Background

A study of traffic, circulation, and parking along Amelia Drive was completed in September 2018. The study evaluated options to improve on-street parking and circulation along Amelia Drive, which is currently a 23-foot wide two-way roadway with on street parking. The alternatives included an evaluation of one-way and two-way circulation patterns on Amelia Drive with or without on-street parking on one or both sides. The study’s recommended options were:

Short-term: Convert Amelia Drive to a one-way westbound traffic flow (towards Ticcoma Way) on a trial basis with on-street parking on the left side of the roadway.
Long-term: Reconstruct and widen Amelia Drive to accommodate two-way traffic flow, sections of on-street parking on both sides of the road that do not conflict with existing treets, a 5-foot wide sidewalk on the north side of the road, and an 8-foot wide sidewalk on the south side of the road.

The funding request to implement the long-term option was not supported by voters at a subsequent Town Meeting and ballot vote. As traffic has continued to be a concern, the Town proposes piloting a version of the 2018 short-term option: converting Amelia Drive to a one-way westbound traffic flow between Waitt Drive and Ticcoma Way and maintaining a two-way flow between Waitt Drive and Old South Road. This configuration would address traffic flow conflicts, maintain traffic flow conditions for businesses between Waitt Drive and Old South Road, and utilize Waitt Drive as an alternative for eastbound traffic between Ticcoma Way and Amelia Drive. The evaluation of the one-way pilot will consider input from the Nantucket community and abutters of Amelia Drive on how effective the pilot improved traffic flow and convenience of accessing abutting properties.