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MPO releases Harwich Elementary Safe Routes TIP amendment for 21-day public comment after cost increase
Summary
The Cape Cod MPO voted to release TIP Amendment No. 1 (FY26–30) for a 21-day public comment period after staff reported a roughly $1.1 million cost increase to the Harwich Elementary Safe Routes to School project; the increase will be funded through MassDOT’s statewide program, not regional TIP funds.
The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization on Oct. 20 voted to release for public comment a TIP amendment that adjusts funding for the Harwich Elementary Safe Routes to School project.
Colleen Medeiros, transportation program manager, told the MPO the project’s engineering plans and estimates were updated in September and show a roughly $1,100,000 increase. "The project's around $3,500,000," Medeiros said, up from about $2,400,000 programmed previously. She said the increase results from additional work to remove and replace an existing telephone duct bank — including reinforced excavation and asbestos handling — and from consolidating utility relocation and roadway construction under one contractor to avoid schedule conflicts.
Crucially, Medeiros said the additional funding will come from MassDOT's statewide transportation improvement program (the Safe Routes funding source) rather than from the Cape Cod regional TIP allocation. The board moved and approved a motion to release the amendment for a 21-day public comment period; a roll-call vote on the motion was unanimous among voting members present.
What happens next: The public comment period will run for 21 days, after which staff will return any submitted comments to the MPO at the November meeting for potential endorsement and final action. The project team said PS&E (plans, specifications and estimates) were submitted in September and the project is preparing to go out for construction bids.
The MPO’s action on Oct. 20 was limited to releasing the amendment for public review; no final endorsement or additional programming changes were adopted at this meeting.
