Final Report - VHB.com

More documents

Recommendations

Info

On behalf of the board of the NorthWest Brunswick Neighborhood Association, I am writing to provide some of our comments and concerns which we hope will be included in the final VHB report. We are naturally concerned with the aspects of the report’s recommendations that directly impact our neighborhood. Of specific concern is the idea of widening Mill Street. The historic NorthWest neighborhood is bordered by Pleasant, Mill and Maine Streets. This area is one of the most historically significant parts of Brunswick. It includes 2 of the 3 Brunswick homes designed by famed architect John Calvin Stevens. There are several, well-preserved examples of the original apartment buildings that housed mill workers in the late 1800s – (the rest were destroyed when the Rt. 1 overpass was constructed). It is home to the recently restored John Roebling Swinging Bridge, as well as Davis Park – the only accessible in-town green space besides the mall that is not dedicated to athletic use. The character of the neighborhood is shaped with an eclectic community of families, students, retirees, artists, and professionals from a wide range of economic and cultural backgrounds all of whom are interested in the positive development and revitalization of their neighborhood. The homes that line our streets, many of which are being lovingly restored, are a direct link to the original development of Brunswick’s downtown. This combination of active, friendly, and diverse neighbors, historic architecture, and the walkable proximity to the economic and cultural vibrancy of Topsham, Maine Street Brunswick, and Bowdoin College, provides a rich quality of life and makes the Northwest Brunswick Neighborhood an ideal location in which to live. While you have said repeatedly that the report is not a recommendation to do anything without the community’s blessing, it’s not hard to see how some people are viewing it precisely as a blueprint or foregone conclusion for the future “necessary” or “inevitable” development of Brunswick. We believe that the report gives vision to several projects which could be very good for Brunswick’s future. We are confident that many of the Traffic Demand Management strategies that came to the forefront during the Study, if implemented, will mitigate any need for or interest in expanding Mill. We support: - New signage on 295 that appropriately routes traffic to the Coastal Connector - Expanding the Coastal Connector to a consistent width and grade separating the intersection at Rt. 201 - Better management of Rt. 1 southbound traffic as it passes through Brunswick, including the MDOT study of the intersection of the Rt. 1 off ramp, allowing a left turn onto Maine St. - Managing Pleasant Street traffic – including the improvement of the intersection at Pleasant, Mill and Stanwood Streets - Creating direct access to the base for rail and cars if further research shows it’s needed and costeffective. There were a lot of good ideas in the report, but we’d like to say in no uncertain terms that the expansion of Mill Street would unquestionably threaten the quality of life in this increasingly vital neighborhood, and would irreversibly sever the downtown from our waterfront. The bank of the Androscoggin River in this neighborhood offers Brunswick’s only possibility for multi-use, in-town waterfront development. With ongoing upstream improvements in water quality, wildlife restoration and protection, the river that was the sad inspiration for Senator Muskie’s Clean Water Act, can be a proud example of the potential for waterfront revival. To widen Mill Street, thereby increasing traffic, pollution and noise. It would be a travesty if such a precious resource for the whole town was sacrificed to a four lane highway built to accommodate those whose goal is to leave Brunswick and get somewhere else as fast as possible. During the Transportation Study process, you were publicly presented with a petition with 100 signatures requesting that the feasibility of