Appalling Decision

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

Despite widespread grass roots opposition, on Oct. 6, at two minutes to eleven p.m., after three hours of often appalling discussion, a bare majority of one vote on the Martha’s Vineyard Commission approved the flawed and unneeded roundabout project for the intersection of the Vineyard Haven/Edgartown Road with Barnes and Airport Roads. The 13 commissioners present (out of 17) voted in a tie, which was broken by commission chairman Chris Murphy voting in favor.

With this decision, the razor-thin 7 to 6 majority of the commission has thumbed its nose at all up-Islanders who must use this gateway intersection to gain access to down-Island, and also suburbanizes another piece of the Island. This from a commission specifically charged with preserving the uniqueness of this special place.

Worst of all, should this misbegotten project ever be built, it will effectively restore the two-way stop situation, which will prevent traffic coming from Barnes Road and Airport Roads from gaining easy access to the intersection during periods of high traffic. This was the unacceptable situation before the four-way stop was created some years ago. Despite the assertions of the proponents and their hired engineers, the roundabout will make the intersection less safe than it is now for all who use it, including cyclists, pedestrians, as well as vehicles.

As disappointed as many of us are with this wrong-headed decision, I offer thanks to the commissioners who saw the flaws in both the proposal and the rushed DRI review to approve it, and voted against it (Commissioners Jason, Smith, Rose, Sibley, Orleans, and Brown). Those who voted for it (Commissioners Stephenson, Sederholm, Hancock, Joyce, Breckenridge and Hammerlund), no doubt had their reasons, but one would hope they gave thoughtful consideration to the proposal, at least as much as the cursory review allowed, rather than merely responding to political considerations or narrow legalistic arguments.

That cannot be said of commission chairman Chris Murphy who when he broke the tie vote said: “I’m voting yes to support the Oak Bluffs selectmen.” His ongoing, and unfortunate, hostility to the referral by the West Tisbury selectmen of the roundabout proposal to the MVC as a development of regional impact has been palpable. So his vote in favor is really no surprise. At least he was honest enough to say his vote wasn’t on the merits, but was strictly political. Perhaps the roundabout, if it is built, will be named after him.

Richard Knabel

West Tisbury

The writer is a West Tisbury selectman.

Stuck With It

Editors, Vineyard Gazette:

There’s no reason for a roundabout, only the wish by some members of the Martha’s Vineyard Commission not to alienate the selectmen of Oak Bluffs, who put forward the ill-advised project. Those commissioners who approved the roundabout, including the commission chairman, Chris Murphy, who cast a tie-breaker vote favoring the project, clearly demonstrated their willingness to abdicate the commission’s primary responsibility for protecting the unique character of the Island. In doing so, they called into question the commission’s effectiveness in that stewardship and protection.

In effect, they turned over to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation ultimate responsibility for its design and are relying on DOT to produce a safe and workable plan, appropriate in scale and character for the Vineyard. The very close vote reflected the grave concerns of half the members of the commission, as well as a sizeable segment of Island residents, about the need for the roundabout and its flawed design.

Instead of rejecting the current incomplete and flawed plan, those favoring the project attempted to mitigate its negative impact with laughably minimal conditions on its construction. Bus stops, bike paths, lighting, landscaping — all came under detailed scrutiny at the very last minute, with suggestions put forward for minimizing the enormous negative impact the roundabout will have on the intersection. Never mentioned was its real impact on summertime traffic: In effect it will make it almost impossible for those on Barnes and Airport Roads to find an opening in the relentless flow of cars on the Vineyard Haven-Edgartown Road.

The design tinkering is too late. The Island is now stuck with a massive, ugly project, clearly unworkable in improving traffic flow or safety for drivers, bikers or pedestrians, shorn of trees, bristling with lights, with unsafe bike paths and a greatly expanded intersection paved over with concrete and asphalt. One commissioner called it an abomination and he was right.

Nancy A. Huntington

West Tisbury

Comments From the Web

When this rotary is completed and you are one of the unlucky ones commuting from the airport and Barnes Road, trying to get into the rotary, you will become so frustrated. This rotary isn’t in Kansas or in grape country in France. We have a new rotary here in New London, with just a handful of cars compared to the Vineyard. And, the cars on side roads, wait, wait and wait for their turn to enter the rotary.

Robert S. Bruguiere, New London, N.H.

Bob Brugiere is 100 per cent correct.

A few years ago they did away with the rotary on the north side of the Sagamore bridge and it is now smooth sailing in that location compared to the long back-ups in the rotary days.

A four-way stop wouldn’t even be considered for the Bourne Bridge.

As for the rotary “coming into Falmouth,” by which you must mean the Otis rotary — it’s so enormous, it’s more like an exaggerated S-curve than it is a rotary, so doesn’t even count.

In my experience (five, twice a week) rotaries are horrendous to drive through, even with seasoned mainland drivers.

Sara Piazza

Edgartown and Brookline