General Cape Cod Discussion

themissinglink

themissinglink

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I'm starting this new thread since we don't have a catch-all thread for Cape-related topics.

Route 28 Sidewalk Construction Begins

HARWICH – The Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Route 28 sidewalk project extending from Saquatucket Harbor to Bank Street in Harwich...
capecodchronicle.com capecodchronicle.com
Construction finally began earlier this year on a controversial project to add 0.6 miles of new sidewalk on Route 28 in Harwich, from Bank Street to Harwichport.

The project was subject to criticism and pushback from residents who opposed the removal of trees and the relocation of utility poles. But despite the opposition, the project is moving forward with a projected completion date of April 2027.
In January, nearby abutters with historic homes voiced concerns about plans to relocate utility poles to accommodate the sidewalk and to potentially require the removal of some trees. The town has received correspondence from an attorney hired by those property owners.

Town Administrator Joseph Powers said he and Hooper met with the landowners to explain the need for the work.

“We’re aware of these objections, however I think it’s been well articulated the benefit of the project overall,” he said. (source)
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The lack of sidewalks throughout Cape Cod is very frustrating. Building out a connected sidewalk network on the Cape is badly needed.
 
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I really hope that Cape Cod eventually gets a bikeshare system like BlueBikes. It's obviously a lot of ground to cover for a non-urban bikeshare system, but it would be very popular during the warmer months.
 
www.capecodtimes.com

Bike paths, speeding, trucks: What Cape Cod residents say about improvements to Route 6A

Cape Cod Commission Route 6A study looks for safety improvements to historic highway. How to give your input.
www.capecodtimes.com
The Cape Cod Commission got a earful Wednesday, June 11 from people who live, work, walk or ride on Route 6A on how to make the road safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

One resident suggested making 35 mph the speed limit for the entire length of the highway. Others called for banning tractor-trailers or imposing weight limits on the trucks. Another resident suggested building a roundabout at the intersection of routes 132 and 6A. Other ideas included a bike lane and better sidewalks.
[...]
The residents had varying views on adding sidewalks that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The biggest concern with them was the required five-foot width, the potential loss of trees and effect on the historic character of the roadway.
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themissinglink said:
The project was subject to criticism and pushback from residents who opposed the removal of trees and the relocation of utility poles. But despite the opposition, the project is moving forward with a projected completion date of April 2027.
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As far as I'm concerned, a street without a sidewalk shouldn't exist in any but the most rural of locations. Nowhere on Cape Cod fits that description. They can have the trees, or they can have fewer car lanes, but the compromise should never be on pedestrian safety.
 
themissinglink said:
"The Cape Cod Commission got a earful Wednesday, June 11 from people who live, work, walk or ride on Route 6A on how to make the road safer for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers...

"One resident suggested making 35 mph the speed limit for the entire length of the highway..."
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Sorry I missed this post a month ago. While Old King's Highway (Route 6A) is a busy road with bicyclists and pedestrians, the speed limit is as high as 45 m.p.h. in many sections, including Sandwich and Barnstable.

Meanwhile, the CapeFLYER is restricted to 30 m.p.h. on the Cape, including long sections without road crossings. In the Cape Cod & Hyannis and Amtrak Cape Codder days, the authorized track speed was higher. In New Haven Railroad days, it was 50 m.p.h.

Consider that the state (owner of the railroad tracks on the Cape) relinquished the railroad crossing rights over the canal to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since the CC&H/Amtrak days, and the USACoE now refuses to allow extra weekend canal crossings of the CapeFLYER.

Both of the above are deliberate state decisions.

Then consider the state is now planning a $4+ billion dollars replacement of the two canal highway bridges. No additional road capacity will be added, the state claims. But unlike the current bridges, each new bridge will have full width lanes, a breakdown lane, and an acceleration/deceleration lane.
 
www.bostonglobe.com

Cape Cod potato chip factory to close, ending production in Mass. - The Boston Globe

The Hyannis site “no longer makes economic sense for the business,” the company said.
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com
A Hyannis factory where Cape Cod Potato Chips have been made for the past 40 years will close in April, with 49 employees to lose their jobs, the corporate owner said Thursday.
The company, which became famous for cooking chips in kettles, began hosting visitors at the Hyannis factory after it opened in 1985. The brand has been owned since 2018 by The Campbell’s Company, better known for its canned soup and pork and beans.
In a statement, the company said the Hyannis plant produces just 4 percent of the Cape Cod and Kettle brand chips, while newer plants in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Pennsylvania produce the majority.
The Hyannis site “no longer makes economic sense for the business,” the company said. “Production will be transferred to more modern and efficient plants, enabling a more agile and flexible manufacturing network” while maintaining quality.
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