Barnstable council clears South Street roundabout, authorizes easement takings and petition to state for utility over parkland

Barnstable’s Town Council voted June 25 to alter the public roadway layout at the South Street–Ocean Street–Old Colony Road intersection to make way for a roundabout and improved pedestrian connections, and to secure the property and utility rights needed to build the project.

The vote authorizes the town to add small parcels to the roadway layout, acquire two perpetual easements from the Barnstable Housing Authority for public‑way and public‑utility uses, and to grant a utility easement to NSTAR Electric Company (doing business as Eversource Energy) so the utility can relocate overhead lines adjacent to the new layout. The council also directed the town manager to file a home‑rule petition with the Legislature to permit the easement crossing a northeasterly quadrant of parkland that was acquired for park purposes in 1998 and is therefore protected under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution.

“Replacing the existing six‑spoke intersection with a roundabout will improve safety, traffic circulation, and pedestrian and bicycle access between the waterfront and Main Street,” planning director Jim Cuffer said. He described the design goals as widened islands, shared‑use paths, and rapid‑flash beacons to improve visibility for people crossing the new roundabout.

Town attorney Michael Lar Roza told the council the Article 97 land requires legislative approval for any disposition of parkland rights. “Because the new overhead wires would cross parkland acquired for park purposes, Massachusetts law requires a special act permitting the grant of those rights,” he said, explaining why the town will ask the legislative delegation for authorization and a waiver of mitigation requirements.

Council members discussed bicycle accommodations and tree impacts during debate. Griffin Bowden, the town engineer, said each leg of the roundabout will include a shared‑use path and a north–south connection to the transportation center; he also noted that more extensive, fully separated bike facilities would require further investment beyond the current project scope. Cuffer said the design team modified the plan after public input to widen islands and add pedestrian refuge areas.

The planning board recommended approval at its June 8 meeting. The council approved the roadway alteration and authorized acquisition of the necessary easements by roll call vote.

Next steps: the town manager will pursue the legislative petition to permit the Article 97 disposition and complete negotiations and/or eminent domain steps required to secure the easements from the Barnstable Housing Authority. If the special act is approved by the Legislature, the town will finalize utility relocations and proceed with construction scheduling.