Ellsworth Safe Routes to School Study

Notes for the Meeting of January 24, 2008= :

10:00 a.m. in the = city Council Chamber

Present were: Helena Peters= on, Director of Healthy Communities; Ray Daily, Ellsworth School Department Foo= d Service Director; Jim Fisher, Transportation Planner for the Hancock County Planning Commission; Michelle Beal, Ellsworth City Manager; Michele Gagnon, Ellsworth City Planner; John Deleo, Ellsworth Police Chief and Jef Fitzgerald, Ellswo= rth Deputy City Planner.

After introductions, Jef Fitzgerald described the basics of the MDOT’s upcoming Safe Routes To School Program summarized by the MDOT as follows: <= o:p>

MaineDOT is working = with communities throughout the state that have received approval for funding fo= r infrastructure improvements. Some of these improvements include sidewalks, crossing improvements, pedestrian countdown signals, pedestrian and school zone flas= hing lights, and others designed to make walking safer in communities.

The next round of applications for infrastructure improvements is expected in the spring of 2= 008, so now is a good time to pull your planning team together. It will be impor= tant to show community efforts at improving conditions for walking, as well as planning efforts towards compact walkable village centers. It is helpful for communities to work on creating vibrant, compact, walkable environments thr= ough ordinance requirements and infrastructure improvements.

Goals for improving walkways include:

·      =    Increasing safety for walke= rs

·      =    Opportunities for better he= alth including lower obesity rates among children

·      =    Reducing vehicular traffic congestion and required bus stops

Objectives for improvements include connecting routes from the proposed K-8 School to:

Ø = Neighborhoods within walking distance of the school

Ø = The YMCA and skate board park

Ø = The Ellsworth Public Library, downtown and waterfront

Ø = Existing and planned walkways, including the Shared Use Path (rail-trail).

Implementation priorities include:

1.    Extending the Pond Avenue sidewalk to Shore Road and to State Street via Fifth Street.

2.    Connecting the Pond Avenue sidewalk to the YMCA via a protec= ted walkway.

3.    Connecting the K-8 School parking area to Shore Road (heading west) via a stone path.

4.    Connecting the Forrest Avenue sidewalk to the planned rail-t= rail via the proposed new High School access road.

5.    Repairing the State Street and other sidewalks, as needed, b= ased on potential use by school children.

To-do list before the next meeting:

¨ Get Bike-Ped Plan adopted by the= City Council.

¨ Revise the planning map to illustrate goals and priorities.<= o:p>

¨ Review successful applications by other towns for more ideas (may be available on line.)

¨ Find out how much funding might be available for a project a= nd get cost estimates for proposals.

¨ Coordinate designs with K-8 School, other planned projects a= nd appropriate City Committees.

¨ Watch for grant announcement from MDOT.