03/31/03
Jordan Way to let high-school
traffic in beginning in late April
Beginning April 28, there'll be more than one way to get to Cape Elizabeth
High School.
Town and school officials are beginning a trial program where Jordan Way
would be open to allow incoming traffic to the high school and alleviate
the morning pile up at the school's entranceway and Route 77.
Jordan Way would open one-way from 7:15 a.m. until approximately 7:30 a.m.,
closing to vehicular traffic in time to avoid the buses that begin arriving
for the Middle School at 7:40 a.m.
The hope, according to School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Forcella, is that
less traffic turning right into the high school entranceway at Route 77 will
loosen the bottleneck there in the morning.
At present, traffic turning left into the high school must yield to those
opposite them turning right, causing a backup of cars. Cars exiting the school
and heading north toward Portland also have to wait, so they get backed up.
"There's a big back up every which-way," Forcella said.
An added advantage to the Jordan Way entrance is that students who enter
there will be able to turn right into the student parking lot, before coming
to the congested circle in front of the school.
The pilot program is the result of deliberations by the school's Traffic
Committee, which included representatives from town government, school
administration and parents.
Police Chief Neil Williams, who was part of the committee, said there will
not be a great deal of signage at Jordan Way. Cars will need to stop at the
stop sign before entering the circle where Jordan Way meets school property
at Pond Cove School.
Both Williams and Forcella agreed that one of the most attractive parts of
the proposal was that it has no budgetary impact. Alternatives such as a
traffic officer, or a traffic light, would have had a cost.
Jordan Way will serve as an entrance-way only, and only in the mornings.
Members of the committee, according to Forcella, were more concerned about
safety than they were about the inconvenience parents have encountered dropping
off their high-schoolers in the mornings.
Committee members opted to address the morning traffic, because students
dispersing for activites, sports and others ways home means there is less
of a traffic problem in the afternoon.
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