Barnstable Officials Seek Your Input For Complete Streets Plan

BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable is officially a Complete Streets community. The designation was received in January, and set off a series of next steps that will see officials with the town, and the Cape Cod Commission, work toward making local transportation better.

But they want input from the public in the process.

"The Cape Cod Commission and the Town of Barnstable are working together to analyze the Town’s transportation network to identify opportunities to create a more connected, efficient, and accessible roadway network and are seeking community feedback on priority projects at upcoming village meetings," they said in a joint statement.

So what is a Complete Streets community, and how can the public add their input?

Complete Streets

Barnstable officials released this video which lays out exactly what the designation is. But, by definition, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, "a Complete Street is one that provides safe and accessible options for all travel modes - walking, biking, transit and vehicles – for people of all ages and abilities."

MassDOT continues:

"The MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program provides technical assistance and construction funding to eligible municipalities. Eligible municipalities must pass a Complete Streets Policy and develop a Prioritization Plan."

In short, the town is seeking to improve the travel experience for all users of its streets – motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists – through the development of a Complete Streets Prioritization Plan.

Funding was secured from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and the town retained the services of the Cape Cod Commission transportation staff to develop the plan. That funding can stretch all the way up to $400,000 in in construction funding grants from MassDOT.

In addition to securing the funding, officials, of course, will need to decide what they need most. That's where the public comes in.

Public Meetings Schedule

The town will host a series of public meetings this summer to gauge the interests of town residents. Once public input is taken in, officials will create the prioritization plan, to be presented at a public meeting in the winter of 2023.

They'll submit the final plan to MassDOT, who will determine how much funding to distribute for the total project.

Here's when and where public meetings are scheduled:

Villages of Osterville & Cotuit

• Monday, July 18 at 4:30 p.m., Osterville Public Library, 43 Wianno Ave., Osterville

Village of Marstons Mills

• Wednesday, July 20 at 4:30 p.m., Liberty Hall, 2150 Main St., Marstons Mills

Village of Hyannis

Tuesday, July 26 at 4:30 p.m., Barnstable Adult Community Center, 825 Falmouth Rd., Hyannis

Village of Centerville

Thursday, July 28 at 4:30 p.m., Centerville Public Library, 585 Main St., Centerville

Villages of Barnstable & West Barnstable

Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 4:30 p.m., Saint Mary's Episcopal Church, 3055 Main St., Barnstable