Nantucket roads committee presses for clearer role in coastal-resilience planning, reviews Washington Street options

The Nantucket Roads and Right of Way Committee, meeting by Zoom on March 18, discussed how the committee should participate in ongoing coastal-resilience work and reviewed three design alternatives being considered for the Washington Street/Francis Street corner.

"I'm a little disappointed. I attended the information session this morning on Easy Street and as early as I can tell, I was the only member of the committee that was listening to it," said Lee Saperstein, committee member, criticizing limited committee involvement. Saperstein urged the group to seek more formal opportunities for input into town planning efforts.

The committee’s discussion focused on the Washington Street work group’s proposals to protect the main access into downtown from sea-level impacts. "We have proposed 3 different possibilities for the sidewalk," said Alan Reinhardt, committee member and participant on the Washington Street subcommittee. Reinhardt described options ranging from an elevated walkway with a bicycle path to a raised road or wall, and said one major design consideration is preserving harbor views for people approaching downtown.

Members clarified that Easy Street is a separate…