Dave Dyer

Staff Writer

Plans are set for a comprehensive study of land use and transportation needs for towns in western Cumberland County.

The “East-West Corridor Study” is designed to find ways to ease traffic congestion between Portland and western Cumberland County, which stretches from the Maine Turnpike to Gorham. 

Maine Turnpike Authority Public Relations Manager Dan Paradee said the study will take 18 months to two years to complete and won’t begin until a memorandum of agreement is completed for Gorham, Scarborough, South Portland and Westbrook. All four communities will be part of the survey. The Portland Area Comprehensive Planning System (PACTS) will also take part in the survey.

Sara Devlin, the assistant government relations manager of the Maine Turnpike Authority, said the survey will include traffic data collection, such as traffic counts, as well as interviews with local business owners and consideration of each town’s comprehensive plan.

“There’s a sense of frustration that a (traffic congestion) problem could get worse,” Paradee said.

Devlin said the turnpike and the Maine Department of Transportation will completely fund the study at a cost of $930,000. She said the authority has set aside $750,000 for the study, with money coming from tolls. The Department of Transportation will also include $180,000 worth of state gas tax revenue. 

According to the memorandum of agreement, one member from each town and a representative of PACTS will be involved with a study “steering committee.” Members will attend regular study meetings and work as coordinators with the turnpike and Department of Transportation and develop non-binding advisory recommendations to the turnpike.

Devlin said public participation would be encouraged throughout the study process as well. Members of the public will be allowed to attend all steering committee meetings, however it will be the steering committee’s decision whether to allow public comment. 

Devlin said planning forums will also be scheduled for the public, along with online forums for public feedback.

The study will be conducted in three phases, the first studying feasibility of easing traffic congestion. Phase two will include technical evaluations and impacts to towns, including analysis of transportation as well as social and economic analysis. Phase two and three of the study will look into possible environmental impacts on communities, according to Department of Transportation officials.

The memorandum also defines the roles and responsibilities of towns. Each town is required to document individual and group issues and goals and host public informational meetings.

Gorham Town Councilor Burleigh Loveitt said although the Gorham Bypass recently opened to relieve traffic congestion in the Gorham Village area, it has also caused congestion problems in south Gorham. He said finding a way to relieve congestion in Portland, South Portland and Scarborough would help not only Gorham, but towns further west, such as Buxton, Hollis and Standish.

“The potential of the study is fantastic,” Loveitt said.

South Portland City Planner Tex Hauser said while it is too early to say what the study could do for the city, relieving traffic congestion could potentially increase economic development. He said he would like to see alternative transportation considered, including buses, a modern streetcar system and bicycle lanes. 

Scarborough Town Planner Dan Bacon said the study could address traffic congestion on Running Hill Road, Gorham Road and County Road. Bacon said Running Hill Road has also recently been rezoned as a mixed-use area. If an access is available to the road, it could potentially be used for commercial use.

Bacon said a major help during the study will be the four towns working together and having land use regulations in order.

As a member of the Gorham Bypass study group, Loveitt said he expects the study to be difficult. He said it will take time and patience, as the study involves a broader spectrum of towns and individuals.