The 2024 Transportation Improvement Program and Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) virtual meeting held on April 29, 2024, focused on enhancing transportation safety and efficiency across Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The meeting outlined key initiatives aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and injuries, improving transit services, and addressing infrastructure needs.

The meeting commenced with a discussion on the overarching goal of achieving zero fatal or injury-related crashes on the county's road network. To support this objective, a safety action plan will be developed in collaboration with a consultant. This plan is part of a broader effort to allocate funding for ongoing studies and projects that extend beyond the typical 12-month period.

Key tasks within the UPWP include transit planning, which involves implementing the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority's strategic plan and coordinating efforts to unlock federal funding for transit improvements. The modernization of the transit network is also a priority, with plans to establish a transportation management association in the region.

A significant focus of the upcoming year will be a two-part transit needs survey, which aims to gather extensive public input on transit services. This survey will include outreach efforts to ensure comprehensive data collection.

The meeting highlighted several completed studies, including a Route 6 ramp and shoulder design study that reviewed existing conditions and proposed safety improvements. Additionally, an electric vehicle (EV) charging station study was discussed, showcasing an online tool that maps existing charging infrastructure and identifies gaps in service.

Ongoing projects include a Station Avenue corridor study in Yarmouth, which is analyzing traffic conditions and proposing improvements, and a Downtown Chatham parking and circulation study, set to hold its first public meeting this summer.

Looking ahead, the meeting outlined plans for a Route 6A visioning study, which will assess crash history and traffic conditions while engaging with local municipalities and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to develop safety recommendations. Other initiatives include updating the crash dashboard to identify the top 50 crash locations and conducting inventories of bike racks and flashing signal beacons to enhance infrastructure planning.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to support municipal efforts in installing EV chargers and addressing low-lying road projects, emphasizing the importance of public outreach and community engagement in shaping the future of transportation in Barnstable County.