<p>The vast majority of respondents to a survey conducted this year by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission named the Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven as the most dangerous area on the Island.</p>
The vast majority of respondents to a survey conducted this year by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission named the Five Corners intersection in Vineyard Haven as the most dangerous area on the Island, followed by the intersection of Look street and State and Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Roads in Vineyard Haven, the Triangle in Edgartown and Beach Road in Vineyard Haven.
The survey involved 119 respondents, 91 of them permanent residents, as part of the long-term Martha’s Vineyard Transportation Plan, which is revised every four years. Among other things, the 2015 plan proposes $150,000 in future pedestrian traffic improvements at the Five Corners, but no funds have been requested for the roads themselves.
MVC executive director Mark London said Wednesday that the Island’s early-20th-century roadways have been strained by the growing summer population. “Five Corners, the Triangle in Edgartown, people are often saying to me you’ve got to do something about the traffic there,” he said. “And frankly there is no clear solution.”
Respondents also prioritized the expansion of free shuttle service between downtown areas, park-and-rides and newer commercial areas; and the expansion of off-road bike paths to link the town centers in Tisbury, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. But they opposed traffic signals at some intersections. Most agreed that turning lanes should be added in some congested areas.
Several written comments endorsed the idea of building a roundabout at both the Five Corners intersection and the Triangle. Sixty-one per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that roundabouts should be installed at some intersections.
Ferry service, road safety and pedestrian facilities topped the list of areas needing of improvement or preservation. At the bottom of the list were roadside utility poles, airport and air travel, and taxis. Road congestion ranked 12th in the 17-item list.
Transportation itself ranked second in a 10-item list of MVC priorities, after water quality in coastal ponds, which 54 per cent of respondents saw as the most pressing need. After transportation were housing, open space protection and smart growth. Social issues and economic development were at the bottom of the list. Climate change ranked sixth, followed by energy.
The entire survey and comments are available on the commission website, mvcommission.org.
Comments
Would a traffic circle like
Toby Condliffe Hines Point, Vineyard HavenWould a traffic circle like the one on the Vineyard Haven - Edgartown Road work? Could you take the necessary land by eminent domain?
So you just offhandedly say
Tim Vineyard HavenSo you just offhandedly say to take people's private property they've probably worked a lifetime to own?
A traffic circle would work,
Mit Gold EdgartownA traffic circle would work, but not enough room.
The best plan is to have one way traffic into the Steamship area and an other way out.
Other option is to move the terminal east and provide numerous ways in and out.
Rezoning the Vineyard Haven waterfront would encourage some nice development and create la lively fun atmosphere along the
harbor.
The only solution at "Five
Win Clegg ChilmarkThe only solution at "Five Corners" would be a traffic circle. Any other solution would be too expensive. Also a Circle might enable some Edgartown Rd. traffic to use Skiff Rd.
The current plan is to plant
Frank BrunelleThe current plan is to plant a row of trees about 8 or 9 feet from the edge of the road into the roadway on the South Side - (the corner Bike Bob's is on) per request of the Planning Board. (This is not a joke, it is for real.)
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