The Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission (SMRPC), with funding through the Kittery Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), has begun a Feasibility Study to look at reducing traffic congestion in downtown South Berwick.
SMRPC Transportation Director Tom Reinauer explains the purpose of the study, “This is the very first step towards solving the problem of congestion in South Berwick. The goal of the study – which will take about nine months – is to identify several possible long-term solutions. We are just getting started, and are looking now for broad public input.”
“Our first goal is for the public to agree on the specific outcome they are looking for in terms of the traffic situation in town. Once we understand that, we can all start considering solutions that move us in the right direction.”
There has been one public meeting, a steering committee meeting, and an advisory committee meeting about the project. Project personnel have created a draft Purpose and Need Statement, which is based on several different sources including comments received at the Public Meeting in December. The Purpose and Need Statement will be used to guide the Feasibility Study staff and consultants moving forward and aid in the development of solutions and actions.
SMRPC is solciting comments and suggestions on the draft Purpose and Need Statement. They want to know if the statement captures the outcomes we are aiming for and if it describes the need we have for a solution to congestion.
Those who would like to comment on the draft statement can contact Tom Reinaur, Transportation Director, Southern Maine RPC & Kittery Area MPO, 1 Bradeen St. Suite 304, Springvale, ME 04083, 207-324-2952, treinauer@smrpc.org . Tom has also said he will check this thread to read any feedback posted here at the Diner.
Here’s the draft statement:
South Berwick Transportation Feasibility Study
DRAFT Purpose and Need Statement 1_15_09 DRAFT
The purpose of the South Berwick Transportation Feasibility Study is to identify actions that will:
- Control traffic congestion in downtown South Berwick
- Improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic in the downtown area
- Improve regional mobility by reducing conflicts between local and through traffic
- Provide a wider range of transportation options for residents
- Improve transportation facilities to enhance the downtown environment
- Provide adequate transportation access to meet the long-term economic and community development needs as outlined in the South Berwick Comprehensive plan
- Ensure that future development decisions within South Berwick and the surrounding communities do not contribute adversely to traffic congestion
The need for the study:
- Route 4 and Route 236, which both converge and become Main Street, do not adequately balance local and regional travel needs
- Roadway capacity constraints and traffic conflicts during peak periods.
- Residential streets are increasingly being used as alternative routes to meet mobility needs
- Downtown South Berwick contains two High Crash intersections, and Main Street is a High Crash road segment
- Insufficient transportation choices for residents and commuters
You can find agendas, meeting minutes, and other documents related to the feasibility study at the SMRPC web site.
AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES CLOSE TO AND FREQUENTLY USES THE DOWNTOWN STREETS, I HAVE THE FOLLOWING REACTIONS TO THE DRAFT (MY COMMENTS IN CAPS).
AS AN OVERALL VIEW, I WOULD ASK THAT THE “CONFLICTS” BE BETTER DEFINED – WHILE THERE IS CONGESTION AT TIMES, THESE ARE NOT 24 HOUR, OR 8 HOUR, OR EVEN 1 HOUR SITUATIONS. IT OCCURS WHEN THE SCHOOLS ARE OPENING OR CLOSING, AND DURING THE AFTERNOON RUSH HOURS IN THE SUMMER. I WORRY THAT, FOR SOME, HAVING TO TAKE 10 MINUTES TO GET THROUGH TOWN INSTEAD OF 3 MINUTES CONSTITUTES A PROBLEM. I WOULD NOT WANT TO SEE MAJOR PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN WHEN THE PROBLEM IS LARGER IN PERCEPTION THAN REALITY.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ENCOURAGE ANY EFFORTS IN TRAFFIC CALMING AND BETTER TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT.
JOHN KLOSSNER
37 HIGHLAND AVENUE
South Berwick Transportation Feasibility Study
DRAFT Purpose and Need Statement 1_15_09 DRAFT
The purpose of the South Berwick Transportation Feasibility Study is to identify actions that will:
- Control traffic congestion in downtown South Berwick
- Improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicular traffic in the downtown area I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE A PRIORITY FOR DOWNTOWN. SPEED AND DRIVERS’ HABITS ARE PROBLEMS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA. AS ONE SPECIFIC, THE NORTHBOUND LANE OF TRAFFIC TURNING ONTO ROUTE 4 / PORTLAND STREET IS OFTEN BLOCKED TO THE VIEW OF AND FROM PEDESTRIANS. THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE OF EDUCATION AS MUCH AS ROAD AND TRAFFIC DESIGN. (TALK WITH ANY SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES THEY ARE NEARLY RUN DOWN EACH DAY.) PEOPLE LIVE AND WORK AND SHOP DOWNTOWN, AND THAT WILL MEAN THAT TRAFFIC WILL BE SLOWED IN THAT AREA.
- Improve regional mobility by reducing conflicts between local and through traffic I THINK LOCAL TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN NEEDS SHOULD TAKE PRIORITY. IF THE DOWNTOWN IS VIEWED AS A THROUGH TRAFFIC ROUTE, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A LARGER PERCEIVED CONFLICT.
- Provide a wider range of transportation options for residents DOES THIS MEAN TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES OR TRANSPORTATION ROUTES?
- Improve transportation facilities to enhance the downtown environment
- Provide adequate transportation access to meet the long-term economic and community development needs as outlined in the South Berwick Comprehensive plan
- Ensure that future development decisions within South Berwick and the surrounding communities do not contribute adversely to traffic congestion
The need for the study:
- Route 4 and Route 236, which both converge and become Main Street, do not adequately balance local and regional travel needs WHAT EXACTLY ARE THOSE NEEDS? TO GET AS MUCH TRAFFIC THROUGH SOUTH BERWICK AS POSSIBLE? I WORRY THAT THIS MEANS SIZE. I DO NOT BELIEVE EXPANDED ROADWAYS WILL SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WILL ERODE ANY DOWNTOWN ACTIVITY.
- Roadway capacity constraints and traffic conflicts during peak periods. CAN THIS BE BETTER DEFINED? ARE “PEAK PERIODS” 15 MINUTES? ONE HOUR? MORE? MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT IT RARELY TAKES LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES TO GET THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN.
- Residential streets are increasingly being used as alternative routes to meet mobility needs COULD THIS ISSUE BE ADDRESSED WITH TRAFFIC CALMING AND BETTER ENFORCEMENT?
- Downtown South Berwick contains two High Crash intersections, and Main Street is a High Crash road segment IS “HIGH CRASH” A STATISTICALLY-DEFINED TERM? ARE THERE AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF ACCIDENTS AT THESE TWO LOCATIONS? WHAT IS THE DATA? AND, IF IT IS A “HIGH CRASH” INTERSECTION, IS THIS CAUSED BY DESIGN OR DRIVER HABITS?
- Insufficient transportation choices for residents and commuters
You can find agendas, meeting minutes, and other documents related to the feasibility study at the SMRPC web site.