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Summary

In response to reports of speeding traffic along Route 24 and concerns of pedestrian safety crossing this road at the Main Street intersection to move pedestrians to our waterfront park, the town has partnered with the Maine Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Maine Department of Transportation to install temporary traffic calming and placemaking features including:

• A temporary crosswalk connecting the existing sidewalk and landing at the southwest corner of Main Street and Route 24 across Route 24 to the northeast corner of Main Street and Route 24 at the Three Robbers restaurant;
• A temporary landing in front of Three Robbers pub using 4-foot-long planters;
• A R1-6 sign in the center of the road; and
• Delineator gateways at all four corners of the intersection.

The installations will seek to slow motorist traffic to the posted speed limit and give pedestrians the safest directive and peace of mind as they navigate this intersection during our busy summer and fall months. The project is temporary but if well received the Town will have data to support applying to the Village Partnership Initiative (VPI) to fund a permanent solution.

Figure 1. Yellow circle indicates location of the installation.

Figure 2. Visual of the installation facing north on Route 24, just south of the intersection with Main Street.

Purpose

We will use this project to gain feedback from the community on how a crosswalk will be received and get input on how to improve the potential for a more permanent solution.

Need

Over the past decade the town has built up a network of sidewalks within our village district with a goal of bringing foot traffic to the heart of our commercial district and the Mailly Waterfront Park at the terminus of Main Street. However, speeding along Route 24 has been an ongoing issue in the community. The town has invested in and deployed a speed feedback sign north of the intersection, but more needs to be done to make pedestrians feel safe crossing the road.

With the kickoff of a multitude of summer events being hosted at the park, from weekly Saturday Farmers’ Markets, the Summer Sundays Concert Series, Open Farm and Studio Day in July, the Tour de Bowdoinham charity ride in August, and our annual Celebrate Bowdoinham weekend in September foot traffic to the park is at an all-time high. The town has hosted two site visits with Maine DOT staff in the spring of 2023 to review options for this intersection.  

After staff participating in a Tactful Urbanism presentation and meeting with staff from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine the Town is taking the initiative to create demonstration project to introduce a temporary solution to get us through the end of the farmers’ market in October while we solicit feedback to consider in looking for a more permanent solution.

Maine DOT’s initial feedback on a permanent solution suggest elements such as a rapid flashing beacon, formal landing on the other side of the Main Street intersection to receive pedestrians with sidewalks extending on either side of the landing. There are funding sources available to work towards a more permanent solution and the survey data we collect on this project could be used to support the next step.

Conceptual Designs

Figure 3. Birdseye view and description of traffic calming and placemaking elements

Project Details

Crosswalk and Gateway

The location of the crosswalk must meet Maine DOT sight line and speed limit requirements. While it has been observed that pedestrians have been crossing Rt. 24 at the corner of the Masonic Lodge, a crosswalk here does not meet sightline requirements which has dictated its current location.

Further, DOT requires a safe landing for the terminus of the crosswalk. This includes an ADA texture pad and landing bolstered by a curbed sidewalk on both sides to keep vehicles out of the landing.  Where this is a temporary solution the placement of two bolted down galvanized tubs decorated as planters acts as this barrier. Moreover, where this is a unique installation, additional 3M reflective tape in white has been added to planters for additional visibility and to tie the element into the project. See Figure 4.

Figure 4: Textured pad and galvanized tubs used for safe landing on south side

The crosswalk was enhanced with a “gateway” of white Pexco DP 200 delineators positioned where the fog line meets the crosswalk and north of the crosswalk to calm traffic entering and exiting the intersection. Delineators are used to calm traffic by tighten intersections and slowing turning vehicles which improves safety for people walking.

The delineators used are white (for roadway edge) and yellow (for centerline) with matching retro-reflective tape on them for visibility during nighttime hours. The spatial needs of turning vehicles were considered, and delineators were placed to minimize impacts and gateway designs are adjusted as needed to meet the needs of the location. With the number of large vehicles using this intersection we opted to use the lower price point yellow delineator in the center instead of a R1-6 which was used in the example illustrated in Figure 5 below. While moving the delineator back several yards from the intersection the experiment still proved that a center line delineator would not be effective and was quickly removed.

Figure 5. A simple delineator gateway at a crosswalk. R1-6 sign used on center line; a single yellow post was substituted.  Image from Augusta installation 2021

The proposed treatments have been studied recently in Michigan and proven effective.

Reference study:  https://traffic.transportation.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2017/07/Gateway-Treatment-for-Pedestrian-Crossings-Bott.pdf

This project is intended to be seasonal.  Delineators will be removed no later than November 5, 2023 or sooner by Bowdoinham staff. With the repaving of Rt. 24 the scheduled for the end of August the project might be removed before Celebrate Bowdoinham on September 16, 2023.

Timeframe

The installation will occur as soon as possible, with hopes of approval prior to our Open Farm and Studio Day on Sunday, July 23, 2023. The installation is intended to be seasonal and removed no later than November 15, 2023 or earlier if winter weather threatens.

Metrics

The effectiveness of the installation will be measured by feedback solicited through our bimonthly newsletter, Facebook page, and a QR code leading visitors to an online survey. Feedback will be incorporated into the design of any desired permanent solutions.

Maintenance Plan

The project will be monitored regularly by members of the project team.  Bowdoinham will do what it can to support keeping the installation in good condition. Delineators or other project elements that are subject to excessive impacts or wear may be removed.

Approval and Permission

This project has been approved by the Maine DOT.  

Contact

Yvette Meunier

Director of Planning and Development

Town of Bowdoinham

207-666-5531

[email protected]