Establishing a Joint Vision

1
Establishing a Joint Vision Goals for US Route 1

• Wiscasset-Edgecomb Joint Boards of Selectmen
  Workshop
• November 14, 2011

2
Purpose

• Develop a feasible, jointly-accepted Vision for
  US Route 1 without a Major Bypass
• Reconsider pertinent traffic data from a
  non-bypass perspective
• Establish data-based and performance-driven
  realistic goals for US Route 1
• Develop a short-term process by which candidate
  non-bypass strategies will be identified,
  evaluated and selected

3
Expectations

• Re-establish good working relationships
• Short Duration (1 Year)
• Minimally Process-Driven
• Most non-bypass strategies have already been
  suggested (but open for more ideas)
• Remain focused, realistic
• Implement low-cost, short-term strategies by
  summer 2012
• Higher cost, long-term strategies later
• High-Cost Low-Benefit strategies likely will
  not be funded

4
Approach Joint Boards

• Review pertinent traffic and other data
• Establish a non-bypass vision for US Rte. 1
• Establish data-based goals
• Develop performance-based, measurable evaluation
  criteria to weigh strategies
• Review non-bypass strategies provided to date,
  identify any new potential strategies
• Identify the process by which strategies will be
  evaluated and prioritized

5
Timeline

• Joint Boards
• Develop Vision, Goals, Evaluation Criteria
  Process
• Expect 2 to 3 facilitated meetings
• Complete by January 2012
• Evaluate potentially feasible strategies
• MaineDOT and Municipally-Identified Partners
• Complete by June 2012 (unless new data or a pilot
  study are needed)
• Implement selected low-cost strategies summer
  2012 if possible
• Consider higher cost selected strategies for
  2014-2015 biennial capital program funding

6
Comparisons Traffic Volumes Ogunquit,
Brunswick, Camden Ellsworth

• US Rte. 1 Capacity
• Range 1,150 - 2,900 Vehicles/Hr
• Wiscasset 1,900 Vehicles/Hr (2nd Highest)
• US Rte 1 Seasonally Adjusted Volume
• Range 14,300 34,300 Vehicles/Day
• Wiscasset 21,400 (3rd Highest)
• Volume-to-Capacity Ratios
• Range 11.3 13.5
• Wiscasset 11.3 (Lowest)

7
Comparisons 2006-2010 Crash History Ogunquit,
Brunswick, Camden Ellsworth

• Crashes per Hundred Million Miles Traveled
• Range 238 749
• Wiscasset 320 (2nd Lowest)
• Crashes per Mile of Highway
• Range 11 65
• Wiscasset 21 (3rd Lowest)
• Percent Pedestrian-Related Crashes
• Range 0.6 - 3.3
• Wiscasset 3.3 (Highest)
• Percent Truck-Related Crashes
• Range 1.6 - 4.2
• Wiscasset 4.2 (Highest)

8
US Route 1 Traffic Destinations

• Northbound Traffic Sources at Davey Bridge
• 55.8 - US Route 1, West Bath
• 44.2 - Other (e.g., Rtes. 27, 218, etc.)
• Destinations for West Bath Traffic at Davey
  Bridge
• 18.7 - Rte. 27, Edgecomb
• 9.1 - Damariscotta
• 3.5 - Waldoboro
• 7.7 - Thomaston / Rockland
• 5.4 - Camden
• 2.5 - Belfast / Searsport
• 8.9 - Points Beyond Waldo County

9
US Rte. 1 vs. Alternate RoutesTravel Times in
Minutes
Destination Point Via US Rte. 1 Via Alternate Difference in Time
Damariscotta 37 67 30
Waldoboro 51 70 19
Rockland 71 88 17
Camden 74 85 11
Belfast 98 94 -4
Bucksport 120 111 -9
Ellsworth 142 133 -9
10
Recent Traffic Trends - Volumes

• Followed MaineDOT projections until the 2008
  economic downturn
• Volumes increased in 2010 over 2009 but are down
  again so far for 2011
• Summer volumes (May 1 through Oct. 31)
• Increased 2.98 from 2009 to 2010
• Decreased 3.14 from 2010 to 2011

11
Recent Traffic Trends - Delays

• Speed Data Collection Periods
• June 18-Oct 31, 2009
• May 1 through October 31 since
• Delays
• 2009 13,867 hours
• 2010 23,382 hours
• 2011 21,051 hours
• Traffic Volumes
• 2009-2010 traffic volumes 2.98
• 2010-2011 traffic volumes - 3.14
• 2011 Police Officer Traffic Management Pilot
  Project
• Reduced northbound traffic volumes
• Increased southbound traffic volumes
• Minimal overall impact to traffic flow, but
  seemed less chaotic

12
Recent Traffic Safety Trends

• 3 High Crash Locations
• Intersection of Rte. 27 _at_ US Rte. 1, Wiscasset
• US Rte. 1, from Railroad Crossing to Edgecomb
  Town Line
• Intersection of Rte. 27 _at_ US Rte. 1, Edgecomb
• 7 Other Locations having Critical Rate Factors
  gt1.0
• US Rte. 1, from Old Bath Rd. to Flood Ave.
• Intersection of US Rte. 1 _at_ Lee St.
• US Rte. 1, from Lee St. to Churchill St.
• Intersection of US Rte. 1 _at_ Rte. 218 Fort Hill
  St.
• US Rte. 1, from Middle St. to Water St.
• Intersection of US Rte. 1 _at_ Eddy Road
• US Rte. 1, from Englebrekt Rd. to Route 27

13
Section 106 Historic Preservation Act

• National Register of Historic Places
• Wiscasset Historic District
• Wiscasset Jail Museum (Rte. 218)
• US Customs House Post Office-Old Courthouse
  (Water St.)
• Red Brick School (Warren St.)
• Captain George Scott House (Rte. 218)
• Races Cabins, US Route 1 (Eligible)
• National Historic Landmarks
• Nickels-Sortwell House (Main St.)

14
Questions?

• Gerry Audibert, P.E.
• Bureau of Transportation Systems Planning
• Maine Department of Transportation
• 16 SHS, Child Street
• Augusta, ME 04333-0016
• [phone]
• gerry.audibert_at_maine.gov