YARMOUTH – The Town of Yarmouth and Cape Cod Commission have launched a public survey to gather input on a proposal for a north-south bike path connecting the Cape Cod Rail Trail to Route 28 near the former drive-in site.
The town and the commission are collaborating on a feasibility study to investigate the potential alternatives for a connection between the Rail Trail and Route 28.
The proposal would make the connection from the area of the Bayberry Hills Golf Course to the former Drive-In site along the Parker’s River.
The idea for the path originated from a preliminary planning study conducted ion 2017 to evaluate ways to reinvigorate Route 28.
The online survey will provide additional comments to those gathered during two public workshops held in August.
“Now we are conducting a survey to get some additional input on the different alternatives to see whether people think this is a good idea that might merit moving forward, or whether they think there are some other better ideas out there for a north-south connection, maybe along an existing roadway,” said Kathy Williams, the town planner.
Yarmouth recently completed a feasibility study to identify future improvements at the former drive-in site that include a Riverwalk Park along Parkers River, an open event space, woodland trails and a looped Boardwalk to view the marshlands.
A potential connection of the rail trail to the Route 28 commercial corridor could help to improve the economic vitality of the commercial corridor and revitalize the area.
A contiguous path of town-owned land between the rail trail and the drive-in parcel provides an opportunity for the creation of the pathway.
“With any feasibility study, public input is critical,” Williams said.
Williams said officials want to know if the proposed path is something that residents and visitors in Yarmouth want.
During the public workshops in August, Williams said there was general interest in the proposed pathway.
“There were some concerns about maybe not paving it and having it be more of a hardened pathway,” she said.
Since the workshops, Williams said she has received a lot of input from people concerned about how the proposed path would impact hunting, the natural walking trails, or environmental impacts to wetlands and bogs.
“We want all of this public input – the pros and the cons, and just generally what are people thinking about this idea and concept,” Williams said.
The survey is available at the town’s website or by clicking here.
The survey will be available through December 14.
The commission will take the survey data and compile a report to be released this winter.
The planned extension of the Cape Cod Rail Trail through Yarmouth also continues with phase three.
The path through Bayberry Hills Golf Course will extend with another bridge over Willow Street and into Barnstable.
“That is actively in design with MassDOT right now,” Williams said.
The town is also looking into a shared use pathway on Higgins Crowell Road from the roundabout down to Buck Island Road.
“That would connect into the Cape Cod Rail Trail there and it would allow people to get over to the Sandy Pond recreation area much more safely,” Williams said.
Discussions are also underway to determine if something needs to be done for bicycle safety along Route 28.
The town has worked with the commission to identify and evaluate opportunities and impacts for a range of alternative routes using existing and new networks, along with providing typical pathway cross sections, material options and rough cost estimates.
The information has been compiled in the CCRT to Drive-In Parcel Trail Connection – Alternatives Development Report. It can be accessed at www.yarmouth.ma.us/1779/bicycle-and-pedestrian-connectivity-proj.
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