Cape & Islands News

MassDOT announces creation of Cape Cod Canal Area Traffic Task Force

Task force is response to requests by legislators for regional solutions to Cape traffic congestion

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) today announced the creation of the Canal Area Regional Traffic Task Force to build consensus on the immediate, near-term, and future transportation needs related to ongoing traffic congestion at the two canal bridges in the Cape Cod region. 

Congressman Bill Delahunt requested creation of the Task Force in response to recent congestion caused by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers repairs to the Sagamore Bridge and the long-term issues created by rising traffic volumes on the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges.   Sagamore Bridge construction work began at the end of summer and is ongoing this fall and continuing in spring 2010.  One lane of traffic is reduced in each direction. The result has been significant congestion and in some cases traffic being stalled at the bridge and clogging highways in the area.

“I am confident, particularly with the valuable stakeholders included on the Task Force, that we will identify solid and meaningful recommendations for improvements.” - Tom Cahir, CCRTA Administrator

“Our goal is to bring federal, state, and local parties together to reduce  traffic congestion when possible and work toward new solutions to the region’s transportation challenges,” said MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeffrey Mullan.

“We need a better method to design, coordinate and implement transportation options in the Canal region,” said Congressman Delahunt.  “While long term solutions are examined, there is also a need to identify and fund specific transportation improvements aimed at alleviating the near-term congestion problems.”

At the direction of MassDOT Secretary and CEO Jeff Mullan, the Task Force will be chaired by Tom Cahir, Administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority.  Task Force participants will represent federal, state, regional, and local officials, including the Office of Congressman Delahunt, Army Corps of Engineers, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Cape Cod Commission, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, Towns of Bourne and Sandwich, and other local business representatives.

The Task Force is expected to focus on near-term improvements necessary in spring 2010 when Sagamore Bridge construction resumes along with discussion of longer term solutions including alternate routes and other ways to mitigate traffic congestion affected by bridge work and action plans and preliminary cost proposals for recommended long term investments. 

“I am pleased at the leadership being displayed by Governor Patrick, Secretary Mullan and Congressman Delahunt in recognizing the adverse impacts associated with traffic congestion in and around the Cape Cod Canal Region,” said CCRTA Administrator Tom Cahir.  “I am confident, particularly with the valuable stakeholders included on the Task Force, that we will identify solid and meaningful recommendations for improvements.”

In September, MassDOT Highway Administrator Luisa Paiewonsky convened a meeting of the Army Corps of Engineers and local, regional and state officials to develop solutions to ongoing construction related traffic problems.  A follow-up meeting hosted by MassDOT Highway District 5 identified additional steps to ease traffic.  Today’s meeting will take a broader, more comprehensive approach to regional traffic concerns.

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Courtesy of MassDOT.

Read more about the Sagamore Bridge saga here:

• Sagamore dissatisfaction
  
• Letter to Army Corps of Engineers
• USACE wakes up to the bridge problem
• Sagamore Bridge opens two lanes Sunday
• Chamber, local officials address Sagamore Bridge congestion headache
• Work to commence on Sagamore Bridge, September 14, 2009
  
• and see Ana Paulina's Entering Bourne Blog for an almost daily photographic update of the construction