At its December meeting, the Infrastructure Committee followed up with members on several topics, from bridge replacement to sharks.
Since our last meeting, Infrastructure Committee members attended meetings in Bourne and Barnstable, where they discussed options for repair or replacement of both the Sagamore and Bourne bridges. According to a recent article in the Cape Cod Times, Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack is in favor of replacing the bridges.
At our meeting in November, the consensus of the committee was to submit a letter supporting Cape Light Compact’s Energy Efficiency Plan, which the Board then approved. Austin Brandt said the compact received at least 50 supportive letters, which he believes sent a message to the DPU that the plan has strong support. All program administrators presented their statewide plans, followed by hearings. There was also a hearing on the Cape Light Compact plan, with an order from the DPU due by the end of January. Compact staff were part of both the state-wide and Compact panels.
The CCTC Board has also authorized the support of broadband projects in Hyannis, Falmouth and Provincetown. Infrastructure Committee members attended a meeting with Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells about funding from the state, and Open Cape is preparing to submit a shovel-ready plan. Letters of support in the towns have been requested representing all three communities, addressing three pockets of critical economic development.