MARION — If there are any changes to Route 6 as a result of a recent traffic and safety study, they will require a lot more resident feedback, a regional planner said. 

Marion Selectmen called in Jed Cornock from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District on March 3 to present the results of a draft Route 6 corridor study that his organization had done on 13 miles from Fairhaven to Wareham. 

The group recommended a number of safety improvements, and explored whether to change the configuration of the state road to one with fewer lanes, although it did not make a recommendation on the second question.  

Cornock said that it was unlikely that the towns would be able to make sweeping changes to the road because the initial study did not show enough consensus. 

Within Marion, Cornock suggested the section of Route 6 from Converse Road to Creek Road for improvements but did not make formal recommendations for which improvements those would be. At the meeting, the planner mentioned a solution “could include a reduced travel lane and ideally would.” 

The next step is for Marion to  develop a conceptual project for the road. 

Whatever that is, “It’s really important for the state Department of Transportation to see that there’s local support for it,” Cornock said. 

That means that there “has to be that outreach to see what the community support is,” said Selectman John Waterman 

One of the SRPEDD options to change Route 6 would have involved buying more land to widen the road. 

Waterman commented that that process “Sounds like it will take a long time and be expensive.” 

He suggested that the road narrow to two lanes between Front Street and Spring Street, and that the town tackle projects incrementally. “In my opinion the only way it will move is in smaller bite sized projects” Waterman. 

Fellow Selectman Randy Parker was primarily concerned about traffic near Old Rochester Regional High School from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m., which he described as two lanes filled up side by side “like a racetrack.” 

He asked if the planner had done a traffic study in that area in the morning? Cornock responded that they had. 

Selectman Norm Hills asked how much of the funding for any projects would fall on Marion. 

Cornock suggested that one way for the town to have their projects addressed more quickly would be for the town  to cover the initial design costs. 

Marion resident Michael Tracy was concerned about safety in the event of a decrease to two lanes. 

“In the event of a hurricane, what are we supposed to do, float out?” he asked. 

Some residents were confused on the options that SRPEDD presented, and whether it had committed to anything. 

Gregg Nourjian asked what was binding in the study, to which Cornock responded with “absolutely nothing.” 

The group had proposed a rotary  at Spring Street and Kerry Saltonstall had asked if it would have two lanes Cornock responded that it doesn’t have to, and the question would need more analysis. 

Tracy asked whether the town and state could remove the poles along the route and put them underground.  

Waterman responded that putting them underground would be much too hard. 

Cornock responded that even moving them would be hard, with Waterman responding that it would be more realistic to move poles in some areas. 

Next steps for the town include forming a small committee to work on the project, which will develop a  list of projects. The town can then have a public hearing on that list. 

Cornock estimated a 5 to 6 year timeline for any completed project.