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Residents urge attention to Hyannis rotary, heavy vehicles and design exceptions during Cape Cod Vision Zero briefing
Summary
During the Cape Cod Vision Zero briefing residents raised concerns about heavy electric vehicles and firefighter response, the safety of the Hyannis rotary for pedestrians and cyclists, and a CCRTA bike-route recommendation; project staff said comments will be shared with partners and incorporated into follow-up discussions.
Public commenters raised several practical safety concerns during the Cape Cod Commission’s Vision Zero briefing. Brad Goodwin described witnessing a Tesla fire in Wareham that he said required 9,000 gallons of water to extinguish and urged planners to consider the implications of heavier electric vehicles for first responders and infrastructure. “I witnessed a Tesla catch on fire ... it took 9,000 gallons of water to put it out,” Goodwin said, urging the project team to incorporate first-responder considerations.
Satchel Douglas, a Hyannis resident, said the Hyannis rotary and surrounding roads are inhospitable to people walking and biking, noting missing crosswalks and difficult navigation around shopping and airport traffic. “It is extremely inhospitable to pedestrians and cyclists,” Douglas said, and urged the study to look for ways to resolve the barrier to non‑motorized movement.
John York raised a planning-process concern and a specific routing example. York said that the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority’s published bike map recommends Sandwich Road between the Bourne and Sagamore bridges — a road he described as having only a painted six-inch shoulder and high vehicle speeds — and he questioned whether that routing recommendation was appropriate. York also urged greater public notice and involvement in MassDOT design-exception waivers, saying the current waiver process lacks public involvement.
Colleen, the Cape Cod Commission project lead, thanked speakers and said staff will share public comments with partner agencies, roadway jurisdiction owners and the advisory committee. She reiterated that the project will include equity considerations and convene first‑responder discussions as part of the plan process. The meeting closed with organizers reminding participants that the recording will be posted and that residents can continue to submit mapped locations and ideas via the project website.
