Cape Cod MPO approves CCRTA safety plan; CCRTA reports $2M microgrid planning grant

The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization on March 27 approved the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority’s annual Public Transportation Agency Safety Plan, a federal requirement tied to transit funding.

Steve Tupper (Cape Cod Commission staff) explained the plan is first approved by the CCRTA board and then presented to the MPO. Deb Shores of the CCRTA said changes required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law include a joint labor-management safety committee with equal representation and co-chairs and additional risk-reduction programs to reduce vehicle and pedestrian accidents and to minimize exposure to hazards and infectious disease.

Robert Lawton moved to approve the CCRTA safety plan and Judith McLeod Froman seconded; the MPO approved the plan by roll call.

In a separate update during the reports section, Deb Shores said the CCRTA in partnership with Barnstable Airport received approximately $2,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart Grants program to plan a microgrid at the airport; a future phase will seek construction funding. Shores also said the CCRTA released the second issue of its ZEV newsletter and has posted ZEV resources on its website.

MPO staff said they will record the MPO’s approval and proceed with required planning references in regional documents.