With new hot spots cropping up every year, summer traffic jams appear to be spreading around the Island.
Gridlock at Five Corners in Vineyard Haven and endless backups at the Triangle in Edgartown are long-accepted headaches in July and August, but with new hot spots cropping up every year, summer traffic jams appear to be spreading around the Island.
In West Tisbury, a long line of vehicles now regularly backs up for miles around the village on Farmers’ Market Saturdays.
This year suddenly it’s the same story, only daily, at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, where a long line of traffic can frequently be found snaking out the exit road that leads to the West Tisbury Road.
Airport manager Ann Richart said the problem can be tracked to a seasonal uptick in flights and larger planes.
Terry Lynch helps customers at new parking terminals at the airport.
Terry Lynch helps customers at new parking terminals at the airport.
“This time of year we have three more airlines landing in 50 to 100-passenger jets,” Ms. Richart said. “They’re all scheduled at the same time, so during those flight times there is congestion.”
As an arm of the airport business park that now includes a liquor store, fish market, gourmet food market, furniture store, a dentist office complex, veterinary hospital and tennis and fitness complex — the area is a busy commerce center as well.
Ms. Richart said traffic is at its worst between noon and 3 p.m. “People trying to do business at the airport should plan to do it early in the day or later in the afternoon,” she said.
Island law enforcement leaders agreed that increased airport traffic and popularity of summer events has put more strain on Island streets.
“There are more and more cars, and it’s getting worse,” said Tisbury police Lieut. Eerik Meisner.
Edgartown Triangle is traditional hot spot for traffic.
Edgartown Triangle is traditional hot spot for traffic.
Just how many cars can be found clogging Island roads on any given summer day remains an elusive topic.
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission uses traffic counters each summer to measure traffic flow at various spots around the Island. No data is yet available for this summer, but MVC transportation program manager Mike Mauro said this week that the commission is planning new strategies for gathering traffic data.
“We’re in the process of getting permanent count stations,” he said, adding that the commission is looking into applying for federal aid to purchase a traffic radar detector.
West Tisbury police chief Matt Mincone, whose department has its hands especially full on Farmers’ Market days, was sanguine.
“The bottom line is it’s summertime and everything slows down,” he said.
Chappy ferry line is a test of patience.
Chappy ferry line is a test of patience.
Oak Bluffs police Lieut. Timothy Williamson said in his town traffic is at its worst during ferry arrival and departures.
“There’s just so many cars and people with limited parking,” he said.
Meanwhile, bottlenecks at Beetlebung Corner in Chilmark were a topic for the town selectmen this week.
Town library director Ebba Hierta told the board at its regular meeting Tuesday that the library parking lot is filling up frequently, particularly around noon during what she called the “Beetlebung rush” when parents are picking up their kids from summer activities at the school or community center. She said it leaves library staff and patrons with nowhere to park.
“We’re getting pushed out of our lot and pushed out of the school lot, and we’re leaving our patrons with no place to go,” said Ms. Hierta.
Police chief Jonathan Klaren later confirmed the problem.
“Noontime Monday through Friday is just a busy time at Beetlebung Corner,” the chief said.
Selectmen agreed to call a meeting soon to tackle the problem.
“The important thing is that we’re trying to be good neighbors. It gets very crowded and slightly insane, and we want it to stay safe,” said selectman Jim Malkin.
Comments
Dear me. I have been
Doug R OBDear me. I have been preaching this from day one! I have lost clients who have been stuck in these very chaotic traffic jams. Do you know what they do - they leave folks and they take money out of my pocket! We need action!
Doug, I agree. I had to wait
Jim J EdgartownDoug, I agree. I had to wait in the valet line for over 15 minuets to dine at the Atlantic in Edgartown - traffic was backed up on Main Street. My dinner reservations were in jeopardy and my clients were not impressed. We need to eliminate cars in town Edgartown with the exception of valet parking. This would decrease the traffic and business such at the Atlantic can provide an easier and more prompt access to its client base!
Jim, I agree I was in that
Mike Melrose - EdgartownJim, I agree I was in that valet line on Wednesday evening.
I had reservations to meet clients and was late....
I feel you pain
At first, I thought these
Tom West TisburyAt first, I thought these comments were tongue in cheek. But, then I realized that life is indeed tough.
So, what's the solution then?
Paul ChilmarkSo, what's the solution then? Oh and dude, seriously. Stop with the "losing clients" act. You say this on every single article this paper publishes. It's getting comically old.
One way to make the exit from
Randy M. ChllmarkOne way to make the exit from the airport more expeditious would be to restore the right turn lane on to the West Tisbury-Edgartown road, as there currently is at the Airport/Barnes Road intersection. I'm not sure why the right turn lane was eliminated a few years ago, but the decision is causing considerable backup.
