12/22/2005 BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE Minutes

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7 Fishing Road, they put in a standard roundabout. They connected Old Bainstable Road to Great Neck Road back to the Old Barnstable load so that it was a roundabout. People didn't have to go through the rotary,he said,they had created a bypass surgery to it. Mr, Storrs said that there was a possibility of creating an outer ring road. He pointed out the road crossing Quashnet Road. A potential road could co-nnect to 'eat Neck Road, That would be arr outer-ring road, an override that would save 34 seconds in travel time. Some of the benefits, he added, would be that the Town, and I ashpee Commons, Planning Board and windchirne would be Involved. Roundabouts are designed to provide for free flow-in the inner ring, a.very large vehicle like a truck could ride over the inner r'irrg, W, Storrs said. lir, Storrs deserlbed a throat going into the rotary,that low-level speed would be positive. At this point In time, on Great Neck road South,people can go into the rotary at 40 mph. He added that Route 151 and Route 28 legs are too close together. He asked rhetorically if these roundabouts gave problems,the roundabout was slightly larger than Route 149. Where was more traffic M' Mashpee, Route 28 would deed to be scaleable, he said. Roundabouts are not vmy usual, said 1, Storrs. Massachusetts endorses them, he said and that they allowed for a lot of movement and a better way of determining traffic. The Chairman asked if all the connector roads were two-way roads. The vice Chairinan added to the discussion by talking about the bike paths along ashpee roads. He said that on certain days, emergency vehicles use the bike path. Life safety was very critical,he said W. Storrs said that signage would be needed so that people knew of an alternative to the rotary and that the road was capable of being used. Mr. Storrs said there was some very simplistic ways to improve the rotary, if there is increased approach to the rotary to two lanes, He added that if it mares sense and it was the least expensive way of improving traffic, but there was no magic bullet improving the rotary. He listed roundabouts and alternate roads as factors that would contribute to improve the rotary. Nor. Storrs said that the committee had to recognize that the Cape was a tourist-based economy and in the sunurrer the population,triples in size. The han an asked if the Ring Road Conunittee had any idea of the amount of traffic going through the rotary. Mr. Storrs replied that there was license plate service that could tell on the plates where people were coming from.. According to Mr. Storrs, the speed limit on Route 151 was 50 mph. He said that it would decrease a mile an hour. He said it didn"t make sense to have the speed go that quickly in the center of the conununity and to drop it to 30 mph or less would be better. He explained that on Cheat Neck Road, ears went 45 mph toward the rotary. The vice Chaftinan brought up the issue of Mashpee wildlife. He asked if the outer ring roads would achieve a more difficult result. He wanted to make sure that it would be without impact to the environment. The Chairman asked where the Ring load Committee was in the process. Mf. Storrs replied that the committee was trying to formalize the Ring Road Conunittee and would bring it to attention to the Board of Selectrn.en on.January 9 Eli 2005. The Chairman said that, in wrapping up, the Ring road Committee would continue on ,January 9'�'with a presentation,to the Manning Board and that there would be a public hearing and opportunity to get input from Selectmen and the Citizen Plannffig Board. The Chahman asked if individuals could contact Mr, Storrs directly. llr. Storrs said he would print out the wrap to 81/2 11. The Chairman asked if lair. Stores would be able to leave in town hall photographs of the maps. Mr. WiTs replied that the map was shill a rough draft.