This planning is carried out in the framework of the latest Federal transportation legislation, currently the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act or MAP-21. As a Regional Planning Agency (RPA) that operates as the equivalent of a Metropolitan Planning Organization in Massachusetts, the MVC receives Federal funding along with a state match to perform a comprehensive, continuing, and cooperative, or “3C” planning process.

Planning Factors

The planning objectives that must be considered in transportation planning processes are:

• Support the economic vitality of the United States, the States, metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, especially by enabling global competitiveness, productivity, and efficiency;
• Increase the safety and security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users;
• Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and freight;
• Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, improve the quality of life, and promote consistency between transportation improvements and State and local planned growth and economic development patterns;
• Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and between modes throughout the State, for people and freight;
• Promote efficient system management and operation; and
• Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

Transportation planning in Dukes County is the responsibility of a Committee of Signatories that is advised by a Joint Transportation Committee. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) provides funds to the Martha's Vineyard Commission (MVC) for transportation planning on the Vineyard.

Committee of Signatories

The MVC and its three partners—the Executive Office of Transportation Planning, MassDOT, and the Martha's Vineyard Regional Transit Authority (VTA)—act as a Committee of Signatories that oversees transportation planning in Dukes County. (It is the equivalent of a Federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization that exists in regions in the country with urban populations of more than 50,000 people, including ten Massachusetts Regional Planning Agencies). The Committee of Signatories is comprised of the chairpersons of the MVC and VTA as well as the Secretary of MassDOT and the Administrator of the MassDOT Highway Division. The Committee of Signatories does not officially meet on Martha's Vineyard. Instead, the Martha's Vineyard Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) meetings provide for discussions and public input.

The Joint Transportation Committee (JTC)

The JTC guides regional transportation decision-making and serves as a forum for discussing transportation issues, acting as an advisory committee to the Committee of Signatories. Its members widely represent Island interests to ensure a balanced consideration of transportation issues. The JTC consists of appointed representatives of the six Island towns, Dukes County, and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), as well as representatives of the biking community, transportation providers, and members of the public. Two key documents guide the public's role in transportation decision-making.

• A Memorandum of Understanding: defines the "3C" process, the responsibilities of the decision-makers, and the roles of the Joint Transportation Committee.
• JTC Bylaws: outlines how the JTC operates.

Title VI Complaints

The MVC has adopted MassDOT's procedures for processing discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. These procedures and the MassDOT complaint forms are available in both English and Portuguese:

• Title VI Complaint Procedures | Procedimentos de Queixa sob o Título VI
• Discrimination Complaint Form | Formulário de Reclamação por Discriminação

Transportation in DRI Review

The MVC's review of Developments of Regional Impact almost always looks at the transportation impacts of proposed projects, including traffic, parking, transit, bicycle, pedestrian movement, and possible mitigation of anticipated impacts. Many project applicants are asked to prepare Transportation Impact Assessments of their proposals.

Road Safety Action Plan

A 2025 Road Safety Action Plan explores issues around road safety and access across multiple transportation modes on the Island, along with possible improvements. In line with state goals, the plan aims to reduce fatal and serious roadway injuries 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2040, with an ultimate goal of zero fatal or serious injuries on the Island. It also supports the goal of reducing dependence on private automobiles. The MVC partnered with the regional planning agencies of Nantucket and Franklin Counties, along with Boston-based consulting firm Kittleson & Associates, to prepare the plan.

Shared-Use Path Network

Martha's Vineyard has an extensive network of Shared Use Paths (SUPs), often referred to as bike paths. They allow locals and visitors to travel to work, school, shopping, and entertainment destinations, as well as to spend recreational time outdoors. They provide an alternative to riding on the road (which bicyclists have the right to do even if there is a nearby SUP), since many cyclists are not comfortable being on the same roadway as motorized vehicles. However, the 38 miles of SUPs have several major gaps, where cyclists are forced out onto the road, often in the most congested and dangerous locations. Efforts are underway to complete the most heavily used part of the SUP network by filling in these gaps. 

Up Island Bicycle-Pedestrian Safety Improvements

The MVC will continue to look at how bike and pedestrian travel can be made safer up-Island while maintaining the roadside character.

Field data collection with a high-precision GPS device will continue along the length of North Road. This data will help inform where the existing pavement runs within the 50' Right of Way, and in turn, better determine how much of the Right of Way remains on either side. Furthermore, it will help determine where key features exist inside that dimension. The types of data points that will be collected include survey markers (monumentation), stone walls, pavement edge, and large trees to help round out the existing utility pole and culvert spatial data which we already have. With this information, more tangible concepts for improving safety can developed and then introduced to the Town Boards/Committees for consideration.

For questions, contact Special Projects Planner, Dan Doyle, at doyle@mvcommission.org or (508) 338-7316.