Committee seeks TPO funding to study street closures and improve pedestrian, bicycle circulation

Committee members reviewed a staff-submitted request to the Transportation Planning Organization's Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) for a mobility study that would analyze how temporary closures of non-signalized local streets might change circulation and affect pedestrian and bicycle safety and routings.

Staff described the UPWP as an annual TPO program that funds transportation studies across the region and said the mobility-fee/mobility study recently completed for the town (by consultants named in the UPWP materials) had reviewed sidewalks, bike lanes and transit stops. The new submittal would fund a traffic-engineering study to model current trip data, simulate closures or pilot projects, and identify suitable streets and mitigations. Selection for the TPO-funded studies is typically announced in June; if selected, the town would receive consultant work under TPO funding.

Committee members asked about the study's contents, whether the analysis would include motorized traffic impacts in addition to non-motorized modes, and whether the work could be scoped as a pilot temporary closure before permanent changes. Staff said the study would provide technical evaluations and potential options for pilot implementation and that the TPO funds come from state and federal transportation sources administered locally.

No formal commitment to close streets was made; the committee supported pursuing the UPWP submittal and asked staff to follow up if the project is selected for funding.