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Traffic Study Committee Meetings
Minutes for July 31, 2002 Traffic Study Committee
In attendance: Chairman John Rudolph,
Pat Robinson, Amy Miller, Mark Gagnon, Allen Breed. Not present: Gerry
Macpherson, John Ford.
Brad Christo of Old Fields Road described
how this area was developed. He told of how 236 was an old railroad bed
which cut through many wetlands which today could not be developed due
to environmental regulations. He described where a possible bypass could
go, running along the power lines from the intersection
of Witchtrot Road, 236 and 91 over Knights Pond and Emery's Bridge Roads
and over to Route 4. It would go right through Knight's pond, requirinng
fill.
David Kenney of Highland Ave. talked
about the need to reduce intown traffic and pointed out that the damage
done by a bypass to a few dozen residents is small compared to what thousands
of people who live or work in town deal with every day.
The group agreed a traffic survey
may be needed to see how much the traffic has increased in the last few
years, and to determine what per centage of traffic would be served by
a bypass.
There was discussion of the number
of over-passes that would be needed, or intersections that would be formed.
It would have to be decided whether the road would be limited access or
not. A limited access road could divide the town, and block residents
from using the road. But a road without limited access creates more frontage
which is open to development.
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Minutes for September 18, 2002 Traffic
Study Committee
All members present except John Ford.
Tom Reinauer from the Southern Maine
Regional Planning Commission attended this meeting to discuss the possibility
of the Kittery Area Comprehensive
Transportation Study (KACTS) conducting a count of traffic in downtown
South Berwick. He said the count could be done by handing out cards to
drivers, or by marking down license plates. The former would exclude trucks,
because it is illegal to go up to a truck window.
The committee discussed what kind
of traffic count would work best, and whether it is necessary. Gerry McPherson
wondered if the old counts are just as good, and what new we would learn.
The group decided an updated count
was worth having, and that it would ask Reinauer to express this sentiment
to KACTS and see what is possible.
He estimated the cost would be $5,000
to $10,000. The price would be a fraction of that if volunteers did the
leg work. Federal funds would pay for the count if the commission agrees
to do it.
Reinauer said he would ask the KACTS
committee at a meeting the following week.
Richard Smith of Portland St. asked
about a count already going on in town. Reinauer said it is the state
counting traffic.
Richard Nutter of Quarry Drive suggested
something simple be done.
South Berwick Police Chief Dana Lajoie
said his force would help keep whoever is doing the count safe on the
streets.
The next meeting was set for October
9, 2002.
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