Brunswick outlines Stephen Drive connector plan at neighborhood meeting

[0:08] Ryan Layton: Good evening, everyone. My name is Ryan Layton. I'm Public Works Director. Welcome to the Stevens Drive, or Stevens, excuse me, I keep throwing the S on there, Drive neighborhood meeting. Got a PowerPoint that we'll go through real quick. And then at the end of the meeting, we'll have plenty of time for questions and answers. And I did also want to mention up front that we have another meeting that's scheduled in here at 6 o'clock tonight, so we will have a hard stop time around 545, 10 minutes to 6, something along those lines. So go ahead, next slide, Larry. Brief agenda, we'll do quick introductions and then go through the project background, a little bit more in depth over the project overview, and then design walkthrough, talk about some next steps and then the most important part the community feedback which is why we scheduled this meeting next slide Larry again Ryan Layton Public Works Director we'll go around I guess you might just start Chrissy even though there's not an order [1:12] Chrissy Ademo: Chrissy Ademo it's economic community development project manager and staff liaison to the bicycle [1:17] Sally Costello: and pedestrian advisory committee Sally Costello director of economic and community development [1:24] Laura Smith: I'm Laura Smith I'm a project engineer for the town Julie Erdman director of planning and [1:29] Ryan Layton: development Jay Astle assistant town manager next slide Larry so just a little background the slide up here shows kind of roughly where we're talking about in terms of Stephen Drive it is currently a private road that basically feeds the old Regal Cinema as well as a couple other commercial properties in that area the town has long had a desire to make a connection between Garnett Road and Thomas Point Road and this location as well as one other location has been considered but this one right here we have some neighboring property owners that are willing participants in this project so we've focused on this particular location. The plan for this section once it's constructed will be to meet our complete street policies. And one of the other major issues we would do as part of this project is address some ponding water issues that are on some of the adjacent properties. Next slide. 2014 THE TOWN DID A preliminary design which is shown here on the screen that basically presented a layout that could connect your net road to Thomas Point Road and project was not advanced until recently and as part of last year's CIP I believe part of the CIP right we budgeted funding for a preliminary design and that's how we've gotten to the point where I'm at now next slide I think the biggest goal out of this project is to alleviate the traffic conflicts that we have at thomas point road and Bath Road as well as the Cook's Corner intersection. The new road would be approximately 800 feet long. Again, it would comply with the town's complete street policy, and one of the biggest benefits I think for this project would be the 10 foot multi, 10 foot wide multi modal bicycle pedestrian path that would be adjacent to the roadway. Again, we'd install a new storm drain and appropriate lighting for pedestrian and motor vehicle safety. Next slide. This is basically a rendering of what the proposed roadway width would look like, including some landscaping on both sides, the 10-foot multi-use path, and then just two travel lanes for a majority of it. You would still maintain that third lane at the intersection of Garnett Road where the traffic signal is. Next slide. Again, this is a greater detail showing the design of the Steven Drive, how it would connect at Garnett, which is essentially at the existing traffic signal, shows some of the storm drainage, and then the associated curb cuts for the adjacent property owners. Next slide shows the other half of the project. Again, this would be towards the Thomas Point end, and it shows the connections that we would make with the Regal Cinema lot, which is now Pathway Vineyard Church, and then again potential for additional development off from that roadway. Next slide. This is the final connection to Thomas Point. I know we're breezing through this, and I think this is hard for people to see much from the screen. We do have some paper maps that we can go over as we move along as well. Next slide. One of the biggest things that we've been internally evaluating is the street lighting options. INITIAL BUDGET ESTIMATE HAD A significant number of street lights and we're trying to balance the benefit of how many street lights would make the roadways safe for all users but also not have something that's overly intrusive for other property owners that are in the area so that is one of our in terms of i mean the roadway itself is pretty straightforward this these some of these amenities are some of the important things that we are looking for feedback on next slide so right now our plan set is i believe at 60 percent and what we would do following this meeting is finalize the road design and then go through the permitting process with the planning department and then work with the