The proposal seeks to transform the city’s most iconic streets into a more pedestrian-friendly environment. This involves changing the existing one-way traffic flow to a two-way flow, creating additional pedestrian space, and enhancing public transit options. This shift to a two-way system would be a significant change for the Portland streetscape, but it’s not without its challenges.

Bartlett said approval from the council “really just initiates a process with the (Maine) DOT.” Public works officials are hoping to tie the proposed change, which has been in various stages of consideration for more than a decade, to an upcoming Maine DOT project to replace the traffic signals on both streets. That project and its funding have already been approved, but Portland could supplement roughly $1.5 million to $1.75 million to expand its scope, city officials said at a public meeting last week. Wednesday night, Bartlett said the state had more or less paused progress on its signal project to await word from the city, but requires its formal endorsement before Maine DOT would be willing to discuss plans to share the work and cost.

on Tuesday. The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) is responsible for maintaining and improving the state’s roads and bridges. The MDOT has been working on a project to improve the safety of the roads and bridges in Maine.

This would also reduce the need for emergency vehicles to navigate through residential areas, potentially saving lives. **Elaboration:**

* **Improved Evacuation Routes:** Imagine a scenario where a wildfire breaks out in a densely populated area. The existing one-way roads could become bottlenecks, hindering the flow of vehicles trying to escape.

The city is also considering a “smart city” approach, which involves using technology to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. This could include things like real-time traffic monitoring, adaptive traffic signals, and intelligent transportation systems. The city is also looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety, including widening sidewalks, adding crosswalks, and improving lighting.

Paul Drinan, active transportation director for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, said his organization supports the project generally, but argued that it should include off-street cycling paths, which he called “the gold standard.” Drinan also proposed sacrificing one road of parallel parking for a dedicated public transit lane. Advertisement But Lynne Beasley, who has lived in Cape Elizabeth for about 15 years, said she regularly uses State and High streets to travel through town to her church on Congress Street and to Interstate 295, and she worries about the impact to cross-city traffic. Reached by phone before the meeting, Beasley said she worried about how cars attempting to parallel park might impact traffic flow with only one lane.

This statement reflects a common concern among urban planners and residents about the impact of parking on traffic flow. The problem is particularly acute in cities with dense populations and limited parking availability. In such environments, drivers often resort to circling for parking, leading to congestion and delays. The issue of parking and traffic congestion is not just a local problem; it’s a global phenomenon. Cities around the world are grappling with similar challenges.

Beasley repeated these concerns during the public comment period, suggesting a monthlong trial period before the city commits to breaking any ground.