Ask the Town Manager

Question: Is there a plan to repair/replace the sidewalks in South Chatham along Route 28?

Answer: Providing pedestrians with a safe and accessible sidewalk system is vital for the connectivity to essential Town services and recreational opportunities and helps support the financial health and well-being of a community. This was recognized by the Select Board and in 2019, the Town undertook a Comprehensive Sidewalk Management Plan, where the condition of all sidewalks in Town were evaluated on a scale from excellent to poor. The sidewalks along Route 28 in South Chatham were included in this evaluation and the majority of the sidewalks evaluated were noted as good or fair. That's not to say there weren't areas noted as poor and excellent as well. The sidewalks along Route 28 are maintained by the Town even though they are within the State Highway right-of-way. As such, any work to modify or improve those sidewalks or curbs is subject to MassDOT design review, permitting, and approval. Any proposed sidewalk reconstruction will also need to meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) criteria.

It is not likely that a large-scale sidewalk replacement project will occur along this section of the road until Route 28 undergoes a MassDOT-initiated major construction project. We are, however, continuously evaluating the conditions presented in the 2019 study and may address some of the shorter segments identified as "poor" in the report. Department of Public Works sidewalk repair funds go much further by addressing sidewalk rehabilitation on Town roads rather than the design review process on State roads so the investment can't be taken lightly.

Do you have a question about Town government? Are you curious about how or why it works the way it does? Email your question to Shanna Nealy and we will use this space to bring you the answer.

Save the Date

Second Low-Lying Roads Project Meeting Scheduled

The Town of Chatham and the Cape Cod Commission (Commission) will host a second workshop on the Low-Lying Roads Project virtually on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 6 p.m. 

The workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss possible solutions to address flooding for the Town’s priority road segments identified as Morris Island Road and Ridgevale Road. Alternatives will be discussed that include traditional, green and hybrid options for each road segment and associated cost estimates. Participants will be able to ask questions about the presented solutions and about the project in general.

This workshop follows the first Chatham Low-Lying Roads Project public meeting conducted in May 2023 in which the Commission presented data on roads vulnerable to current and future flood events. The impact on the community from flooding of certain roads was also considered in the initial workshop.  Chatham was then tasked with the identification of up to four potential road segments. From these, two segments were to be selected for further study and the identification of alternatives by the study team.

In July 2023, staff of the Natural Resources Department, Department of Public Works, with input from the Town’s Energy and Climate Action Committee, recommended the Town put forth Morris Island Road, Ridgevale Road, Fox Hill Road, and Seapine Road to the Commission for consideration based primarily on the inability to access areas of Town by another road should these streets become impassable. Upon further review and site visits by the study team, Morris Island Road and Ridgevale Road were selected as the Town’s two priority road segments for further evaluation.

For more information on the Project visit www.capecodcommission.org/our-work/low-lying-roads-chatham/ . Save this link to attend this virtual public meeting or you can join by calling 929-205-6099, Passcode: join, Meeting ID: 935 5189 6265.

Next Select Board Meeting - January 23, 2024 @ 5:30 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and participate in our open and public meetings. The agenda for each meeting is posted 48 business hours prior to the scheduled meeting time and can be accessed through the Select Board’s webpage.
 
Attend in-person at the Town Office Annex, Large Meeting Room. Join the meeting on-line or participate by phone by dialing 1-508-945-4410 and entering Conference ID 203 386 491#. 

I.    Business Agenda (Board Discussion Items) - Proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Town Manager Operating and Capital Budgets Presentation to the Select Board (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025) - Public Comment Will Be Accepted