Upper Cape Technical Regional High School is on a State Highway run by MassDOT. I have already had one sitdown zoom with MassDOT, the school officials, town officials and the state; the verdict of that meeting by MassDot was that school zoning or safety change "was not required, therfore not needed". You're right,  it is not required...it is NECESSARY!!!!!!!

The Problem - 

Upper Cape Tech is not just Upper Cape Tech Regional High School; it is a High School that has evolved its population from 200+ students to over 700 students and approx 150 staff members; now while I understand many go on the bus, many more are learning to drive independently.

The Highschool is also the location for Canal Side Early Learning Center, a restaurant, adult learning, home of the Bourne Braves Baseball where hundreds attend weekly games in the summer, The Rotary Club, and it is the future home of football stadium. 
• No visible or effective signage that there is a school zone (the small blue sign, hidden behind a tree is useless - yet MassDot recently installed a large yellow "caution reduced salt" sign approaching the school)
• Out of towners have NO IDEA that there is a highschool, Daycare but most importantly, the most inexperienced drivers entering and exciting the Highschool driveway
• Uncontrolled speed limit. The speed limit is 45 and most people are observed going 60 on that road. The speed is too high for that section - needs to be reduced to 25 coming off the rotary and picked up to 45 AFTER the Highschool heading towards Sagamore, and vice versa. 
• Last year it was stated that the Officer on duty was no longer allowed to direct traffic as complaints state "it backs up traffic to the rotary"

• This year Police Patrolmans Association increased the rate, from the 30 minute detail, being a minimum of a 2hr charge, to now being a 30 minute detail w/ a 4hr charge. When the school agreed to put it in the budget for next year,  they were informed it was effective immediately. The safety of our officers should matter, and that is not an effective use of their time or the schools funds. 

• Increased crashes and accidents cause way more traffic (not to mention pain,  suffering and debt) 
• Children need to cross and walk along that highway to get home
• Blinkers are left on from people exiting the rotary, therefore drivers have no choice but assume a car is turning, when it's not.

• It is not visible for cars approaching from sagamore to Bourne to see a car exiting and making the left, when there is a vehicle in the middle turning lane.  

• Aggressive drivers are now driving down the median, when a vehicle stops at the entrance to let cars exit.  

• The school administration has acknowledged that it is not safe for them to have one of their own direct traffic at the intersection. Said person would have to get crossing guard training and then be put on that incredible dangerous section.  It is NOT a risk rush are willing to take. This is the SAME opinion for having one of our own officers standing there.  A traffic light, operating during school arrival and dismal would function the exact same way the officer does. 

The solution, whether it be temporary or permanent, is necessary, regardless of what happens with the bridges.

Some Suggestions

• No passing median cone

• Timed Traffic Light during Arrival, Dismissal and event releases.

• Decreased speed limit in that school zone to 25mph

• visual awareness that a school is approaching - students, staff and families would be able to merge more easily, and confidently, thus eliminating accidents and increased back-up in all directions. 

The State has recently managed to install a LARGE yellow "caution reduce salt" sign on that road, AND MULTIPLE NEON lights and signage on the newer road construction just across the bridge; there should be no more excuses as to why these high school students, faculty, families, and community doesn't deserve better; and with school almost being out,  MassDOT now has the summer to come up with a plan. 

SIGN IF YOU AGREE FOR ANY EFFECTIVE CHANGE, FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, FACULTY,  FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITY!