The Harwich Traffic Safety Committee is calling for a formal administrative review of the Route 124 and Queen Anne Road intersection, following news of a potential $20,000 developer contribution and billions in available federal infrastructure funds. Resident and Zoning Board of Appeals Vice Chairman Ken Dixon alerted the committee that the Pine Oaks Village #4 project has offered the five-figure sum toward a design study, while the proposed Penrose 40B project has signaled a willingness to assist with grant writing or cost-sharing. Dixon emphasized that the two high-density projects will significantly strain the intersection, which currently lacks the turn lanes found at nearby junctions.

It's going to create even more significant traffic than the intersection of 124 and Pleasant Lake where we currently have a stoplight, Dixon told the committee. The question begets, who starts the process of getting the free money? He noted that MASV has roughly $16 billion in infrastructure funding available through 2030 specifically tied to housing development. While the Zoning Board has recently expressed safety concerns regarding the Penrose project’s access points, the Traffic Safety Committee debated how best to leverage these private and federal funds. Committee member Jerry expressed skepticism regarding the reliability of developer-funded traffic data, noting that if I am coming from Brewster and want to turn left, you have to wait a couple extra minutes, and argued that impacts often ripple out to Main Street and Depot Road.

Motion Made by J. [Member] to ask the Cape Cod Commission traffic division regarding this money for 40B projects to see if they have any knowledge on how to acquire a grant. Motion Failed (1-3). The majority of the board felt the Commission was not the appropriate starting point for grant applications. Instead, the committee opted to elevate the issue to the town’s executive leadership to coordinate with ongoing studies. Motion Made by L. [Chair] to send a letter to the Town Administrator to examine the existing as-builts and reports to determine a path forward for improvements at the intersection of 124 and Queen Anne Road, noting the available developer contributions. Motion Passed (3-1).

DPW Director Lincoln "Link" Hooper provided technical context on the intersection, warning that the physical footprint is nearly maximized. He noted that adding dedicated lanes would likely require eminent domain takings and moving houses, similar to work performed 25 years ago. Hooper also updated the committee on the Old Chatham Road and Route 39 project, stating that the contractor has drainage materials in stock and plans to start within weeks. His intent is to knock this out as a spring project, Hooper said, noting the project carries a November 1 completion deadline. Regarding the long-delayed Saquatucket Harbor bridge and sidewalk project, which began in 2014, Hooper reported that work is nearing the finish line despite Verizon pole delays. He expects the project to be buttoned up by June thanks to Saturday work authorizations.

The committee also addressed immediate safety hazards, including a new fence at the intersection of South, Pleasant, and Miles streets that has obstructed sight lines for drivers. Police representative Aram reported that the homeowners were cooperative after a site visit. They are going to make some changes to the fence line, take a panel out, and slope it to help with visibility, Aram said. Committee Chair Linda supported the move, noting, I travel that and between the fence and the telephone pole, visibility was greatly reduced. Your car nose needs to be way out before you can see. Additionally, Hooper committed to replacing a missing stop sign at the corner of Hoy and Freeman after reports that the signpost had been removed.

Ongoing technical reviews by the Cape Cod Commission are also underway for a potential crosswalk at 182 Route 137 and a reconfiguration of the Kendrick, Pleasant Bay, and Route 28 intersection. Hooper indicated that a vehicle turning movement count for the Kendrick area is being scheduled for the peak summer season to ensure accurate data collection. In contrast, improvements at Snow Inn Road remain stalled due to an abutters' appeal of a Commission decision currently tied up in the courts.