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Cape Cod Vision Zero briefing urges Eastham action after dozens of crashes
Summary
A Cape Cod Commission volunteer presented Vision Zero recommendations and local crash counts to the Eastham Select Board, urged low‑cost measures and a town‑level implementation group, and noted $600,000 in commission funding for safety equipment the region can use.
An invited representative of the Cape Cod Vision Zero effort briefed the Eastham Select Board on June 15, urging the town to prioritize near‑term engineering, enforcement and outreach actions to reduce crashes.
Don Emerson, who described himself as a transportation planner and noted he had participated in the regional effort, summarized the program goals and local data: "The goal of the vision zero effort ... is to eliminate fatalities, serious injuries on Cape Cod roads and highways by 2050," with an interim 50% reduction by 2035, he said. Emerson cited a six‑year data review that showed nearly 800 crashes in Eastham over the period, with two fatalities and 20 serious injuries.
Emerson told the board the Cape Cod Commission has programmed nearly $600,000 this fiscal year to help towns purchase road‑safety equipment (signs, speed feedback devices and the like) and that technical support and safety audits are available. He recommended forming a local working group — staff plus police, public works and citizen representatives — to evaluate specific recommendations from the regional plan and to contact the state DOT about high‑crash locations on Route 6.
Board members flagged immediate, lower‑cost fixes such as centerline repainting, clearer stop lines, and improved sightlines; they also noted the Route 6 redesign tied to the town’s wastewater work offers a window to incorporate safety improvements. The town manager said staff would explore options and coordinate with police and DPW.
The briefing did not mandate specific projects but produced a board directive to have staff and public safety leaders evaluate feasible short‑term measures, identify grant or commission funds, and return with a prioritized plan.
