Transportation

Safety Audit

Helping communities identify hazards, improve infrastructure, and enhance safety and accessibility for all street users.

What is a Safety Audit

Walk audits, bike audits, and road safety audits are tools communities use to evaluate and improve the safety, accessibility, and overall experience of streets for all users. Walk audits involve residents and stakeholders walking designated routes to observe sidewalks, crossings, and other conditions, documenting both strengths and hazards, and sharing findings with planners to guide improvements. Bike audits follow a similar process, with participants traveling routes by bike or on foot to record infrastructure, traffic patterns, and safety issues, while also engaging the community to provide input and raise awareness about creating more bike-friendly streets. Road Safety Audits (RSAs) are formal, independent evaluations conducted by multidisciplinary teams to assess existing or planned roads and intersections, identifying potential safety concerns and recommending improvements for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Together, these audits help communities identify hazards, prioritize low- and high-cost improvements, increase walkability and bikeability, enhance safety, engage residents, and inform data-driven transportation planning and policy decisions.

Road Safety Audit

What is a Road Safety Audit

A Road Safety Audit (RSA) is a formal and independent review of an existing or planned roadway or intersection, carried out by a multidisciplinary team. The process is designed to be relatively quick and provides a qualitative assessment of potential safety concerns. Its goal is to identify opportunities to improve safety for all users, including drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The audit results in recommendations that can range from low-cost, easily implemented measures to larger infrastructure upgrades, all with the purpose of reducing the frequency and severity of roadway crashes.

The SRPEDD Transportation Department works closely with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Highway Division to address roadway safety through Road Safety Audits (RSAs). SRPEDD staff actively participate in RSAs within the region, contributing local expertise to support project development. In addition to assisting with MassDOT-led audits, SRPEDD also conducts RSAs directly for communities to address specific safety concerns.

MassDOT requires RSAs in several situations, including when a community proposes improvements at High Crash locations for vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians; when a project is near a High Crash location or is expected to impact its operation; or when a project seeks funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).

To support these efforts, SRPEDD monitors crash data and publishes an annual list of the Top 100 Most Dangerous Intersections in Southeastern Massachusetts, helping to identify areas that may benefit from RSAs. Communities are encouraged to contact SRPEDD if they have a location of concern. SRPEDD staff provide critical data, validate information collected by project teams, and offer detailed knowledge of regional conditions—including bicycle, pedestrian, and transit needs—making them valuable contributors to the RSA process.

SRPEDD has a long history of working with our communities to address issues through Road Safety Audits. Road Safety Audits are defined as "the formal safety performance examination of an existing or future road or intersection by an independent, multidisciplinary team. It qualitatively estimates and reports on potential road safety issues and identifies opportunities for improvements in safety for all road users." More information on Road Safety Audits can be found here. A comprehensive database of Road Safety Audits in Massachusetts can be found here.

Intersection of Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street in Fall River

The intersection of Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street in Fall River is ranked 2nd most dangerous intersection on SRPEDDS Top 100 most dangerous intersections and 12th on MassDOTs Top 200 crash clusters.

Walk Audit

What is a Walk Audit

A walk audit is a community activity where participants walk along a set route to observe how safe, comfortable, and accessible the streets are for people of all ages and abilities. During the walk, participants document both positive features, such as well-maintained sidewalks or safe crossings, and problem areas like missing crosswalks or barriers for wheelchairs and strollers. Using rating tools or checklists, they evaluate overall walkability and identify key concerns. The findings are then compiled into a report and shared with planners, officials, and transportation agencies to advocate for improvements. Walk audits aim to increase neighborhood walkability, improve accessibility, enhance pedestrian safety, engage the community, and provide valuable data to guide future infrastructure projects and policies.

Participants of the Pope's Island/Route 6 Walk Audit discussing the placement and wording of a wayfinding sign.

Route 6 Walk Audit in Collaboration with SouthCoast Places for People

In September, SouthCoast Places for People organized a walk audit of the Route 6 corridor across Pope's Island with staff support from SRPEDD. Participants included representatives from the Fairhaven Select Board, Planning Board, and School Committee, as well as members of the Fairhaven Fire and Police Departments, New Bedford Police Department, Fairhaven Board of Public Works, Fairhaven Livable Streets, and local residents. The group walked the segment from Pope’s Island Marina east to Fairhaven High School to document existing conditions for people walking, biking, and driving. The corridor contains several major destinations, including the municipally owned Pope’s Island Marina, Noah’s Place accessible playground, and numerous retail businesses on both sides of the roadway. Serving as a critical link between Fairhaven and New Bedford, this section of Route 6 plays an essential role in regional mobility while accommodating a mix of local, commuter, and commercial traffic.

Bike Audit

What is a Bike Audit

A bike audit involves on-site observation, where participants travel routes by bicycle or on foot to document existing conditions and potential hazards. Using standardized worksheets or toolkits, observers record information about infrastructure, traffic, signage, and the overall bicycling experience. These audits also engage the community, allowing residents, advocates, and local officials to provide firsthand input on street safety and design. The process helps identify specific issues, such as missing bike lanes or unsafe intersections, and develop concrete strategies for improvement. Key benefits of bike audits include improving bicycle infrastructure, providing valuable data to inform local planning and traffic safety decisions, raising awareness about street design, and promoting community participation by giving residents a practical way to advocate for safer, more bike-friendly environments.

Rapid Flashing Bacon and Walking/Biking wayfinding signage for crosswalks at the intersection of North Main Street and Church Street.