Commissioners urge bike and pedestrian connections as federal grant money becomes available

Multiple committee members recommended prioritizing bike and pedestrian infrastructure—segregated bike paths on East and West Main Roads and small connector segments—arguing that safer multimodal options reduce car dependence and exposure to heat and flooding. Matthew Skrzezinski and liaison speakers said the island should combine municipal plans with available federal funding to expand separated bike lanes and sidewalks.

"We just got a huge grant from the feds, 19 something million dollars," Matthew Skrzezinski said while highlighting the importance of coordinating with the bike commission and federal funds. Speakers cautioned that many main roads are state-owned, so Town staff must work with state DOT and other partners to deliver projects, and suggested the resilience plan could prioritize readily implementable segments and shovel-ready designs to match grant timelines.