VTrans to hold hearings on adding rumble stripes to Rt. 103

The Vermont Agency of Transportation will hold two public meetings examining the potential to add centerline rumble stripes to sections of VT-103 between Rockingham and Mount Holly, including Chester, Cavendish and Ludlow.

Map of south-central crashes along state highways. Click to enlarge, then use side and bottom scroll bars to view details.

If the installation is to move forward, it would occur as part of the current paving project in this fall. The meetings are open to all and will be:

• Thursday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. – Town Office for the Town of Rockingham/Village of Bellows Falls Town, 7 Square, Bellows Falls.
• Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30pm (during regular Select Board meeting) – Mount Holly Town Office, 150 School St., in Mount Holly.

According to VTrans, since 2009, there have been nearly 4,000 crashes in Vermont related to vehicles crossing the highway centerline, resulting in 94 fatalities and more than 1,700 injuries.

VTrans is considering the installation of centerline rumble stripes on every state highway, either in conjunction with another improvement project or as a standalone project.

Rumble stripes have been found to:

• Reduce head-on and opposite direction sideswipe crashes;
• Reduce run-off-road crashes where vehicles cross the centerline;
• Reduce lane drift due to distracted/fatigued driving;
• Reduce speed and off-tracking on curves;
• Improve centerline visibility in wet pavement conditions and;
• Provide enhanced guidance in fog and snow.

Centerline rumble stripes are considered where:

• Pavement width is 28 feet or greater (minimum of 3-foot paved shoulder;
• Speed limit is 45 mph or higher;
• Average daily traffic is 1,500 vehicles per day or greater and;
• The above criteria are not met, but the crash history indicates a pattern ofhead-on, sideswipe or single vehicle crashes.

Centerline rumble stripes Are discontinued where there are:

• Centerline breaks (ex. intersections and railroad crossings;
• Residences within 100 feet of centerline;
• Raised medians;
• Two way left turn lanes;
• Closely spaced commercial drives with high volume turning traffic;
• Narrow bridges;
• Bridges or concrete roadways with less than 2.5” of pavement

Questions and comments can be made at http://vtrans.vermont.gov/; For more information on highway safety initiatives in Vermont, visit the Vermont Highway Safety Alliance website at http://highwaysafety.vermont.gov/

Attached is a newly revised factsheet about how VTrans decides why and where to install centerline rumble stripes on roadways across Vermont.  For more information about the meetings please contact Kevin Marshia, deputy chief engineer, Highway Division, VTrans,  at kevin.marshia@state.vt.us or call 802-828-2932.