11/08/08
Council public hearing on town-center intersection improvement plan Nov. 10, 2008
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the Maine Department of Transportation's design proposal for the intersection of Scott Dyer, Shore and Ocean House roads on Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall chamber.
The council has drafted possible actions to be taken after the public hearing for the intersection project, which is slated to be funded largely by a grant from Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation (PACTS) funds.
The grant requires a 15-percent match from the Town.
The options include authorizing the Maine Department of Transportation to put the intersection project out to bid; or, notifying MDOT that the Town does not wish to proceed with the project, declining the $363,566 grant for signalization and improvements to the intersection. Terminating the project would also necessitate the Town reimbursing MDOT up to $140,000 for design services to date.
If this option is chosen, that money would come from a 2008 bond issued to fund various capital improvements (Click here for news article).
If councilors do decide to accept bids on the project, they will need to take another vote after bids are received to authorize the local match.
MDOT presented plans at a separate public hearing Sept. 30 in the Town Hall chamber, and has made the drawings available for download. (Click here to view/download plans (2 MB - pdf format). The plans are the culmination of efforts, both state and local, that have been in the works since 2004.
The council set the Nov. 10 hearing at its Oct. 15 meeting. Members of the public were present at the meeting to urge the council to set the additional hearing.
For more information about the project, please contact MDOT project engineer Shawn Smith, 207-624-3504.
Here is the text of the draft council agenda item and possible actions:
DRAFT Town Council agenda item for Nov. 10, 2008 meeting, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall chamber
Public Hearing Town Center Intersection
Item # 140-2008 Town Center Intersection
The Maine Department of Transportation has held a public informational meeting and a separate public hearing on the design of proposed improvements to the intersection of Shore Road, Scott Dyer Road and Route 77/Ocean House Road. It is recommended that the town council consider public hearing comments and determine if the project should be put out to bid by MDOT. If the decision is made to accept bids, a final town council vote would need to be made after the bids have been received to authorize the local match. An actual bid award would be made by MDOT.
Draft Recommended Motion:
Option A
The Cape Elizabeth Town Council does hereby authorize the Maine Department of Transportation to solicit bids on proposed improvements to the intersection of Shore Road, Scott Dyer Road and Route 77/Ocean House Road. The Cape Elizabeth Town Council will have one further vote on this issue to consider authorizing funding for the project after receipt of the bids.
Option B
The Cape Elizabeth Town Council hereby requests the town manager to notify the Maine Department of Transportation that the Town of Cape Elizabeth wishes to terminate design of proposed improvements to the intersection at the center of town.
The Cape Elizabeth Town Council further requests the town manager to notify PACTS that the Town of Cape Elizabeth declines the PACTS authorized grant of $363,566 for improvements to the town center intersection.
The Cape Elizabeth Town Council further authorizes the town manager to expend not to exceed $140,000 from the 2008 bond issue to reimburse MDOT for design costs to date as the Town is 100% responsible for design costs for MDOT projects that are terminated by municipalities.
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