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We need your help advocating!
The user numbers above remind us what an incredibly important resource the Bikeway is for the town. Safely connecting these users to downtown and the businesses there has been a primary goal of both this organization and the Falmouth Transportation Committee. It has the wholehearted support of the business community. The DPW recently elected to spend the $150,000 Town Meeting voted for Complete Streets project design on a safe crossing at Katherine Lee Bates Rd. (KLB).
While we fully support this project, which is the #1 priority on the recently approved Complete Streets Prioritization Plan, we think the town should instead use the Ferry Embarkation Fee Fund (EFF) for this purpose. This fund derives from a 50 cent per passenger fee assessed to all of the ferry companies that embark from Falmouth. It has historically been underutilized and currently contains over $1 million. The fund must be used to mitigate impacts of the ferries on the town. Getting people safely across Locust St., which sees an enormous amount of traffic headed to and from the Woods Hole ferries, is the perfect project. Completion of the multi-use path along KLB could reasonably be considered part of this undertaking. However, the DPW has instead elected to use town funds for project design. We feel those town funds would be better spent on one of the many other pressing projects on the Prioritization List that would not be eligible for Embarkation Fee Funds.
If you agree, please contact the Selectmen, and ask them to:
- create a clear process for accessing the EFF, and
- allocate Embarkation Fee Funds to the DPW for Katherine Lee Bates crossing and sidewalk design.
Email: selectboard@falmouthma.gov
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