decking-over Mill Street be considered. No formal response to that petition has been received. Given that those 100 signatures were easily collected online in a short time frame, we know that thousands of signatures can be collected with a minimum of effort. An intelligent approach to the long term goal of decking over Mill Street is a concept that could change the future of Brunswick and the region and the perception of Maine overall. It deserves to be incorporated into the considerations of the current Study and both short and long term plans for this area. It seems that the State now owns, or will soon own, property parcels along much or all of Mill Street. This property should be protected and landscaped to provide sound and visual barriers between the neighborhood and Mill Street. The homes on Sage Hill, the end of Cumberland and all along Oak Street are particularly vulnerable. 29
We are requesting that as part of the overall Transportation Study recommendation to improve facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and the hoped-for expansion of Brunswick’s bus service, this neighborhood will see the following: - At least three pedestrian bridges providing access to the river bank – one at the Canoe Portage, one opposite the Swinging Bridge and another opposite Union Street - The inclusion of the Riverwalk plans in the overall transportation plans - Reorganization of the traffic patterns to protect the neighborhood from being used as an access route to Maine Street And finally, we recognize the considerable work that you have put into this study and the many different options presented. There are a lot of good ideas in there, but we hope that as the powers that be move forward on any and all “improvements” that they will be carefully considered in terms of short term and long term benefits and losses to all the residents of our fair town. We look forward to working together with you and the town and the folks in Augusta for the betterment of Brunswick, and our many neighbors, friends and guests. Best, Scott Taylor President NWBNA From: kiran1@earthlink.net Sent: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 11.10 AM To: cmorris@morriscomm.net; Kennedy, Marty Subject: Brunswick Naval Air Station website form submittal Wanted to know what the status of the draft is in terms of implementations of this study. I am the owner of Travelers Inn and Knights Inn on pleasant street. Would like to know more about the plans on pleasant street and route 1. Thank You Kiran Patel Email sent by VHB QuickMail.NET From: gtelectricalservices@yahoo.com [mailto:gtelectricalservices@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 8:33 PM To: cmorris@morriscomm.net; Kennedy, Marty Subject: Brunswick Naval Air Station website form submittal I wonder if it would be possible to get a paper copy of the entire study report. Thank you George Thompson Email sent by VHB QuickMail.NET 30
Page 1 and 2:
Transportation Feasibility Study Re
Page 4 and 5:
Table of Contents Executive Summary
Page 6 and 7:
4.11.1 Maine Street/US Route 1 Inte
Page 8 and 9:
List of Figures Figure No. Descript
Page 10 and 11:
Executive Summary Introduction/Back
Page 12 and 13:
motorists to get out of their vehic
Page 14 and 15:
along each of the cross roadways. U
Page 16 and 17:
leg of the intersection, which prov
Page 18 and 19:
Route 1 intersection could be consi
Page 20 and 21:
1 Introduction 1.1 Project Backgrou
Page 22 and 23:
Throughout this Feasibility Study,
Page 24 and 25:
1.4.1 Public Informational Meetings
Page 26 and 27:
Table 1.4-3. Study Advisory Committ
Page 28 and 29:
F CATHANCE RIVER MEADOW RD W HITEHO
Page 30 and 31:
as a principal arterial and extends
Page 32 and 33:
membership fee of $35. ZipCar membe
Page 34 and 35:
network, with the goal of providing
Page 36 and 37:
Androscoggin River Bicycle and Pede
Page 38 and 39:
2009 Design Hour Volume The unit of
Page 40 and 41:
Table 2.2-1. Existing Traffic-Volum
Page 42 and 43:
USE CROOSING RD JESSE RD D AUGUST C
Page 44:
Table 2.2-3. Unsignalized Intersect
Page 47 and 48:
