<p>The devil is in the details, the Tisbury planning board heard last week, as an improvement project for Beach Road in Vineyard Haven continues to be the subject of intense discussion. Talks continue this Wednesday in the town hall annex at 6 p.m.</p>
The devil is in the details, the Tisbury planning board heard last week, as an improvement project for Beach Road in Vineyard Haven continues to be the subject of intense discussion.
In 2009 a Martha’s Vineyard Commission study identified the stretch of road from Five Corners to the drawbridge as a missing link in a network of Island shared-user paths. The state Department of Transportation has put an improvement plan in the 2017 federal funding cycle; meanwhile discussions between Mass DOT and the town began in the summer of 2014. A year later, there continue to be conflicting opinions over the best way to create safe space for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
The project was discussed at a planning board meeting last week where there were vocal opinions; the session will continue on Wednesday this week at 6 p.m. in the town hall annex.
Widening the road is a central issue. At the meeting last week, planning board chairman Dan Seidman said four options include a 43-foot roadway, which he said would destroy the area, a 41-foot roadway with a hybrid, shared-user path design, a 41-foot roadway with a single design, or no changes at all. Widening to 41 feet would require one foot of land to be taken from property owners who abut the road.
“It’s a working harbor area and its got a particular look to it,” Mr. Seidman said. “And working in the constraints of something that was set up originally in the late 1800s, the 1700s, and basically progressed over time, we are constrained on what we can and can’t do and this 41 feet seems to be the best solution. I believe it would be an enhancement for the town if we did this.”
Selectman Melinda Loberg noted the need to find some consensus and convey that to Mass DOT. “The purpose of our meeting together and our trying to get an agreement on how that 41 feet should be laid out is important to move forward with the design,” she said.
Selectman Tristan Israel said there are not many cyclists on that particular stretch of road, but Martha’s Vineyard Commission planner Bill Veno said: “Build it and they will come.”
Mr. Israel said he is skeptical about the shared-user path idea. “I have some reservations, that area is very narrow, and I have not been a big fan of having an SUP in that area,” he said. “As I understand an SUP, I’m trying to figure out how it would all fit in.”
Mr. Seidman called it a “super sidewalk,” noting the path would most likely be 12 to 14 feet rather than the 10 feet on the design sketch provided at the meeting.
“We don’t have to do the second option [shared-use path/super sidewalk],” he also said. “The reason that was put on there was because of the transition in the road. It really is two kinds of road and again, were talking about a thousand feet. And as somebody who walks, I know I don’t appreciate bicyclists on the same path, and I know bicyclists don’t appreciate walkers. Common sense isn’t common, people don’t know if you’re approaching each other you both go to your right, so I understand all those things.”
Cyclist Doris Clark had a different view. “I like the 41 feet, and am also in favor of sidewalk on both sides,” she said. “I ride that road every day and I have to pray to God when I make it to Five Corners that I make it alive.” She said if a share-user path was built on that section of the road, she would use it. She also suggested clear signage telling bicyclist where they are supposed to be riding, especially over the bridge.
Public discussion continues Wednesday.
Comments
Definitely Frustrated.
Frank BrunelleDefinitely Frustrated.
The SUP that will not DIE:
In June of 2014 I learned of a plan to funnel all pedestrians and cyclists in one shared use path on the south side of Beach Road, eliminating any sidewalk on the north side of Beach Road. As soon as I heard of this plan I knew it was bad and started fighting it. But it keeps coming back.
It started as a 9 foot SUP with a 3 foot shoulder – a vastly insufficient and dangerous idea that violated all AASHTO regulations and recommendations.
It took land by eminent domain from the south side, and gave carte blanche to the north side to remain untouched.
This resulted in a long journey of investigating eminent domain, becoming knowledgeable about the law, research into its history, and lining up lawyers to fight it. This was a momentous battle.
Then it went away for a while.
Now the Planning Board has installed a member of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission on their sub-committee to recommend what is best for Beach Road. And it is back.
A short while ago they planned a 10 foot SUP with a 3 foot grass strip with trees out in the middle of Beach Road. Was this a joke. It was idiocy. That lasted about a week.
Next, with advice from Priscilla LeClerk of the Commission they left the 3 foot grass strip in place and added a foot. This was supposed to protect people, but the trees were gone. When they discovered that this would not work, they dropped that. Now they want a 14 foot wide cement path and nothing on the north side with no protection at all, and taking away both shoulders that would have been safe to travel on and the sidewalk and creating yet another version of a Frankenstein path.
