2010-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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the US Economic Development Administration-certi- This year also marked the kick-off for the update fied 2009 CEDS. Among the first-year accomplish- to the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) for Cape ments are the completion of a full business plan and Cod,with public outreach and workshops in March in receipt of $40 million in funding for the OpenCape Bourne,Eastham,and Hyannis.The Commission staff telecommunications infrastructure project; expansion also launched a series of workshops about different of energy efficiency programs; concept development transportation modes, holding the first, on bicycle and and pursuit of funding for a proposed algae bio-fuel pedestrian modes,in June.Work on the RTP will con- refinery pilot project;an entrepreneurship services and tinue through Fiscal Year 2011. training coordination program; regional coordination among "Buy Local" programs; designation of the Water resources staff provide technical assis- Ocean Management Planning District of Critical tance to Cape Cod towns, citizens, and Barnstable Planning Concern (see above); and an analysis of County on projects that involve water supply, waste- coastal baseline land use data to facilitate economic water and stormwater management,fresh water ponds, development. and marine waters.Activities include technical assess- ments, planning, education, and regulatory review of For the past several years,the Commonwealth of all aspects of Cape Cod's water resources. Water staff Massachusetts has allocated funds to each of the members work with local and regional committees state's 13 regional planning agencies, the Cape Cod and partner organizations and strive to develop strate- Commission among them, to help municipalities with gies to implement cost-effective solutions for regional sustainable development and to encourage municipal- needs. Two recent initiatives in the planning phase are ities to form partnerships to achieve planning and the creation of a Cape Cod water-quality data center development goals consistent with state and regional and a watershed-based outreach, education, and stew- priorities. The state-funded Direct Local Technical ardship program. Assistance(DLTA) Program for Cape Cod is adminis- tered by the Commission's Technical Services divi- A major emphasis this year has been the prepa- sion. Through this program in 2009-2010, the ration of a Regional Wastewater Management Plan. Commission funded four regional projects and three Commission staff have compiled data and background town projects with a total of$155,837. materials to.aid the preparation of the plan, with the Water Resources staff coordinating the work of a tech- The Cape Cod Commission provided ongoing nical consultant and GIS staff. Tasks have included coordination of the Cape Cod Joint Transportation regional wastewater flow analyses, technology assess- Committee (CCJTC) and supported the work of the ments, adaptive management, build-out projections, Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization and development of appropriate maps and graphics. (MPO), which is responsible for directing transporta- An extensive outreach and education program will be tion planning and policy and for allocating federal actively pursued in Fiscal Year 2011. transportation funds on Cape Cod. As a result of these planning efforts, approximately $26.8 million of local The Commission also responded to the growing and regional transportation projects are scheduled for concern about the spraying of pesticides on top of the federal and state funding of the Transportation region's sole source aquifer along NSTAR utility Improvement Program for Federal Fiscal Years rights of way. Staff provided technical assistance to 2010-2013, including one in the Bourne/Cape Cod map the locations of private wells near the electrical Canal area for traveler information improvements, an easements, coordinated a meeting of concerned citi- Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) project zens and NSTAR representatives, and provided a crit- installing cameras for improved real-time traffic infor- ical review and comment on NSTAR's Yearly mation. Operational Plan. Staff participated in meetings with the Cape legislative delegation and the Massachusetts The Commission staff participated on the Canal Department of Agriculture, presenting the need for a Area Task Force, collecting and analyzing data and detailed mapping program of private wells and other making recommendations to mitigate traffic issues resources to comply with the setback provisions in the during this year's major maintenance work on the regulations.Nearly all Cape towns support and sought Sagamore Bridge. Commission assistance for this task, which is expected to be completed by the end of December 2010. 79