Correction 9/13/2024:  An earlier posting did not stipulate that only grant funding for Option 1 must be used in 2025; the town's TIF funding does not have the same restriction.

The Town Council voted unanimously to move forward with "Option 1" to improve the Town Center Intersection.  Option 1 refers to the original design developed by Sebago Technics in March of 2024, in which the intersection of Scott Dyer Road/ Ocean House Road/ Shore Road  "squares up."  This design provides greater separation centerline to centerline; shortens pedestrian crossings; adds pedestiran crosswalks with flashing crossing lights; and closes/reroutes traffic from Holman Road.  

Three other design options were added and presented in July, following community appeal for more design options.  These include a roundabout at Shore Road, a round about at Scott Dyer, and a "peanut" intersection.  Community feedback at a August 21 Public Forum and Survey responses showed a preference for the "peanut" design.  Among the council, however, Option 1 emerged as the most practical way to implement immediate safety improvements without placing any financial burdens on taxpayers.  Option 1, unlike the three other options, is funded entirely through grants which must be used in 2025 and the town's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) account for a total project cost of $825,000. 

The council expressed that while Option 1 was a practical step toward pedestrian safety, it was a first step toward improving the intersection and pedestrian safety.  Public Works Director Jay Reynolds was asked to gauge which of the other three design options could best overlay option 1 in the future.  Reynolds said that either of the two roundabout options could be integrated with the squaring-up design.  The "peanut intersection" would require an entirely new design.

Intersection square-up, Sebago Technics.