This just keeps on going.
They want to make the SUP so that it can hook up to another Frankenstein SUP going through the Tisbury Marketplace. But the owners of the businesses there think it is dumb as do rational people and do not want it. So the whole purpose of the stupidly designed SUP is in doubt, and that is an understatement.
So what will it take to kill this monster?
12 Comments
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Doug Gingras Ummm... Common sense that was built into Beach Ed as it exists.
How to teach that into summer folks so they don't kill themselves, well, that's the real trick aye?.....
Yesterday at 3:40am · Edited · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle Yes it is the real trick, but not a difficult decision Doug Gingras. All of the statistics and literature point to SUPs as being the least preferred of all bicycle path choices. Inexperienced cyclists do not like them. They have the highest rate of acc...See More
Yesterday at 6:16am · Like
Cimeno Greg Change the name of your town to disney world.becouse it seems like youve been dealing with goofy,mickey mouse,and dumbo as town officials
Yesterday at 6:45am · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle Cimeno Greg, I already made an allusion to that at the last joint BOS Planning Board meeting saying - "This is not Disneyworld, this is our town, Vineyard Haven, and we should have sidewalks on both sides of Beach Road, not an SUP that is there supposedly for tourists for 3 months of the year that actually, is dangerous and ugly.
Yesterday at 6:58am · Like
Cimeno Greg Vineyard haven is truly the theatre of the absurd.keep up the fight Frank Brunelle....
Yesterday at 7:01am · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle It is crazy here. But I am hoping that sanity will prevail. There is a new Exec. Director at the Commission. That spells H-O-P-E.
23 hrs · Like
Ashley A Willoughby What do you think the best solution is for year round bike and pedestrian safety?
23 hrs · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle The best solution and one that MassDOT would readily approve is simply sidewalks, shoulders and travel lanes symmetrically, as in every other road in the world. The dimensions that have been agreed on are 5.5 foot sidewalks, 4.5 foot shoulders, and 10....See More
21 hrs · Like
Ashley A Willoughby So bicyclists would be using the sidewalks? Or the shoulder?
21 hrs · Like
Frank Brunelle Correct - with restrictions that have to be determined. The shoulders themselves are enough to give everyone a safe passage - but there are children for example who might want to use the sidewalks. In some locales kids under 12 can use the sidewalks. I...See More
18 hrs · Like
Ashley A Willoughby Thanks for the clarification you make very valid points
18 hrs · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle frank brunelle Today at 8:50 AM
To
John Grande
CC
Daniel Seidman Cheryl S. Doble
Jay:
If the choice between a hybrid road and a symmetrical road were put before a town meeting, the hybrid road would not stand a chance. This is about the town, it is not about the Martha's Vineyard Commission setting up a SUP network that they want to impose on Tisbury - even if it is dangerous and eliminates the sidewalks on the north side and eliminates the correct distances on the shoulders especially with a new law coming into effect and the insistence of MassDOT for a wide shoulder.
Given that the correct decision from the viewpoint of the town is the symmetrical option, why are we still discussing the hybrid? Anyone, please answer.
Frank
6 hrs · Unlike · 1
Frank Brunelle
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Frank Brunelle
August 6 at 5:45am
Say No to the MV Commission. Do not allow them to put in an SUP.
frank brunelle Today at 5:39 AM
To
Nelson Sigelman Julia Wells...
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Frank Brunelle
August 5 at 5:03am
Come to the meeting tonight - Wednesday - August 5th at 6 PM town hall annex.
Here is a letter to the editor in this week’s paper. The letter highlights the safe distance between cyclists and vehicles.
The plan that the town of Tisbury, it’s town administrator and boards have approved and which will be discussed this evening grossly, inhumanely, and illegally violates the principles of safe cycling – if only Massachusetts had its laws in line with other states.
The town wa...
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8 Likes2 Comments
Very pro SUP article - biased
Frank BrunelleVery pro SUP article - biased in favor of. Gazette - MV Commission.... mutual support.
It's a bit of overkill on the
Frank BrunelleIt's a bit of overkill on the comments, but this meeting was discussed with the town administrator who was to move the meeting until it was possible for me to attend. But that promise was broken and so I can not be there. Those who are interested in this issue may want to attend the meeting tonight at 6 pm at the town hall annex. That is in 80 minutes. Sorry for the late notice. I have not been kept informed.
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