Everyone needs to take a deep
Man on Pond EdgartownEveryone needs to take a deep breath and acknowledge that this problem solves itself every year right around Labor Day
Noting worse than making major decisions based on events that happen 8 weeks of the year..
Many of the same people
WashAbhorred EdgartownMany of the same people complaining about traffic will whine and scream about people on bicycles and fight having completing the bike paths, repairing the bike paths, and bike racks that actually go to business areas.
Two of the biggest problem
Tom Turlow Vineyard HavenTwo of the biggest problem areas are five corners and the State Rd/Edgartown-VH Rd intersection, which is awful pretty much all day. Since everyone is so bent on not having a traffic light (even a seasonal one) why can't the town of VH put a traffic officer at these two intersections for the six weeks a year we all have suffer through endless, frustrating waits? At the very least it would avoid the aggression (and frustration) required to make turns, often cutting others off or forcing them to slam on their brakes.
With regards to “Traffic
Ted Stanley West TisburyWith regards to “Traffic Bottlenecks Keep Crowded Island Moving Slowly” and specifically the airport entrance road:
We have essentially no traffic lights on Martha’s Vineyard, instead we have many stop signs and a very few yield signs.
Massachusetts General Laws Part 1, Title XIV, Chapter 89, Section 9 covers “Designation of highways as through ways; traffic control signs and devices”. The law states in part:
“ ... every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop sign ... shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it.”
The law clearly infers that an intersection which includes a marked stop line must, if properly designed and constructed, allow a driver to have “a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering it."
The “view” with regard to stop signs on Martha’s Vineyard is typically inadequate. To safely enter an intersection with a stop sign requires the stopped driver to view on-coming traffic to a distance commensurate with the speed of that traffic.
Here on the Vineyard drivers typically have to inch out beyond marked stop lines in order to safely enter an intersection. Doing so impedes the orderly flow of traffic, creates safety hazards, and we all experience added delays.
Next time you’re stopped at a stop sign intersection ... have a look and see what you can’t see.
If there is a road used by
VH voter VHIf there is a road used by the entire island and off island community perhaps towns can chip in to improve things rather than do nothing or complain. Also having businesses expanding in already congested areas strikes me as risky. VH said no. Edgartown said yes. It will be interesting to see how that goes. And finally....huge huge boats....that don't even run....obviously add more cars and wait times. Businesses can't possibly expect us to bring them more business, and then also kick cars off the roads for them too.
This topic emerges every
Michael Anthony Auburn MAThis topic emerges every summer and every summer I remind people that two traffic committees gave solutions to the Tisbury selectmen back in the late 60’s and again in the late 70’s. The goal was to alleviate the Five Corners backups and secondarily the delays at State Rd/Edgartown Road. Both times the plan was rejected in its entirety. Of course it’s too late now. And don’t forget the SSA promise to Tisbury, when adding the second slip, that there would never be 2 boats in at the same time except for emergencies. Oh well...
Why not add traffic circles
Ali OBWhy not add traffic circles at 5 corners and the Edgartown Y??? Everyone fought it at the blinker and it worked!
The roundabout solved a local
Brian Smith Oak BluffsThe roundabout solved a local problem at that intersection but just transferred the volume of traffic to other pinch points. Either end of Edgartown road, the Barnes Rd/West Tisbury Rd intersection, which now backs up beyond the disc golf parking lot even though we've added a right turn lane, and the 4 corners at the OB fire station which now regularly backs up beyond Alpine. The roundabout solved one intersection problem and worsened 4 others. There needs to be a regional approach to the problem. One thought is to limit the number of cars allowed for each vacation rental.
It would be a good idea for a
deshandra brown edgIt would be a good idea for a police officer to direct traffic at the airport entrance when the multiple 50-100 passenger airlines arrive. Its no different than putting an officer in OB or VH when the boat arrives.
Yes, everyone complains, yet
BFYes, everyone complains, yet they want to accommodate more with affordable housing!
They seem to forget, that accommodating more year round residents, means more people and more vehicles to add to the already over stressed mix.
And, each new household probably means at least two more cars,year round !
Connect the dots! Think numbers!
More is more regardless, and we can't take "more" of anything!
The same problems exist as
Henry L Gelzer Windham MaineThe same problems exist as they did 35 years ago. My Father Larry, suggested that (1) we limit the number of (non-islander) cars coming to the Vineyard. (2) Islanders are given a card, tied to their Driver's license or Registered Voter card. (3) Public transportation needs to be increased around the island, such as narrow gauge rail service and more climate controlled Buses to and from each town. These are some ideas that will help. Also looking outside the box like water shuttles between towns and more and better bike paths. I moved to Maine because of in part the traffic and congestion in the summer, it has only gotten worse in the 31 years since I left Martha's Vineyard. It is very sad that no one has taken bold steps to really reduce auto traffic. Just look at Cape Cod, the Vineyard always is just 5-10 years behind their traffic problems.
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