Town-center intersection design workshop
scheduled
The Cape Elizabeth Road Safety Working Group, created by the Town Council,
will host a community design workshop for the Route 77/Shore Rd/Scott Dyer
Rd intersection on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007, from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the
Town Hall.
The purpose of the workshop will be to engage the community in designing
the intersection, and will only be successful if residents attend and
participate.
Why focus on this intersection? Using nationally recognized traffic
evaluation standards, the intersection meets two standards that indicate
that the intersection is failing. In addition, the intersection, located
in the Town Center where the goal is to create a pedestrian-inviting environment,
is unsafe for pedestrians. For these reasons, the Town has been awarded a
grant of over $400,000 to redesign the intersection. Construction of the
intersection should happen in 2008.
Why hold a design workshop? Traffic engineers are working to design
the intersection to meet standards for safe vehicular movement. Sidewalks
and crosswalks will also be included. Because of its location in the Town
Center, however, the appearance of this intersection is important. The design
workshop is intended to gather community input and talent in designing an
intersection that not just moves cars, but also is appealing to pedestrians
and visually compatible with the character of Cape Elizabeth. Discussion
surrounding landscaping in and adjacent to the intersection is anticipated.
What will happen at the workshop? The Road Safety Working Group will
begin with getting to know participants over coffee and pastries. The workshop
will include a presentation of various design techniques used at intersections,
followed by a "field visit" to the intersection on foot. This is important
because most people's experience with the intersection is in a car. Participants
will then regroup at Town Hall and break into teams to brainstorm designs
for the intersection. Facilitators will be assigned to sketch out ideas,
and technical resource people, including engineers from the Maine Department
of Transportation, will be available to assist. The workshop will conclude
at noon.
Town residents volunteering to help include Pat Carroll, Carroll Associates
Landscape Architects and Tom Emery, Stantec Consulting, Inc.
For more information, please contact the Town Planner at 799-0115 or
maureen.omeara@capeelizabeth.org
and also check this Web site for the most up to date information.
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