Marion Town Meeting approves shared use path next steps, sewer upgrade
Voters gathered at Sippican Elementary School for the fall Town Meeting. Photo by Tanvi Kulkarni
Voters gathered at Sippican Elementary School for the fall Town Meeting. Photo by Tanvi Kulkarni
MARION — Next steps for a shared use path that will make Marion more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly garnered some discussion at Town Meeting but were ultimately approved, along with sewer phosphorus removal upgrades.
With minimal discussion, voters at the Nov. 9 Town Meeting approved transferring control of town-owned properties to the Select Board for construction of the shared use path.
The 3.8-mile path is part of a larger project that will connect with the Mattapoisett Rail Trail at Point Road and increase recreation areas and transportation networks in town. Construction is slated to begin next year.
Voters were asked to approve altered layouts of Washburn Park Road and Spring Street in support of the path’s construction.
One resident, Jennifer Stewart, raised concerns about a crosswalk being placed in a high-speed traffic location and a tight 90-degree turn on Spring Street that may be difficult for emergency vehicles to take to reach the highway.
Town Administrator Geoffrey Gorman said the intersection of Route 6 and Route 105 has opticom traffic control upgrades and a dedicated left turn lane will be installed, making it safer for public safety vehicles to use.
“We think over time, people will realize that’s a relatively uncomfortable turn, and that’ll go back to more local traffic, the way it’s intended to be used,” said Jeramy Packard, engineer for the shared use path. “More people will start using the Route 6 intersection with the dedicated left turn.”
Packard said a flashing beacon will be installed at the crosswalk that will stop traffic in both directions. The distance for crossing will also be shortened with proposed revisions.
“It’s about half the distance that you’d be crossing it today, so it’ll feel much different than what it feels trying to cross that today without a crosswalk and a signal to stop traffic,” he said.
Lastly, the town approved using approximately $1.3 million from the sewer fund for phosphorous removal upgrades to the town’s sewer plants.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires the town to upgrade its wastewater treatment facilities with phosphorus mitigation by May 2027. The funds set aside will cover engineering, construction, design and equipment costs, among others.
Voters approved the item without much questioning.
