Character-Sensitive Transportation Solutions
In our early years Sustainable Nantucket focused on developing transportation solutions to meet the needs of a growing community while preserving what makes us different. We conduct research, participate in work groups and offer support for initiatives that seek this balance.
Research
We sponsored, in collaboration with the Nantucket Land Council and the Nantucket Community Association, a study called, “Optimal Transportation Carrying Capacity for Nantucket” (March, 2002), which commissioned transportation experts and an economist to analyze current traffic patterns and future trends. Study findings have been used by the Traffic Congestion Plan Work Group and other planners on the island. A two-year update of this study was completed in 2004.
Work Groups
Members of our organization participated in the following efforts:
- Traffic Congestion Plan Work Group
- Home Rule Petitions for Traffic Mitigation
- Wheels Heels and Pedals Website production
- 5-Year Plan to Mitigate Traffic Congestion
- Regional Transportation Plan as member of NP&EDC
- Voluntary Noise Abatement Program at the Airport
- Recommendations for the new Airport Terminal
Support Initiatives
Sustainable Nantucket is often called upon to support grant applications, special legislation or local efforts to implement character-based transportation solutions. Some initiatives for which we have advocated by letters of support or other help:
•   Grant to conduct a pilot program for Cape Air to use larger aircraft for some Nantucket routes in order to reduce numbers of operations while providing efficient travel options
•   Special legislation to restore funding to regional transit authorities in the Commonwealth that would enable the NRTA, our local public bus network, to restore routes and possibly expand service
•   Grant to conduct research by Cape Air and the Nantucket Memorial Airport that would identify regional service needs of the island
•   Testimony before state legislators in support of Home Rule Petition to design auto limitation strategy.
