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Inventory finds several Cape Cod intersections meet signal warrants; report urges municipal follow‑up
Summary
A Cape Cod Commission inventory of overhead flashing intersection control beacons identified locations with high crash counts and found at least two intersections that met single‑warrant criteria for full signalization; the report recommends municipal follow‑up and further data collection.
Evan Costa of the Cape Cod Commission presented a regional inventory of overhead flashing intersection control beacons and recommended follow‑up work with affected municipalities.
Costa said staff conducted site visits, photo inventories, and analyzed five years of crash data and traffic observations. The inventory focused on overhead flashing beacon installations (span wire and mast arm) and excluded pole‑mounted flashing beacons. Traffic signal warrant screening identified the intersection at Route 151 (Courier Road) in Falmouth and Route 137 at Queen Anne Road (Harwich/Chatham) as meeting a single warrant criterion for full signalization, but Costa advised that additional local data collection and municipal investigation should occur before converting beacons to full signals.
Members asked about a recent fatal crash on Route 151; staff noted the fatality post‑dates the study period and the final police location is not yet public, but a MassDOT representative clarified the recent fatality occurred eastbound near the Sandwich Road/Route 151 intersection, a fully signalized location. Costa encouraged members to review the full report; staff said the report includes detailed location‑level analyses and is available on the Cape Cod Commission website.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with municipalities to review detailed findings, prioritize locations for follow‑up analyses or potential signal warrant studies, and consider targeted safety countermeasures.