property owners to acquire the appropriate right-of-way that we need for the roadway and then work through the fine the budgeting process with the Finance Committee and then ultimately with the Town Council to obtain the funding to put the project out to bid and ultimately complete the construction we are working with Maine DOT and I've already spoken to them about this project they're obviously very interested in what we can do there as well just to help with that Thomas point intersection part but we would be looking to apply for a business partnership initiative grant with the MDOT which would help cover approximately a third of the total project cost next slide so this is I think why we're all here again I breezed through that presentation and happy to go back to any other slides throughout this part of the of the meeting so we can try to answer questions but also point out any specific areas that people have some questions about but if you would just line up at the podium and then make sure that you give your name town of residence we'll have a three minute limit roughly for speakers and we will go to anybody that's online as well once we've had a chance for those that are in the room to ask questions so without further ado please feel free to so [7:44] Lisa Trombley: just lisa trombley i live on thomas point road there in brunswick and i just wrote down some notes as you're speaking so you want me just rattle off all my questions sure we may not be able to answer everything tonight right okay so the first one is what are the thoughts of where steven's drive would intersect with thomas point road would there be a potential traffic light there or are we thinking just a stop sign i heard you mentioned potential other development are you referring to is if you Were driving on Stevens Road headed to Thomas Point, would that be to the left and what we sometimes refer to as the concrete pond? I also heard private road, does that mean that is his current condition and it will be changing to a town public road? Okay, will this road development be done in conjunction with the plan to redevelop and widen the Thomas Point Road or be done separately and in interim while we wait for this project to be done? I didn't know if anybody had the answer to the potential of a no right on red at the intersection off from 24. I'd heard that going around but I never heard there was an end result of that. Thank you, I [9:08] Ryan Layton: think we can answer most of those. With the intersection with Thomas Point Road would be a stop sign, wouldn't be a traffic light there. The development I think that was referred to is on that north side of Steven Drive. The this work will not be in conjunction with any work on Thomas Point Road. We do have Thomas Point Road in the capital improvement project list but we need to do this project first before we can address those issues on Thomas Point Road, primarily because we need to have be able to provide access from Thomas Point Road going north over to Garnet Road and then Cook's Corner because of likely the substantial work that would happen on Thomas Point Road in proximity to the Bath Road intersection. So we just need to have another relief outlet there, which is why the order of this is Stephen Drive, then Thomas Point Road. Oh, and then the right turn on red at the light at Gurnett Road. I don't know if a formal request has been made to DOT to look at that. And just for reference there, if you're coming off from Route 1 northbound and you cross over the tracks and you look up at the light, most people or some people don't recognize this until it's too late. There's a an intermittent no turn on right onto Bath Road and it's probably something likely similar to that on Garrett Road going north, but we are aware of that. Would possibly help create a break in traffic if you're coming up on Thomas Point Road to try to cross over Bath Road and go and go back west. So yeah, we are aware of that. Lisa, can I just make [11:09] Sally Costello: and Lisa, you may be referring, that was brought up during the Cook's Corner revitalization plan, that was something MDOT was looking at and that's probably where you heard [11:30] Lisa Trombley: So just in reference to you clarifying that this road development would not be done in conjunction with the Thomas Point Road, I'm hoping that you guys will kind of try to develop it in a way that the when they do to Thomas Point Road that it will kind of flow well together. There's been some projects in town that have, you know, torn up some roads and done some things and then a year later we're tearing those same roads up again. It doesn't seem very fiscally responsible to do that sort of thing so I hope you guys kind of keep that in mind. [12:15] Ryan Layton: Steve Luchin, I live up on Sandy Ridge Road off Thomas Point. My comment is not so much about the road itself, more of an observation and wanted to alert you to something I think I've observed. So a Tefford housing has a great mission, I support it, and they've done a great job, they've been an excellent neighbor since they've started there. By there seems to be a little more foot traffic, it's not surprising, and what I've