More Mill Street Crashes Not Seen In New Configuration: Worcester Police Chief

WORCESTER, MA — A new traffic configuration along Mill Street has not "notably changed" the number of crashes along the road as some have feared, according to Worcester police.

In December, new lines were painted along Mill Street to create a parking-protected bike lane on either side near the curb, and the road was reduced to one lane for traffic in both directions. Cars now park several feet away from the curb, which residents have said makes the road more dangerous.

The city council last month requested a report on crash data since the lines were put in place. Worcester police Chief Paul Saucier in a memo to councilors this week said the crashes are at the average number over the past five years — but he cautioned there's not enough data yet to make a firm conclusion about the new configuration.

"Since the reconfiguration was completed around Dec. 1, 2023, there have been five crashes in December, three in January, three in February, and two so far in March, for a total of 13. For these same months ending in March 2023, before the reconfiguration, the total was 16," Saucier said in his memo to councilors.

Over the past five years, there have been between 10 and 13 crashes each year between December and March, with the average being 13, he said. The chief did not include December 2020 to March 2021 due to reduced driving during the pandemic.

"While the sample size is extremely small because the project is so new, the changes do not appear to have notably changed crash rates in either direction in the first four months since they have been implemented," he said.

Last month, Worcester Patch reviewed MassDOT data that showed crashes were below average along the stretch of Mill Street where the new lines were painted. MassDOT's crash database is slightly behind because it relies on police to submit crash reports.

The new lines only include the portion of Mill Street between Coes Pond Beach and Chandler Street. According to MassDOT data, the historically most crash-prone areas of Mill Street are at the Park Avenue, Chandler and Main Street intersection.

Worcester's Department of Transportation and Mobility targeted Mill Street for a redesign due to high speeds along the formerly four-lane road. Saucier said crashes should decline as drivers get use to the new configuration in the coming months. The speed limit along Mill Street is — and has always been — 30 mph.

"The Commissioner of Transportation and Mobility has spoken extensively about the reasons for
the reconfiguration, national best practices, and their expectations for a safer road going forward.
While the early crash rates are consistent with prior years, we anticipate that they will decline as
the community becomes acclimated to the changes in the road," Saucier said in his memo.

RELATED: Mill Street: Feds Give Worcester $2 Million For Redesign