Cape Cod Commission’s Eco-counter network shows summer peaks, data to inform Canal Bridges planning

Cape Cod Commission staff presented results from a network of Eco-Counter infrared devices deployed across trails and crossings to measure non-motorized activity, and said the data will be shared with the Canal Bridges study team and other partners.

Evan Costa, transportation planning staff, described the roughly 15-foot range counters and noted some units have been deployed for more than a year. Counters on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Shining Sea Bikeway and canal service path captured pronounced summer peaks (May–October). Costa said a Chatham downtown counter collected an average of about 5,000 non-motorist counts per weekday during a May–August deployment and peaked near 6,000 per weekend days, and that the Goodwill Park crossing averaged about 64 weekday crossings and 80 per weekend.

Costa said four canal-area counters have been recording data (Bourne, Buzzards Bay, Sagamore and Sandwich) and that staff are coordinating with the Army Corps and the Canal Bridges project team to provide the counts for design and economic-impact analysis. He also said staff hopes to publish a public-facing data viewer and to include the counters in a regional bike/ped plan.

Members and public commenters urged additional counters at key access points and for the data to be broken out for public use. Kevin Galligan said counts could inform crossing design and lighting; Judith McLeod Frohman pressed staff to ensure the Canal Bridges team receives the data and to consider detour and trail continuity during construction. Costa provided cost details: units cost roughly $3,000 each, cases about $500, and an optional automatic reporting service runs about $400 per year.

Commission staff said they will continue to add counters, share data with project teams, and pursue a public dashboard to increase accessibility.