observed is particularly in the wintertime what you'll find I think is you have more people particularly families moving up and down Thomas Point Road pedestrians now we have pedestrians all the time on the road and that you know that 's just part of what that road is but with the families and particularly in the winter time when it the road is much more narrow and there's snow all around there's no choice but for them to walk down the middle of the road and it's frankly it's quite dangerous and they walk at night time and visibility is very limited there might be a possibility here for a sidewalk that could be put in perhaps in the front Tedford is that far away, there might be a kitty corner, there could be a crosswalk perhaps, maybe with alert signs, just something to consider for the future because I mean they're it's really concerning. And the possibility of maybe additional signage for speed limits, I think it's 25 through there, people have a tendency to move a apparent tendency to move through there pretty quickly, maybe quicker than they should. So you know maybe there might be an enforcement element for time to time as well that would be helpful. So anyway that's not directly related to the road but something that possibly could be considered during the development. That's all I didn't hear a question, but I will address that we have talked about sidewalk on Thomas Point Road, unclear whether we'd be able to do it based on the existing right-of-way and in particular what obstacles exist in terms of utilities as well as structures, and also not sure how far down Thomas Point Road that would go, but definitely that's on our radar, for sure, when we get to Thomas Point Road. [15:37] Chrissy Ademo: My name is Nancy Suga here. I live on Pogie Lane, which is down Adams Road on the other side of the causeway. I'm wondering about the increase in traffic once this reopens. And is this going to cause a problem for the church in particular? The other part of that is there's currently a driveway before you get to the church which has been paved with a parking area, you can't go through there, and I don't know if the church is going to be using that driveway, and if they are, how will people know to go to Stephen Drive instead of going to the church parking lot off what would be Stephen Drive and the Riegel parking lot, there was this whole area that was Taco Bell and Applebee's that was unpaved and would flood and just looked awful, is that being paved as part of this project? And is your thought that, may I rephrase that a minute, do you think the church will be open before, the church, you know, rehab will be open before this project is completed? And if it's not, would Stephen Drive be open before the church renovation is completed? Meaning, would we be able to use the drive, Stephen Drive road, whatever it's called, sooner? Oh yeah, do you have a sense of when this might be finished, the project? And the last question addresses the effect on the people who live across the street, that's [18:01] Ryan Layton: right, I get it, I don't want to speak for Pathway Vineyard and I don't know if Alan, if you wanted to come up and mention it, but the right, everybody knows that property when it was Regal Cinema and even after Regal clothes, I use that as a cut through, that back access point on Thomas Point Road, the southerly one I believe is getting closed off so people won't mistake it for cutting through, the only location to cut across would be Stephen Drive, to legitimately cut across would be Stephen Drive, the I think the parking lot or behind KFC and Taco Bell that's gravel right now and I think Lisa referred to as what concrete pond or priority pond I like yeah that won't be paved as part of this project no this is only contemplates the road and existing and potentially future driveway entrances it would not extend on to private property this the Stephen Drive Road work will happen almost 100% assuredly after pathway vineyard occupies that space I think we're reasonably sure about that and in terms of this project boy when would when would it be complete what is it 20 yeah it depends on funding no earlier than next year for certain which is why i say reasonably sure that pathway vineyard will be in their building before then and then that impacts for there's particularly i think maybe two PROPERTIES WHERE STEPHEN DRIVE, AS CURRENTLY CONCEIVED, ENTERS ONTO THOMAS POINT ROAD. THERE'S TWO PROPERTIES THERE, AND WE'VE GOT VEGETATIVE SCREENING TO MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF HEADLIGHTS, I THINK, IS PROBABLY THE LARGEST IMPACT THERE. SO WE'VE TRIED TO SCREEN THE HECK OUT OF THAT, I GUESS, IS the best way to do that to say that but I'd say we're only at 60% plan set right now and I'm sure there'll be more conversations about how we can further reduce the impacts there and in particular [20:52] Rich Ellis: so rich Ellis Brunswick Maine I actually live down the street on Adams Road, so I'm familiar with this area as well and would support what you had said as far as Regal had always been the cut through for that. And so with that being closed off, it really has created a hardship for pretty much anyone living Thomas