Welcome to the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments High Hazard Intersection Study Website.  This is a continuing process, so check back often for updates!           

In August of 2005, The US Legislature passed the newest Transportation Act entitled the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).  This act provides guidance and funding for the implementation of a State Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP).  As part of this program, all states are required to develop a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), of which a draft copy is available.  THE SHSP's main purpose is to identify and analyze highway safety problems and provide projects aimed at improving safety at specific locations.  SAFETEA-LU establishes a clear set of requirements for the SHSP that are addressed within that document.  One of the requirements includes the:

"Identification of hazardous locations, sections, and elements and the establishment of criteria that indicate relative crash severity of these locations"

NMCOG staff have been working with MassHighway and various other organizations in the development of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan.  As a result of these relationships, NMCOG is currently preparing a regional High Hazard Intersection Study for the nine member communities. 

There are three main goals of the project.  These include:

1. Identify Intersections with Safety Problems
2. Inform Local and State Officials and the Public of these Safety Problem Locations
3. Provide Technical Assistance in Determining the Cause of the Problem and Recommendations for Improvement.