Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County awards citation to Cape Cod RTA for 'exemplary' blizzard response
Summary
The Barnstable County commissioners unanimously authorized a citation recognizing the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for emergency operations during the February 2026 blizzard, citing evacuations, meal deliveries and transportation to shelters; John Kennedy and RTA staff described moving 17,000 meals and conducting shelter runs.
The Barnstable County Board of Regional Commissioners on May 13 voted to issue an official citation thanking the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for its response to a February 2026 blizzard that left many residents without power and shelter.
John Kennedy, administrator of the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, described the RTA's operations during the storm: staff and operations teams transported residents to warming centers and shelters, assisted people (and pets) boarding buses, coordinated delivery of supplies and, working with partners such as Family Table, helped deliver thousands of hot meals. "We transported 17,000 hot meals to these locations, thanks in large part to what the Family Table was doing," Kennedy said.
Commissioners praised the RTA's work, noting its role in evacuations, food delivery and supporting vulnerable riders (dial‑a‑ride and ADA services). Commissioner comments credited long‑running operational improvements and the organization's flexibility during the emergency.
Commissioner [motion-maker recorded in transcript] moved to "authorize the issuance of a citation of appreciation on behalf of Barnstable County to the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority for exemplary service and extraordinary dedication to the residents of Cape Cod during the February 2026 blizzard." A second was recorded and the motion carried unanimously.
The county presented the citation and took a group photograph with RTA staff during the meeting. Kennedy said the RTA would circulate video and follow-up materials documenting bus operations during the storm.
