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Commission reallocates UPWP funds and schedules safety plan public review with Vision Zero goals
Summary
The commission approved a reallocation of the Fiscal Year 2025 Unified Planning Work Program, accepted the FY2026 UPWP for public review, and received an overview of a federally funded safety plan that includes targets to reduce serious and fatal crashes by 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2040.
The Nantucket Economic Development Commission on June 23 approved an internal reallocation of the Fiscal Year 2025 Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and voted to approve the draft FY2026 UPWP following a 30‑day public review period.
Transportation Program Manager Mike Mizzarelli explained the FFY 2025 reallocation moves staff time and budget from long‑range planning tasks into program management, data collection and implementation tasks to reflect work completed and upcoming needs. “Since our budgets are created a year in advance … I need to move some funds around from the planning and performance measure tasks to the management and data collection and parking and implementation tasks,” he said. The roll‑call vote to approve the FFY 2025 UPWP reallocation passed unanimously.
The commission also closed the FY2026 UPWP public review and approved the draft document for submission to MassDOT. The FY2026 UPWP includes continued development of transportation data dashboards, expansion of traffic counters, development of a new long‑range transportation plan synced with the master plan and a parking management program. Mizzarelli said FY2026 funding increased about 2% from the prior year.
Commissioners also received an update on a federally‑funded safety improvement program for the island. The safety plan — developed with a consultant and regional partners — analyzes five years of crash data and proposes countermeasures and prioritized projects. The plan proposes targets commonly associated with Vision Zero: reducing fatal and serious injury crashes 50% by 2030 and 75% by 2040. Mizzarelli said the consultants will return for a fuller presentation in July and the draft safety plan will enter a public comment period that would close at the commission’s August meeting.
Commissioners asked how the targets would be met within short timeframes and were told the plan combines engineering countermeasures (intersection and corridor improvements, markings, pedestrian accommodations) with speed management, enforcement and public education. Mizzarelli noted some recommended changes (for example, Pleasant Street accommodations and intersection work around the Sparks Avenue/Stop & Shop area) will be assessed for affordability and near‑term impact.
The reallocation and the FY2026 UPWP were approved by roll call; the safety plan overview did not require a vote but will return for public review in July.
