Opposition to the Pleasant Street One-Way Pilot Program

To the editor: As year-round residents of the Five Corners neighborhood, my husband, Beau, and I are directly affected by the Pleasant Street Pilot Program. The program's two main roads directly abut our home, and we are deeply concerned about its negative implications for our family, neighbors, and community.

As a long-time advocate for thoughtful, responsible planning on Nantucket, I have served as a Mid-Island Plan Work Group resident member and contributed to the Town Area Plan Work Group, key components of the Nantucket Master Plan. Various iterations of this concept have been discussed for decades, and my stance remains unchanged: it will create substantial hardships and safety risks for the neighborhood residents. While we fully support improving pedestrian and bicycle access, we and most of our neighbors strongly oppose this change.

Urgent Concern: Increased Traffic & Safety Risks

According to the September 2023 Bicycle and Pedestrian Meeting report by the Beta Group, this change could increase traffic on Atlantic Avenue by over 250 vehicles per peak hour—a staggering 165% increase in a residential area near schools. However, this study relied on pre-2020 data, making it inaccurate in assessing current traffic patterns. The most recent Mid-Island Traffic Study, posted on the Town of Nantucket website, was conducted in 2014. It is outdated and fails to reflect Nantucket's significant population growth and increased traffic. In context, the latest Steamship Authority Annual report from 2023 confirms a 15%+ increase in vehicle traffic (from 109,385 cars and trucks in 2014 to 125,919 cars and trucks in 2023). The 2023 Bicycle and Pedestrian Report downplays and minimizes the overall negative impact of the pilot on area residents. The effect will be far more significant, further straining already congested roads.

Converting a portion of Pleasant Street to one-way will divert significant southbound traffic onto Atlantic Avenue and an already well-traveled and congested road, effectively making it the primary route from Five Corners to mid-island. This shift will:

• Increase congestion and safety risks in a school zone.
• Make it more difficult and dangerous for residents to enter and exit their driveways. Backing out onto the street demands extreme caution as we navigate to avoid a steady stream of vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and schoolchildren. We regularly encounter vehicles speeding in both directions, often honking as we cautiously enter the roadway. Of the 35 driveways along Pleasant Street (from Williams Lane to Five Corners) and Atlantic Avenue, 29 are either narrow or require tandem parking, forcing residents to back into traffic. The overflow of traffic will also impact driveways accessed on Williams Lane, Sparks Avenue, and other nearby roads.
• Encourage higher vehicle speeds without opposing traffic on Pleasant Street.
• Pedestrians and bicyclists will continue using Atlantic Avenue to access Town, Mid-Island, the Cottage Hospital, and schools, adding even more congestion to the area that will have to absorb the excess southbound flow diverted from the rerouted portion of Pleasant Street.

Additionally, the temporary sidewalks on Atlantic Avenue, installed after the 2024 sewer project, remain nearly at the same level as the street, offering minimal pedestrian protection. Even after completing the pending sidewalk improvements, the increased traffic in this area only exacerbates the safety concerns. Making Pleasant Street one-way would only worsen the risks for residents and pedestrians.

A Practical Alternative: Prioritize Sidewalk Expansion

Rather than implementing a one-way conversion, we urge the Town to focus on pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements where they are genuinely needed. Specifically, we recommend:

• Negotiating easements in areas lacking sidewalks.
• Extending sidewalks along Pleasant Street from Gardner Perry Lane to Williams Lane.

This practical, attainable solution would enhance pedestrian safety without burdening residents or creating new traffic hazards.

Ensuring Resident Safety & Community Impact Are Prioritized

We urge the Town to prioritize critical infrastructure improvements and keep Pleasant Street a two-way street. This decision will directly affect our community and the Five Corners neighborhood. The residents most affected need to have a significant role in shaping traffic safety policies that affect our daily lives.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Almodobar
A resident of the Five Corners Neighborhood