Making Mattapoisett’s streets more bicycle and pedestrian friendly may also help the town tap into a $50 million program.

The Complete Streets program is a federal and state initiative aimed at giving people improved access to their towns.

“We should be creating the conditions to actually make it easy for people to step out their front door and go for a run or go for a ride and not feel like they’re taking their life in their hands,” said Bonne DeSousa, a member of the Mattapoisett Bike Committee.

In December, DeSousa got a green light from Selectmen to pursue the project. They asked that the bike committee head the efforts.

DeSousa said the committee will begin holding public meetings in March where residents can discuss the needs in town and begin to form a municipal bicycle and pedestrian plan, a requirement before the town can become eligible for Complete Streets funding.

At meetings, residents will be divided into groups to discuss upgrades, such as adding sidewalks, improving signage and creating bike lanes. The plan would also incorporate trails in town and identify areas that could benefit from public trails. DeSousa said one area of discussion could be creating trails that connect neighborhoods, such as Acushnet Road and North Street.

“It might allow us to create hiking trails on town-owned property and come up with strategies to create viable and safe connections,” said DeSousa. “We own the land, we’re just not using it.”

Right now, a number of areas in town are problematic for cyclists and walkers.

On Brandt Island Road and Acushnet Road, for example, “the shoulder is bad, the road is narrow and there are bad sidelines for drivers,” DeSousa said.

Selectmen suggested one group in the planning process focus solely on Route 6, which presents a challenge for many trying to access the bike path or even cross the busy throughway.

“The municipal bicycle plan would start talking about safe ways to cross Route 6 and opportunities to make our collector roads more safe for bicycling and walking,” DeSousa explained.

The bike and pedestrian plan would also suggest areas where a “meandering roadside path” could improve access without widening roads or removing trees. DeSousa said North Street might be a candidate for such a walkway that “maintains the rural character and creates safer conditions for people who are biking or walking it.”

The bike committee will create surveys in early 2015 to begin evaluating the needs and wants of the community.

DeSousa said there is no guarantee that the town’s efforts will result in grant money from Complete Streets.

“But it’s certain that if we don’t do the work, we won’t even be eligible for it,” she said.

Public meetings will be announced on the Friends of Mattapoisett Rail Trail Facebook page and at mattapoisettrailtrail.org.