It’s been two years since the Transportation Advisory Board began its work, and they visited the Town Council Tuesday night to give an update on what has been done and what the future might hold.
Julia Wallerce, chair of the committee, said bus service in town has been improved, and there is more that can be done.
“Buses are ultimately our most efficient and potentially effective ways to decrease congestion and facilitate smart development that does not increase traffic and rely on large volumes of parking,†she said. “Still there are many simple, low-cost acts we can take locally to create a better bus experience.â€
Some of those options include official bus-stop signs, parking restrictions at each bus-stop and bus-stop accommodations such as benches, trash receptacles and bus shelters for riders.
Wallerce added other things to consider are signs around town for speed limits, school zones, bicycles, bus stops, pedestrian crossings and parks.
Bike lanes are also something to be considered to support a safe bicycling environment. Intersection safety is another area Wallerce would like to see the town work on, especially the intersection of Main and Pleasant streets, as well as others around town.
She also suggested the town consider the adoption of Vision Zero, to eliminated all traffic fatalities while increasing safe, health, equitable mobility for all setting a new standard of safety on the streets of Winthrop.
In other Town Council business:
- Town Manager Austin Faison wanted to introduce the idea of Opportunity Zones, a low-cost way for developers to obtain financing for projects. Areas he said he would consider would be Delby’s Corner area, down Shirley Street and part of Winthrop Shore Drive.
“It’s a funding source for hedge fund developers from the federal government based on the census track,†Faison said. The incentive for the developers are tax benefits. “Giving people low-cost funding.â€
Faison said Assistant Town Manager David Rodrigues will be working on this and is ready to move forward when asked. The Opportunity Zone program was created in 2017 and aimed at distressed areas.
The Opportunity Zones program provides a tax incentive for investors to re-invest their unrealized capital gains into Opportunity Funds that are dedicated to investing into Opportunity Zones designated by the chief executives of every U.S. state and territory.
“This is important in potentionally positioning Winthrop against Maine or Cape Cod as in why would drive there when you can be in Winthrop,†Faison said.