were identified, individual police
Page 49 and 50:
determined to be HCLs. A sixth inte
Page 51 and 52:
HOUSE CROOSING RD JESSE RD RD AUGUS
Page 53 and 54:
grocery store. The size of the pond
Page 55 and 56:
The Strategy 2B Study Area east of
Page 57 and 58:
Sections 435-449). However, the riv
Page 59 and 60:
Areas mapped by the NRCS as Prime F
Page 61 and 62:
OUSE CROOSING RD JESSE RD RD AUGUST
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
the MRRA. This report presents info
Page 69 and 70:
anged between 14 sales in 2008 and
Page 71 and 72:
to have covered the entire town. No
Page 73 and 74:
Table 2.4-1. Properties Listed in t
Page 75 and 76:
Town/Address /Location Name Brief D
Page 77 and 78:
unclear whether any other additiona
Page 79 and 80:
Strategy 2B Based on field observat
Page 81 and 82:
P USE CROOSING RD JESSE RD D AUGUST
Page 83 and 84:
3 Future Conditions 3.1 Introductio
Page 85 and 86:
3.3 NASB and Topsham Annex Trip Est
Page 89 and 90:
(also known as internal capture). A
Page 91 and 92:
4 Summary of Options 4.1 Introducti
Page 93 and 94:
Site Walk Access Improvements: This
Page 95 and 96:
4.5 Passenger Rail and Bus Rapid Tr
Page 97 and 98:
and then overpasses US Route 1 adja
Page 99 and 100:
parallel to US Route 1. They termin
Page 101 and 102:
MAP-41 LOT-14E MAP-41 LOT-14D MAP-4
Page 103 and 104:
MAP-41 LOT-17B MAP-44 LOT-1 MAP-44
Page 105 and 106:
o o Options 3A and 3B assess the po
Page 107 and 108:
short distance (i.e., 0.1 mile) bef
Page 109 and 110:
4.7.5 Option 3A Option 3A (Figure 4
Page 111 and 112:
Option 5 widens and reconstructs a
Page 113 and 114:
HORTON PL REST DR UV196 ANTHONYAV 2
Page 115 and 116:
AV Map R05A Lot 30- Map R05A Lot 31
Page 117 and 118:
Map R04 Lot 18- Map R04 Lot 47-2 LL
Page 119 and 120:
4.8 Strategy 2B - Improve Mobility
Page 121 and 122:
four options, and the maximum benef
Page 123 and 124:
oundabout from the south. This opti
Page 125 and 126:
MAP-U25 LOT-20 Bailey Ln Ln B ailey
Page 127 and 128:
MAP-U24 LOT-2A River Rd MAP-U24 LOT
Page 129 and 130:
MAP-U25 LOT-20 MAP-16 LOT-1 Bailey
Page 131 and 132:
MAP-U25 LOT-20 MAP-16 LOT-1 Bailey
Page 133 and 134:
Option 1 includes continuous sidewa
Page 135 and 136:
MAP-U23 LOT-94 MAP-U23 LOT-90 Map U
Page 137 and 138:
The primary challenge with Option 1
Page 139 and 140:
Town of Brunswick, Maine MAP-U04 LO
Page 141 and 142:
Town of Brunswick, Maine 1 £¤ And
Page 143 and 144:
Results of the preliminary screenin
Page 145 and 146:
Summary of Options 136
Page 147 and 148:
5.1.2 Traffic Operations As previou
Page 149 and 150:
5.1.4 Cost Estimates Planning-level
Page 151 and 152:
impacted property. However, using t
Page 153:
Bath Road. The following signalized
Page 156 and 157:
5.2.3 Build Options A traffic-opera
Page 158 and 159:
(USACE) if it is selected for advan
Page 160 and 161:
oadways located on the northeast an
Page 162 and 163: intersection of US Route 201 and Ol
Page 164 and 165: etaining a signalized intersection
Page 166 and 167: 5.2.3.4 Strategy 2C - Improve Mobil
Page 168 and 169: Environmental Impacts Environmental
Page 170 and 171: 6 Conclusions The purpose of this F
Page 172 and 173: Because the secondary connector roa
Page 183 and 184: Appendix B Throughout the study, th
Page 185 and 186: From: missysdad@hotmail.com [mailto
Page 187 and 188: everyday traffic for doctor visits
Page 189 and 190: carpool, mass transit, or other. Wh
Page 191 and 192: decision makers are going to faced
Page 193 and 194: From: cwiercinski@sitelinespa.com S
Page 195 and 196: From: mar-e_trebilcock@msad51.org [
Page 197 and 198: From: Chris Baker, Harpswell [chris
Page 199 and 200: I thought that the Topsham Coastal
Page 201 and 202: From: charris@tidewater.net Sent: F
Page 203 and 204: Brunswick, ME 04011 207-729-0787 Al
Page 205 and 206: proposals it requires the most land
Page 207 and 208: From: cp348@aol.com [mailto:cp348@a
Page 209 and 210: Do NOT add to mailing list. Email s
Page 211: 'inner' Pleasant Street is a barrie
show all

Final Report - VHB.com

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?