Barnstable unveils draft Complete Streets priorities; public comment open through March 15
February 15, 2023 | Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), West Chatham, Town of Chatham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
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Colleen Medeiros, transportation program manager at the Cape Cod Commission, presented the Town of Barnstable’s draft Complete Streets prioritization plan in a virtual public meeting and demonstrated an interactive map of projects identified from more than 500 public comments.
The plan, developed with town planning and Department of Public Works staff and technical assistance from the Cape Cod Commission, lists roughly 52 draft priority roadway and pedestrian projects the town can use to seek funding under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Complete Streets program. "We received more than 500 comments," project lead Kate Maldonado said, noting the list was distilled from that outreach.
Why it matters: MassDOT’s Complete Streets process is tiered. Barnstable has completed tier 1 (policy/training) and is now working through tier 2 (prioritization). Only projects that already have design and permitting in place are eligible for the program’s construction grants in tier 3, so the prioritization plan serves primarily as a pipeline to match ready projects to available construction funding.
What staff showed and how projects were chosen: The web tool includes multiple map layers — sidewalks, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, crashes involving bikes or pedestrians, traffic volumes, destinations such as schools and libraries, and a public-suggestion layer where residents dropped pins and noted concerns. Staff said they considered public support, safety (crash history), mobility/connectivity (completing sidewalk or path links), equity (serving vulnerable populations), and ease of implementation when ranking projects.
Top examples and types of projects: Staff identified several high-priority items, including improvements on Route 132 in Hyannis, the West End Rotary area in Hyannis, the West Main Street at Pine Street intersection (near Barnstable High School), sections of Ocean Street and Old Colony, and shared-use path proposals such as a Race Lane/Marstons Mills segment. The draft also includes proposed extensions of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, targeted sidewalk upgrades, missing short sidewalk links, and crosswalk improvements in village centers.
Limits and next steps: Colleen Medeiros emphasized a key caveat: state-owned highways shown on the map (for example, some sections of Route 28 and Route 6A) cannot receive MassDOT Complete Streets construction grants; towns must pursue other funding for those roadways. Staff said they expect to finalize the prioritization plan this spring after the public comment period and that towns may apply for MassDOT construction grants (an October funding round was referenced) for projects that have completed design and permitting, with grants generally available up to $500,000 per project.
Public comments at the meeting: Several residents raised safety and connectivity concerns. A caller identified as Lorraine urged action at South Street and High School Road, saying, "People fly down South Street" and urging a 4-way stop or signal to protect students crossing near local schools. Another resident, Roberta, asked whether Greenwood Avenue is on the list for sidewalks; staff said it is not currently included but that they would review her suggestion. Noel Boudier asked whether Ocean Street studies were done in peak tourist season and warned some designs could create traffic backups; staff noted Ocean Street is being handled through the Hyannis Great Streets project and that early design concepts and a comment window are posted online.
How to comment: The prioritization plan’s interactive map, a PDF/Excel ranked list of projects, and a public comment form are available on the Cape Cod Commission and Town of Barnstable web pages. Staff repeated the public comment deadline for the draft prioritization plan as March 15 and said materials and a recording of the meeting will be posted online.
What remains unresolved: No formal votes or funding awards were made at the meeting. Staff will review public comments and return to finalize the draft with the town this spring; significant changes could prompt additional public outreach.
The plan, developed with town planning and Department of Public Works staff and technical assistance from the Cape Cod Commission, lists roughly 52 draft priority roadway and pedestrian projects the town can use to seek funding under the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Complete Streets program. "We received more than 500 comments," project lead Kate Maldonado said, noting the list was distilled from that outreach.
Why it matters: MassDOT’s Complete Streets process is tiered. Barnstable has completed tier 1 (policy/training) and is now working through tier 2 (prioritization). Only projects that already have design and permitting in place are eligible for the program’s construction grants in tier 3, so the prioritization plan serves primarily as a pipeline to match ready projects to available construction funding.
What staff showed and how projects were chosen: The web tool includes multiple map layers — sidewalks, bicycle/pedestrian facilities, crashes involving bikes or pedestrians, traffic volumes, destinations such as schools and libraries, and a public-suggestion layer where residents dropped pins and noted concerns. Staff said they considered public support, safety (crash history), mobility/connectivity (completing sidewalk or path links), equity (serving vulnerable populations), and ease of implementation when ranking projects.
Top examples and types of projects: Staff identified several high-priority items, including improvements on Route 132 in Hyannis, the West End Rotary area in Hyannis, the West Main Street at Pine Street intersection (near Barnstable High School), sections of Ocean Street and Old Colony, and shared-use path proposals such as a Race Lane/Marstons Mills segment. The draft also includes proposed extensions of the Cape Cod Rail Trail, targeted sidewalk upgrades, missing short sidewalk links, and crosswalk improvements in village centers.
Limits and next steps: Colleen Medeiros emphasized a key caveat: state-owned highways shown on the map (for example, some sections of Route 28 and Route 6A) cannot receive MassDOT Complete Streets construction grants; towns must pursue other funding for those roadways. Staff said they expect to finalize the prioritization plan this spring after the public comment period and that towns may apply for MassDOT construction grants (an October funding round was referenced) for projects that have completed design and permitting, with grants generally available up to $500,000 per project.
Public comments at the meeting: Several residents raised safety and connectivity concerns. A caller identified as Lorraine urged action at South Street and High School Road, saying, "People fly down South Street" and urging a 4-way stop or signal to protect students crossing near local schools. Another resident, Roberta, asked whether Greenwood Avenue is on the list for sidewalks; staff said it is not currently included but that they would review her suggestion. Noel Boudier asked whether Ocean Street studies were done in peak tourist season and warned some designs could create traffic backups; staff noted Ocean Street is being handled through the Hyannis Great Streets project and that early design concepts and a comment window are posted online.
How to comment: The prioritization plan’s interactive map, a PDF/Excel ranked list of projects, and a public comment form are available on the Cape Cod Commission and Town of Barnstable web pages. Staff repeated the public comment deadline for the draft prioritization plan as March 15 and said materials and a recording of the meeting will be posted online.
What remains unresolved: No formal votes or funding awards were made at the meeting. Staff will review public comments and return to finalize the draft with the town this spring; significant changes could prompt additional public outreach.
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