MassDOT proposes redirected‑turn (RCUT) redesign at Route 2/Route 111 in Acton to reduce crashes and add 10‑foot shared path

Massachusetts Department of Transportation officials presented a proposed redesign of the Route 2 and Route 111 intersection at Piper and Taylor roads in the Town of Acton at a public informational meeting, recommending an asymmetrical redirected crossing u‑turn (often described as a redirected‑turn or RCUT) intended to reduce crashes, shorten delays and add a continuous shared‑use pedestrian/bicycle connection.

The proposal, presented by MassDOT project manager Lawrence Cash and consultants from HDR Engineering, would reconfigure several turning movements so that drivers from Piper and Taylor would generally turn right and use downstream signalized u‑turns rather than making traditional protected left turns through the main intersection. MassDOT said the design aims to reduce the intersection’s conflict points and to improve nonmotorized connectivity with a 10‑foot, barrier‑separated shared‑use path across Route 2.

The project’s purpose and analysis

“Safety, mobility and reducing delays” are the project’s three stated goals, Jeff Toussaint of HDR said during the presentation. MassDOT noted the intersection is a high crash location and that a large share of crashes are angle and rear‑end types. HDR engineer Will Hume described the preferred RCUT alternative as an atypical Federal Highway Administration countermeasure that “reduces the overall conflict points” and therefore crash risk. Hume said comparable treatments nationwide have reduced crashes by about 30–35 percent and that the project’s micro‑simulation showed an estimated 34 percent reduction in average travel time in the AM peak and about a 60 percent reduction in the PM peak for the modeled movements.

MassDOT described previous work on the corridor including an earlier road safety audit and a 25 percent design submitted in 2019 that did not advance; staff said many alternatives were reviewed between 2020 and 2024 before settling on the preferred concept presented at the meeting.

Design details and multimodal elements

Under the preferred concept, Piper and Taylor Road movements that now make direct left turns would instead make right turns and use coordinated downstream u‑turn signals so that, in most cases, a traveler would not stop at more than one signal on a trip through the system. MassDOT said the configuration can be timed and field‑tested to minimize delay despite the longer travel distance for some redirected movements.

The plan also calls for roadway geometry changes: auxiliary lanes to reduce speed differentials at the Route 111 merge, a dedicated right‑turn lane through the intersection at one ramp, and a widened, barrier‑separated shared‑use path to connect existing sidewalks and paths across Route 2. Jennifer Lopez (HDR) confirmed the shared‑use path would be 10 feet wide and signalized at the crossing.

Public concerns and technical questions

Elected officials and residents raised several recurring concerns during the public comment period: visibility of the signal heads approaching the rise and bridge on Route 2 eastbound; the need for improved or reliable advance warning devices (the wig‑wag and variable message signs were discussed); the adequacy of storage and queuing at the new u‑turn locations during peak times; emergency vehicle preemption and OptiCom operation; pedestrian and cyclist protection at crossings; and access for businesses at Discovery Way and neighborhood driveways near the 111 ramp.

State Representative Dan Senna said his “concern with the … is lighting,” and MassDOT responded that the 2015 roadway safety audit had identified potential lighting improvements and that the new path crossings will have pedestrian signal buttons and timed crossings. MassDOT noted rapid‑flashing beacons are typically not used on Route 2 itself but could be considered on Piper or Taylor downstream of the main intersection. Staff also said they are evaluating advanced warning systems and will check existing wig‑wag and VMS equipment that the public reported is intermittently out of service.

Residents repeatedly asked whether the design would worsen backups for drivers entering Route 2 from Business Park/Discovery Way or for vehicles on Piper/Taylor at heavy peak flows. MassDOT said the micro‑simulation and recent vehicle counts — grown to projected opening‑year volumes — were used to size auxiliary lanes and queue space; the presenters said modeled queue lengths for critical locations were in the range of about a dozen vehicles in typical peak cycles and that the reduced signal phasing under the RCUT should allow the intersection to process arriving demand more reliably than today. Staff noted the placement of u‑turns and lanes will be refined during detailed design to avoid spillback onto adjacent approaches.

Emergency response and enforcement

A retired Acton firefighter asked about emergency preemption and OptiCom signal clearance distances; MassDOT said emergency‑vehicle operations will be studied further during design. Several residents asked whether automated enforcement (speed or red‑light cameras) could be used; MassDOT staff and a town police representative noted that camera enforcement for speed or red lights would require legislative authority and is not currently available as a MassDOT remedy, although they said they would evaluate safe enforcement locations and measures that do not require new state law.

Next steps and schedule

MassDOT said a “design notice to proceed” is anticipated this July, with a 25 percent design submission targeted for 2026 and a design public hearing anticipated in 2026 as well. The agency said the project must be placed on the statewide transportation improvement program (STIP) in the appropriate federal fiscal year before it can be advertised for construction. At the meeting MassDOT staff said the project is currently programmed in the STIP on or around fiscal year 2030 with construction currently anticipated in or near 2031; presenters emphasized those dates can change as design and programming advance.

MassDOT invited written comments by email (mass.projectmanagement@state.ma.us), said it will respond to submitted questions “in a timely manner,” and noted the attendance sheet and meeting material become part of the public project record.

What was not decided

This was an informational meeting; no formal approvals or votes were taken. Presenters asked for public feedback before advancing the design and committed to further analysis on queuing, sight distances, emergency preemption, lighting, advance warning devices and access impacts.

Ending

MassDOT staff thanked attendees, said they would remain after the formal presentation to take additional questions, and closed the meeting. The livestream recording is available through Acton TV and MassDOT has requested written comments be submitted by email for the project file.