To set the stage for what transpired at the August 15 meeting of Mattapoisett’s Complete Streets Committee, let us first take a look back at the town’s policy regarding the implementation, expectations and goals or the program’s deliverables.
On the state website Mass.gov, the Town of Mattapoisett’s Complete Streets Policy reads, “…will focus on developing a connected, integrated network that serves all road users…will integrate into policies, planning and design of all types of public and private projects, including new construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, repair and maintenance of transportation facilities of streets and redevelopment projects. As practicable, recommendations from the Complete Streets Policy will be carried out cooperatively within relevant departments in the Town and to the greatest extent possible, among private developers and state, regional and federal agencies.”
The policy goes on to state that these principles shall include, “…the development and implementation of projects in a context-sensitive manner in which project implementation is sensitive to the community’s physical, economic and social setting.” The policy talks about projects that enhance the livability of the community for all residents using a consensus approach to ensure that scenic, historic and environmental resources are maintained or improved.
On Monday, the committee was comprised of Bonne DaSousa, Police Chief Jason King, Sergeant Justin King, Highway Surveyor Garrett Bauer and Bob Burgmann. The group went through the list of projects previously identified through public meeting and funded by the Complete Streets Program. Those programs included: traffic calming (radar feedback for speed-limit adherence) on North Street, sidewalks from the intersection of Mattapoisett Neck Road to Route 6, Brandt Island Road speed signs, and fencing at entry points to bike path at Brandt Island and Mattapoisett Neck roads.
Of the remaining 21 possible projects, the future is not so clear due to scope of work involved and costs. Remaining on the list are such line items as street connections for improved pedestrian access and use of Bayberry, Holly Hollow, Melisa Anne Lane, Crooks Way and Deer Run to name a few. There is also an item titled meandering paths (suggested for parts of North Street) that would give pedestrians the ability to walk along the roadway but away from traffic. Safety, as a catchall term, is the over-arching theme for all related projects.
An interesting sidebar to the meeting was Chief King’s report of data gathered from the radar-speed devices. He said that the average number of vehicles utilizing North Street from the Route 195 overpass to the intersection at Route 6 (south) was 8,000 per day, while the number of vehicles from Snowfields Road to the Rochester line per day was 3,000 (north.) While no personal data is collected from the radar units, King said rates of speed were. He noted the average rate of speed for vehicles in the south category was 33 miles per hour and for the north category 37 mile per hour.
Town Administrator Mike Lorenco, also in attendance, said the town plans to apply for more grant funding once other projects are chosen from the list for the April grant deadline. When the group touched on Phase 1b of the bike path, Lorenco confirmed that Reservation Road is a public way with the golf club retaining a small access across the roadway at approximately the 9th-tee area.
The next meeting of the Mattapoisett Complete Streets Committee will be announced at a later date.
Mattapoisett Complete Streets Committee
By Marilou Newell