01/19/05
Council to consider acceptance of funds for Town Center
traffic light at February meeting
The Town Council will consider accepting funds for a full traffic light at
the Scott Dyer Road/Shore Road/Route 77 intersection in February.
In November, the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee endorsed
$350,000 for Cape Elizabeth's application for a full signal, geometric
modification and pedestrian improvements for the intersection in the Town
Center. The intersection is currently served by a blinking red and yellow
light.
The council approved application for the funds last April, but by a close
4-3 vote. Voting against the application were councilors Carol Fritz; current
chairman Anne Swift-Kayatta; and John McGinty, who is no longer on the council.
Voting for the application were then-chairman Mary Ann Lynch; and councilors
Jack Roberts, Michael Mowles and David Backer. During the vote Backer indicated
that he favored the application but was not at that time prepared to support
installation of the light.
Also up for approval is PACTS funding for shim and overlay of 2.2 miles of
Shore Road between Fort Williams and Route 77 ($230,000); and for .8 miles
of Sawyer Road between Fickett Street and Eastman Road ($84,000).
PACTS funds 85 percent of project costs. If the council accepts the funds,
Cape Elizabeth would pay its 15 percent share from the Roadway Drainage
Improvement Account. According to PACTS Director John Duncan, federal funds
for these projects becomes available in late 2005, and because MaineDOT will
not build all of these projects in 2006, localities might not pay their share
until 2006 or later.
A similar proposal to signalize the intersection at Scott Dyer, Shore and
Ocean House roads gained PACTS approval in the early 1990s, but was turned
down by the council.
The meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14, 2005.
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