HYANNIS – Transportation officials on Cape Cod are taking time during the winter months to update the Cape’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), and are looking input from the public.
A series of listening sessions have been scheduled to kick off the RTP development process by gathering early public input.
The RTP sets the long-range vision for the transportation system on Cape Cod. It’s the primary means for allocation of federal and state funds for the Cape’s transportation needs.
“What we’re going to be doing with the kickoff meetings next week is we’re going to bring in some information as far as our existing conditions so people can see where the traffic levels are and where crashes have been occurring, and what our network is for our bike paths and other types of transportation,” Cape Cod Commission Senior Transportation Engineer Lev Malakhoff explained.
“It’s really an opportunity for the public to come and for us to hear from the public on where they see the problem areas are. Where they think be safety problems or traffic congestion or where they think there is a need for a bike path in an area.”
The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), a collaboration of local, regional, state, and federal transportation officials, is charged with updating the RTP for the spring of 2019.
Malakhoff said that public input is being sought out for all Cape-wide traffic concerns, from major traffic areas like the roadways surrounding the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges, to smaller roadways located on the mid and outer Cape.
“Certainly the Cape Cod Canal area continues to be our major gateway to get folks in and out of the Cape. I know that the state and the Army Corps are both in the middle of doing some studies there, but that’s one opportunity for the public to tell us what their concerns are or ideas or their level of support for various types of improvements, whether it be replacing the bridges or expanding existing bridges,” said Malakhoff.
“The Hyannis area is also a very busy and active area, not just during the summertime but during other times of the year as well with folks trying to get down to services in that area and down to Cape Cod Hospital, for example. It can be challenging to get to from the other parts of the Cape.”
The first session will be held at Eastham Town Hall on Tuesday, February 5 at 5:00 p.m. On February 6, a second session will be held at Mashpee Library at 5:00 p.m., followed by a third and final session on February 7 at the Hyannis Transportation Center, beginning at 2:00 p.m.
Each Listening Session will include a presentation and time for questions and comments.
For those who are unable to attend a listing session, an online survey will be made available on Tuesday, February 5.
“It includes a mapping function that people will be able to zoom-in on their computers to anywhere on Cape Cod and place a point on the map and make some comments as to what type of problems or even ideas for improvement that they have,” said Malakhoff.
To learn more about upcoming meetings and participate in the online survey, visit capecodcommission.org.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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