Plymouth Doubles Road Repair Efforts, Approves Climate Action Plan

Town to invest over $9 million in road improvements, aims to boost overall road condition rating

PLYMOUTH, MA - May 21 - Plymouth officials approved an ambitious road repair program for 2024 at the Select Board meeting Monday night, doubling the town's efforts from the previous year. The plan aims to repair 30.4 miles of roads, a significant increase from the 15.5 miles completed in 2023.

Department of Public Works Director Bill Coyle and Acting Town Engineer James Downey presented the program, which has a total anticipated funding of $9,153,101. Of this, 87% ($7,959,491) is allocated for accepted roads and 13% ($1,193,610) for unaccepted roads.

"We're trying to balance maintaining our infrastructure, our heavily traveled roadways," said Coyle. "The philosophy is you keep your good roads good, and try not to always do worse first. But there is a balance there."

The program includes 13.1 miles of full-depth paving and mill and overlay work, as well as 17.3 miles of rubber chip seal treatment. The investment is part of a broader strategy to improve Plymouth's overall Road Surface Rating (RSR), which currently stands at 68 out of 100.

Downey explained that the goal is to gradually increase the RSR to between 70 and 75 over the next few years.

Select Board member Charlie Bletzer praised the effort, saying, "We're doubling from last year, from 15 to 30 miles. That's awesome. That's what we talked about. It's one of our goals."

In addition to the road program, the Select Board also approved a Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, with a minor amendment to tree protection language. The plan, presented by Climate Resiliency and Sustainability Planner Michael Cahill, aims to address climate change impacts and open access to state and federal funding.

Cahill highlighted that 46% of town emissions come from the transportation sector, while 47% come from the energy sector. The plan identifies 62 priority actions in five focus areas: building, energy, and infrastructure; natural systems; health, safety, and preparedness; transportation; and waste.

Some board members expressed concerns about potential costs and impacts on affordable housing. Select Board member David Golden said, "I think that they warrant further discussion and a deeper dive in front of the community. I have particular concerns about buildings and energy and infrastructure in the transportation section."

Despite these concerns, the board ultimately approved the plan with a 4-1 vote, with Golden voting against it. The approval ensures Plymouth's eligibility for future state and federal funding related to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Town Manager Derek Brindisi provided updates on summer preparations, including beach openings and staffing for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. He announced that piping plovers have returned to Whitehorse Beach, which may lead to some closures in mid to late June.

The meeting concluded with board members congratulating newly elected member David Golden and discussing strategies for improving the process for future town meetings.