Tour bus traffic annoys Music Street residents

Posted July 19, 2007

After receiving a growing number of complaints from residents, West Tisbury selectmen say they hope to limit the number of Martha's Vineyard Sightseeing company buses on Music Street.

One of those residents is selectman Dianne Powers, who said at last week's selectmen's meeting, "I definitely have a problem with it." She said the on-Island buses travel both ways on the street all day long and into the evening hours. She added that the off-Island tour buses do not use the street.

She said she is most concerned about the buses stopping near the street's intersection with State Road, where there is more traffic because of the Town Hall, Alley's General Store, the Grange Hall, the Congregational church and other places that draw a lot of visitors.

"The road is not designed for this kind of traffic," Ms. Powers said. She said Music Street also is getting a lot of heavy truck traffic.

She suggested that the selectmen write to the bus company and recommend other potential routes, perhaps avoiding the busy section of State Road and Music Street altogether.

"We need to work something out," Ms. Powers said. "There are plenty of other things on Vineyard history to talk about."

Selectman Glenn Hearn suggested that the letter include an invitation to the bus company to come to a selectmen's meeting to discuss the matter.

In another matter last week, the selectmen expressed concern about a large bump on Old County Road about 500 feet from the intersection with Edgartown Road. NSTAR crews created the bump while installing an underground conduit. The selectmen were concerned about the bump causing accidents and possibly washing out the road, and thought it should be repaired immediately.

Ms. Rand said she had called NSTAR officials, who acknowledged it is the company's problem.

"They know they have to fix it," she said. They must also fix it according to the superintendent of streets' specifications, she said.

The selectmen agreed to wait until this Wednesday's selectmen's meeting, and if the problem has not been fixed then, they will have the town highway department do it.

The selectmen also appointed Dan Pace to a three-year term on the conservation commission.