Regional Shared Use Path Crossing Inventory

The Cape Cod Commission has conducted a comprehensive inventory of all at-grade crossings of the region's rail trails and shared use paths. Data on each of these crossings is summarized in two separate reports and in a data viewer which can be found below.  The inventories are intended to be a resource for towns to identify the current status of crossings and possible upgrades needed in the future.

Side Path Crossing Inventory (2024)

The Side Path Crossing Inventory provides an in-depth look at the region's crossings of shared-use side paths where they are adjacent to roadways. As part of this inventory, staff inventoried 149 at-grade shared use side path crossing locations during 2022 and 2023 across six towns. Detailed descriptions were developed for each location can be found in the report on their corresponding town.

The inventory report features elements impacting safety and comfort, such as the presence and condition of signage, pavement markings, and other traffic safety features. The inventory also examines geometry and sight lines, providing a general picture of the intersection. Finally, the inventory categorizes all crossings into a chart suggesting potential crossing treatments based on traffic volumes, speed limits, and road geometry. While not prescriptive, town staff can use the chart to assess current infrastructure and consider future upgrades. 

Side Path Crossing Inventory Report

Rail Trail Crossing Inventory (2022)

A comprehensive inventory of 95 crossings of rail trails and off-roadway shared use paths on the Cape, based on data collected in the summer of 2020. The inventory covers crossings on six different trails within 11 Cape Cod towns. Features and elements recorded were like those recorded in the Shared Use Path Crossing Inventory above. Recommendation tables are presented after the crossing profiles before the next town’s section. 

Rail Trail Crossing Inventory Report 

Recommendations

These inventories summarize crossing-related design guidance from a variety of federal and state sources, such as the Federal Highway Administration’s Guide for Improving Pedestrian Safety at Uncontrolled Crossing Locations and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. It also breaks down the prevalence of crossing-related features Cape-wide, with the help of numerous charts and graphs.

Shared Use Path Crossing Inventory Web App

Commission staff also produced a companion interactive map, with ID numbers for each path crossing referenced in the report. This map allows participants to click on crossing locations, with a pop-up providing basic information about the crossing’s existing features.