a much smaller project at $8 to $10 million."

The board voted unanimously to endorse moving forward with exploring the TIP project option for Manomet and Samoset Aves.

In other business, John Struzziery, Director of Public Works, presented an update on the town's road improvement efforts over the past seven years. Hull has completed approximately 21 miles of road improvements, investing about $23 million in infrastructure upgrades.

The initial $10 million road bond approved in 2018 is nearing exhaustion, with about $9.5 million spent on 12.5 miles of roadway improvements. Additional funding sources, including state earmarks and other programs, contributed to the remaining improvements.

Struzziery noted that the town has about $1.2 million in unallocated Chapter 90 funds available for future road work. He proposed using these funds to address the worst-condition roads in Allerton Hill, Telegraph Ave, and Hull Village, estimating that about 1.7 miles of roadway could be improved with the available funding.

As the town considers options for future road funding, Struzziery emphasized the need for continued investment in infrastructure.

"We'd like to see that if there's support for a continuing program that we do so, and we need to find a way to make that happen," he said.