Kingston Selectmen Approve Comprehensive Road Safety Plan

Board accepts prioritized list of improvements for town and state-owned roads

KINGSTON, MA - July 30 - The Kingston Board of Selectmen unanimously approved a comprehensive road improvement plan Monday night, prioritizing projects on both town and state-owned roads to enhance safety and connectivity throughout the community.

The plan, presented by Environmental Partners consultants Jim Fitzgerald and Margot Schoenfelder, outlines top priority projects aimed at improving pedestrian safety, redesigning problematic intersections, and adding multi-modal accommodations.

"We want to put the town in a good position to solicit those other alternative funding sources to supplement the Chapter 90," Fitzgerald said, referring to state road funding that has remained stagnant since 2016.

Top priority projects on town-owned roads include improving pedestrian safety along Main Street, enhancing the crossing on Green Street in front of the library, redesigning the intersection of Pembroke, Lake and Station streets near the high school, improving the intersection of Pembroke and Grove streets, and adding a shared-use path along Lake Street.

For state-owned roads, top priorities include redesigning several intersections along Main Street and Summer Street to improve safety and pedestrian accommodations.

The plan utilizes a quantitative scoring system to prioritize projects based on factors like safety benefits, access to key destinations, and constructability. This methodology aims to help the town justify project priorities when seeking grant funding.

"I think it's great. I mean, I think it gives us the tools to be able to talk about data, a plan to move forward, and all the things that we've been talking about for a number of years," said Selectman Tyler Bouchard.

However, funding sources for the proposed improvements still need to be identified. Town officials noted potential options could include state and federal grants or town borrowing.

DPW Superintendent Paul Basler emphasized that while the plan outlines important safety upgrades, securing funding to maintain existing roads remains a critical need.

"We need money in this town to maintain the current roads we have," Basler said, noting the town's $415,000 in Chapter 90 funds this year falls far short of road maintenance needs.

Town Planner Valerie Massard said the plan will help inform other ongoing studies and strengthen the town's position when advocating for state funding on MassDOT-owned roads.

"Now we have a short list of priorities that we have seen align with a lot of other priorities that we see that they're pretty consistent of things that we need to work on," Massard said.

The board's approval allows Environmental Partners to move forward with developing more detailed project scopes and cost estimates. Town officials said they will continue to seek funding opportunities to advance the priority projects in the coming years.

At a brief Zoom meeting on August 8, the Town of Kingston appointed a new Shellfish Constable. Daniel Cullivan was unanimously appointed to the position by the Board of Selectmen during a recent meeting.

Following a recruitment process, Cullivan was recommended for the role by the Harbormaster through the Police Chief due to separation of duties between Harbormaster and Shellfish Constable.

The position of Shellfish Constable is crucial for coastal communities like Kingston. Shellfish Constables are responsible for enforcing regulations related to shellfish harvesting, ensuring the sustainability of local shellfish populations, and maintaining the health of coastal ecosystems.