Route 6 was originally made a four-lane to make room for Cape Cod traffic, but with I-195 siphoning off most of the tourists, some folks in Marion would like to see the thoroughfare narrowed.

“A lot of people have complained about the speeds that are on Route 6. It’s still zoned as a major highway, so to speak. The role of the road has changed,” said Paul Mission, the transportation planning manager for Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District.

The town is currently working on a new master plan, a comprehensive look at a community’s development goals over a 10-year period. The master plan is required by the state and is formed with input from the community.

Marion resident Chris Bryant said he often brings up the topic to town officials and at master plan meetings.

"Every time I run into anybody from the Planning Board I do make a very strong argument that I would like it to happen," he said.

The area near the intersection of Route 6 and Route 105 would be a likely focus if a plan did take shape one day.

"You wouldn’t send your 12-year-old kid from Cumberland farms across Route 6," he said. "If you want to talk about making it village zoning, you can’t have a four-lane highway going through the middle of it."

He also said the future bike path is likely to come out in that area, and the current speed of the road would make it difficult for cyclists to make their way safely into Marion Village.

Many years ago Mattapoisett narrowed a portion of the road through the center of town, lowering the speed limit and providing a turning lane.

A “road diet” that would reduce the road's traffic capacity in Marion is just in the idea phase at the moment, said Mission.

Before any decisions could be made, there would have to be a feasibility study, and it would ultimately be up to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to approve and make the changes.

“If it were narrowed, it would present the opportunity to provide more pedestrian and bicycle accommodations for what would be considered the center of town," Mission said.

He added that the public would have a say if the idea ever gained real traction.

The topic of narrowing Route 6 has come up in Marion's master plan for the past several decades, says Planning Board member Norm Hills, but “nothing has ever been done to my knowledge.”

Hills said the idea would have to come out as a major part of the action plan for the town to begin working on it. The master plan will be finished later this year.