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ordinance language
12/10/03
Emergency ordinance could re-open
Jordan Way for High School morning access
The Town Council will hold a special meeting at 7:30 Monday morning, Dec.
15, to consider an emergency ordinance that would have the effect of keeping
Jordan Way open as an alternate access to Cape Elizabeth High School during
the hour before school starts.
The emergency ordinance would amend the traffic regulations to permit public
use of Jordan Way for the purpose of relieving traffic entering the school
complex.
Morning traffic at the High School entrance at Ocean House Road has been
a concern among parents, students and school and Town officials in recent
years. Last spring and early this school year, officials opened Jordan Way
to High School morning traffic in attempt to ease congestion at the main
entrance off of Ocean House Road, where cars have been reported to be backed
up as far as Jordan Way itself.
The alternate entrance had helped some, but police closed Jordan Way Dec.
1 in anticipation of winter snows. Snow piled at the end of the road just
beyond the Town Center Fire Station could block visibility, Police Chief
Neil Williams said last month.
However, the High School Parent Association petitioned the Town Council to
re-open Jordan Way for morning traffic. At the Dec. 8 meeting of the Town
Council, Chairman Mary Ann Lunch read a letter from the HSPA voicing their
concern about the Town closing the alternate entrance.
"I think the traffic issue begs both a permanent solution and an interim
one," said Lynch at the Dec. 8 meeting. She suggested the Town Manager work
with the police chief to keep Jordan Way open, at least in the interim, and
that the Planning Board take a serious look at traffic issues as they review
site plans included in the upcoming High School renovations.
Councilor John McGinty suggested waiting until the town could review a report
due from a traffic engineer on the levels of service at the High School entrance,
and at the intersections of Shore, Scott Dyer and Ocean House Roads. The
survey on these intersections was taken during the second week of September,
and is part of a Town Council goal to review roadway and pedestrian safety
in the Town Center.
Lynch is calling for adoption of the emergency ordinance, which would allow
vehicular traffic on Jordan Way in accordance with a traffic plan approved
by the Town Manager for the purpose of relieving traffic entering the school
complex.
In a telephone interview, McGovern said the wording gives the Town flexibility
to open Jordan Way at other times during the renovation project to relieve
congestion if necessary.
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