The Town Council received a presentation on the Town Center Intersection Improvements Update at the Monday, March 11, 2024 council meeting.  Director of Public Works Jay Reynolds reviewed that the Route 77/Ocean House Road intersection at Scott Dyer and Shore Road has been studied numerous times because of a long history of safety concerns.  Consequently, the site has been identified by the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) as a high-crash location.  

The last study was conducted in 2020 by TYLin who were contracted by the town to conduct a transportation study with the purpose of improving mobility and safety for all users.  Since that time, the Town Council has included implementing an improvement plan within their infrastructure goals as outlined in their annual goals.  Reynolds explained that based on the recommendations from the 2020 study, a proposed project between Sebago Technics, Town Manager Matthew Sturgis, and Reynolds is now moving into the design phase.

Nikki Conant of Sebago Technics went over the specifics of the recommendations being implemented in the proposed project.  The plan includes “squaring up” the intersection so that vehicles approach the intersection at more of a 90-degree angle.  This creates better site lines for cars and pedestrians.  This will be made possible by increasing the separation centerline to centerline between the two intersections to approximately 140 feet of separation.  The design also takes into account various sizes of vehicles coming to the intersection, ensuring that proper space is allocated to make turning movements.  The proposed configuration allows both a fire truck and a bus to properly make the important movements off of Shore Road and Scott Dyer Road to Route 77.

Proposed scope courtesy of Sebago Technics

The layout also establishes 11-foot travel lanes on Ocean House Road and five-foot shoulders, which is consistent with other town-center sidewalk projects.  Two crosswalk locations are being proposed; one in the existing location on Ocean House Road and a secondary location in the vicinity of Cumberland Farms.  Both crosswalks would include Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons.  

Additionally, the proposed design requires the closure of Holman Road, which is located off of Scott Dyer Road just before the Ocean House Road intersection.  For the properties located in this area, creating a secondary access to Ocean House Road or providing a rerouting alternative further away from the intersection will be considered.

The benefits of the proposed layout are the improvements to the crosswalks specifically across both Shore Road and Scott Dyer Road, which reduces the crosswalk lengths.  For example, Scott Dyer Road would go from 124 feet of crossing length for a pedestrian to about 65 feet; and Shore Road would go from roughly 126 feet to 75 feet.  The design also removes the raised medians that are currently in the roadway.  Additionally, bringing in the curb lines with the 11-foot travel lanes and five-foot shoulders, creates a, “Road diet through the intersection and hopefully will provide a bit of [traffic] calming through there,” Conant said.

The estimated cost of the project is $824 thousand according to Town Manager Sturgis.  Funding for the project includes a $400 thousand distribution from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS).  PACTS, which is included under the Greater Portland Council of Government's umbrella, is a federal metropolitan planning organization that coordinates transportation planning and investment decisions with the state, municipalities, and public transportation partners.  The remaining half for the project will be funded through unexpended funds from the town center sidewalk project, and revenues from the Town Center TIF.  Drawing from the current and following year's sheltered TIF budget, the funding must be spent by 2025.  This would allow the town to issue a request for proposals later this year and begin the project in the spring of 2025.  Reynolds said that the project should not exceed 90 days from start to finish.

Following the presentation, Chair Timothy Reiniger noted that the council had received many emails from the public regarding the project and questions about why alternative options were not being used.  Among these suggestions were adding a traffic light at the intersection or building a roundabout.  Reynolds explained that both options had been considered in the past.  A traffic light was ruled out in 2020 because the MaineDOT, which is the only entity authorized to select the location of traffic lights, deemed that the requirements to warrant a light were not all met.  Secondly, the roundabout was considered in 2008 and was removed as an option because the geographic location lacked needed space that did not traverse private properties.  Reynolds commented that all of the current recommendations fall within the current right of way.

Lastly, the suggestion of a "peanut intersection" was made as a new option.  Reynolds confirmed that this design was not considered in the 2020 study.  Sturgis and Reynolds agreed to obtain information about this option and provide the council with an updated traffic study before moving forward with any next steps.