Newsroom

We know thousands of vehicles cross the Bourne and Sagamore bridges each day, but what about the people who don’t drive? To better understand how non-motorists are using the bridges and to plan for future needs, the Cape Cod Commission placed “eco-counters,” portable infrared sensors that detect heat to count pedestrians and bicyclists, near both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges. Data shows that hundreds of pedestrians and bicyclists traverse the canal bridges every year.  

The Cape Cod Commission is in the process of updating the 2018 Regional Policy Plan (RPP), which provides regional planning which provides regional planning policies, goals, and objectives to guide development and protect the Cape’s unique natural, built, and community resources. As part of this planning process, the Commission partnered with the Donahue Institute at UMass Amherst to conduct a resident survey designed to better understand public perspectives on local and regional planning challenges. Survey results are now available.

More than $105 million is flowing to wastewater projects across Cape Cod, marking a major investment in protecting the region’s environment and water resources. The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund (CCIWPF) Management Board voted on April 29, 2025, to award $105,497,500 in subsidies to fourteen projects across ten Cape Cod towns.

The Cape Cod Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has released the FFY2026-2030 Transportation Improvement Program and the FFY2026 Unified Planning Work Program for a 14-day public review and comment period. Members of the public are invited to review these documents and provide comments.

The Cape Cod Commission and the Town of Barnstable are pleased to release the Barnstable Municipal Digital Equity Plan for a public review and comment period. 

The Cape Cod Commission will launch a comprehensive study to evaluate the use of tiered water rate structures as a tool to promote water conservation across the region. This effort is supported by a $44,332 Drought Resiliency and Water Efficiency Grant awarded by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. 

FFY 2025-2029 TIP Amendment #4 would remove $8,284,827 in regional target funding from the Mashpee Route 151 Improvements (Phase 2) project to reflect the current construction bid price, adjust the funding allocated to Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority budget items in FFY 2025 for facilities, vehicles, and maintenance, and remove the Harwich Safe Routes to School project from FFY 2025. View the proposed amendment at www.capecodcommission.org/mpo.

Women's history on Cape Cod is marked by resilience and leadership, with women playing pivotal roles in shaping the region’s communities since its early settlement. In the 19th century, while many men were away at sea, women managed households, farms, and local businesses, becoming the backbone of Cape Cod’s coastal villages. As educators, abolitionists, and suffragists, Cape Cod women like Mercy Otis Warren and Helen Augusta Crocker advocated for social change. During the 20th century, women continued to lead, from environmental conservation efforts to local politics. Today, women continue to be vital leaders in the region’s civic, cultural, and environmental spheres.

Data collection plays a vital role in keeping roadways safe and accessible for everyone. Every few years, the Cape Cod Commission updates a list of high-crash intersections to help identify areas in need of safety improvements. By tracking crash trends over time, Commission staff can pinpoint problem areas and prioritize locations for Road Safety Audits, planning studies, and other safety interventions. This list serves as a valuable resource for transportation professionals, guiding strategic investments to make the region’s roads safer for all.

A status on projects currently under review by the Cape Cod Commission.