Village Center Planning Study

LATEST INFO & IMPORTANT DATES:

• Public Meeting 1 – Tues. 10/15 @ 6:30 PM, Kendall Room at the Town Office (Gain input on concerns, desires and potential improvements increase economic development, pedestrian safety, and accessibility in the downtown area)
• NEW: Online Survey: Fall 2024 (Gain input on concerns, desires and potential improvements increase economic development, pedestrian safety, and accessibility in the downtown area)

Background

In response to reports of speeding traffic along Route 24 and concerns of pedestrian safety when crossing this road at the Main Street intersection, the Town applied to Maine DOT to install a temporary crosswalk and gateway demonstration project at the intersection in July 2023 to gather feedback before considering a permanent solution. See Temporary Crosswalk and Gateway Demonstration project application illustrating the location and elements of the project.

Following the project over 100 residents completed the feedback survey. Elements that narrowed the roadway were not well received, most noted were the delineators. However, the painted crosswalk was appreciated and does not pose a hinderance to drivers, bicyclists, or pedestrians. Moreover, there were several respondents suggesting additional elements to the crossing such as a raised table, flashing lights, and more signage. Please see survey results summary.

Others mention the need for a no parking sign along Rt. 24 or other signage warning those to slow down on Rt. 24 before entering downtown. Further, the survey did not specifically call attention to the sidewalk element of the project although a handful of comments were made about sidewalks that should be noted. Those ranged from concerns about the loss of parking on lower Main Street to sidewalks, the need for no-parking signage, and concerns about cars parking on Rt. 24 between Three Robbers and the curve headed south. Lastly, there have been suggestions of turning the lower portion of Main Street east of the intersection with Rt. 24 into a one-way. While these areas and elements were outside of the project scope, they warrant more investigation as part of a larger vision which should also incorporate the goals of the 2010 Walkable Village Plan to provide safe access to our village district. Further, our 2010 Walkable Village Plan supports a sidewalk or a delineated walkway along lower Main Street and around the entire project area.

Additionally, what the survey results have told us is that there is a need for further public input regarding changes to this area. With the development of the new waterfront park and the potential rail trail we are expecting a significant increase in recreational use on both sides of Rt. 24. Currently, there is no sidewalk or crosswalk leading directly to the new park. Further, there are no direct pedestrian connections between the two parks. This is a need as they both serve as overflow parking for each other. Taking a wholistic approach to this entire village block will create a more cohesive vision for and appeal to our community.

Village Partnership Initiative

To advance the planning process for addressing the additional concerns for the area and need for a wholistic vision of the village center the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) applied for and received a Maine DOT Village Partnership Initiative scoping grant.  MaineDOT works in partnership with local officials to reinvest and revitalize one of the distinguishing features of New England: our iconic village centers. Depending upon the vision of each individual municipality, they can look to make once-in-a-lifetime investments in the lower-speed areas where people meet, shop, and do business. These village areas need to be built on a human scale: walkable, bicycle-friendly, and business-friendly. In sum, this can be bigger than just transportation; it is potentially place-making.

Upon the grant award the Town issued a Request of Proposals for professional services for this planning study. CDAC in partnership with the Advisory Committee on Age-Friendly Bowdoinham (AF) selected Gorrill Palmer’s proposal. Please note the grant match came from the CMP TIF, which will not entail an outlay of town money. 

Summary of the scope of work and activities completed:

On July 2, 2024, a kickoff meeting with Gorrill Palmer, CFAC and AF was held for the VPI planning grant to create publicly vetted designs for pedestrian safety improvements around the intersection of Rt. 24 and lower Main Street, between the two waterfront parks, and other possible project elements along lower Main Street.

At the meeting the group reiterated important goals for the project that include:

• Safety improvements for all users including bicycling and pedestrian safety.
• Mobility improvements and accessibility for all users.
• Including opportunities to rest, pocket parks and incorporate street amenities and public art.
• Traffic calming measures.
• Enhance on-street parking.
• Infrastructure improvements to encourage economic development. Make it an inviting place.
• Expand pedestrian connectivity.

On July 17, 2024 a site walk was held for the project area. The goal of this site visit and the upcoming public meeting is to come up with locally vetted improvements that can be designed and funded through various local, state and federal grants.

The group focused on concerns within the project scope as illustrated with the red boundaries. Detailed discussions were held around the activities near the boat launch and gazebo regarding farmers’ market vendor access conflicting with boat launch traffic. Regarding a one-way on lower Main heading south only, there are some large boats that need special equipment to launch them, and they may not be able to exit any other way than up Main Street. There is also a lot of concerns for pedestrian safety on the weekends as people come down Main Street to the market without any designated area to walk while traffic and boats share this same roadway. There is concern over potential loss of parking along lower Main. Other considerations included more bike storage for the Merrymeeting Trail. 

There is concern that there might not be a lot of continuity between the two parks and there could be loss of business to the Farmers’ Market in its transition to the new park. Traffic calming along Rt. 24 before the bridge and after the bridge was requested and center islands, sidewalks on both sides of the roads, and incorporations of bike lanes for a road diet were suggested solutions. Other concepts that came up included a 4 way stop at Three Robbers, more parking and sidewalks along upper Main, sidewalks up Back Hill, improving a path at the Cannon Pocket Park, and an island near the Back Hill intersection. 

Additional community feedback will be sought at a public meeting held on Tuesday, 10/15 at 6:30 PM in the Kendall Room as well as through a survey, and through input at the Age Friendly booth at Celebrate. Please stop by and give us your input!

The tentative schedule for this project continues as follows: 

• Public Meeting 1 – Tues. 10/15 @ 6:30 PM, Kendall Room at the Town Office (Gain input on concerns, desires and potential improvements increase economic development, pedestrian safety, and accessibility in the downtown area)
• NEW: Online Survey: Fall 2024 (Gain input on concerns, desires and potential improvements increase economic development, pedestrian safety, and accessibility in the downtown area)
• Public Meeting 2: Late fall 2024 (Meeting to reveal the final concept developed from the feedback gathered at the first meeting and through the survey).
• Draft Report: December 2024
• Final Report: January 2025

Additional community feedback will be sought at public meetings scheduled in October late Fall 2024 and reactions to future concepts will also be captured in a survey.

Next Steps
Upon completion of the scoping process the Town can reapply to Maine DOT’s VPI program to fund the drafting of design plans for the publicly vetted project elements. These plans can then be used to provide bid documents for the actual construction of the project.

These are complex projects and will take several years to develop. Once the project is scoped and an adequate amount of public outreach and design work is complete, MaineDOT and the community will develop a strategy for applying for special federal allocations such as earmarks or BIL grants for the actual construction. The application may be bundled with other communities across the state to make the package more competitive on the federal level. Once a grant or earmark is secured, MaineDOT and the municipality will enter into a construction agreement.