Point all the way down to Meadow and Adams. Question, not that it matters, is more of curiosity. You showed the maps. It was really hard to align with what they were. the multimodal pathway was that on the north side towards the pond or the south side towards the theater towards the theater okay and short run of road is there a conceived speed limit that this would have as a question that I have I would emphasize or Reese resupport the consideration for the house at the end which I'm sure you guys will because I have heard a fair amount of feedback about that and how lights headlights coming into somebody's living room isn't ideal on the timetable when you Say next year just clarity with that because one of the things that I had heard because of projecting what next year might mean is next fiscal year which would actually be summer like if we're thinking people's calendars is it summer of 28 or summer of 27 that we're talking about Stevens and then Thomas Point was meant to follow so I'm not entirely clear on that either and I know all of it's contingent upon a crazy town council actually approving things and moving forward so I appreciate that. But in an ideal state what summer are we talking about or fall will there be consideration to oh you talked about the right turn red on Garnet I would support that as well because I think it does control one of the bottlenecks that seems to be leading to more sketchy situations at the top of that point I think this construction will alleviate that you'll probably have less pressure once that happens but I've also heard rumors that there's consideration for making the point of Thomas Point to. Bath Road a right turn only after all of this is done I would probably support that as well just again from a safety perspective I'm not sure turning onto the highway in such short notice is super great particularly considering the way Cumberland Farms is cut there and the way Prompto pretty much abuses the space in that road daily and then one final point I would also support accommodations when you get to the Thomas Point one for the walkers in that area I definitely have seen far more people. and there it used to be you'd see a lot of young people walking through there from Perryman village and down on that side you're now seeing families with strollers and kids and it's really it 's it puts it in a vulnerable situation not having any space in that area to be and so I would just encourage that so the I had a couple questions there but mostly just a couple of comments so I [24:11] Laura Smith: Can answer like scheduling question I think separate from the funding schedule the soonest that our plans would be ready to actually go into construction would be next like 2027 construction season would be the earliest that we would be ready with completed designs and then approved by the Planning Board so that would be I would say and so fall of 2027 construction season would probably be the earliest that we would have a completed project, but that's dependent on funding. [24:47] Ryan Layton: Constructed, yes. Yeah,. In fact, I would say probably rich, more likely 2028 that it would get constructed, just thinking of all the steps and where we're at. We have it slowed slotted in the cip for fiscal year 28, 29 or so. I think it'd probably be pretty aggressive to think that anything could of this, because of the scope of this project, that it could happen in 2027. Can I just add to that just to [25:17] Sally Costello: say that if we are going to be submitting for the bpi, which is mdot funds, our last one which we were just awarded 2027 money and that was six months ago, so it's likely we would, we wouldn't have funding available until 20. [25:37] Rich Ellis: Let me just say the reason I asked that question is just to set expectations, because at the end of the day the traffic pattern north to that point is horrendous. Like I'm amazed that there haven't been accidents yet, and so I think there's a lot of built-up anticipation for this happening, and so if it is going to be 28, people should [25:55] Ryan Layton: know that, you know, bear with it. And I would say the right in right out at Thomas Point Road on to Bath Road, we've talked about, probably still some studying left to do of the benefit of doing that, right. We're trying to, we would be trying to prevent that left turn going west on bath road just because it is so dangerous, and maybe that if we're able to do that right turn on red from garnet road, maybe that provides enough of a break. However, it would be so intermittent, it's hard to imagine that would solve everybody's problem at the intersection. But there's, you mentioned one of the businesses is up there, that there's going to be challenges for sure on what we do for thomas point road work up at that area. I don't, I won't point them out right now because probably everybody in this room knows what they are, so we have a lot of work to figure some things out up at that night, but this is the first step. It's a huge first step to help address, I know everybody's headache trying to get out onto bath road, so we're working on it. Any other questions in the room at this point? See if there's anybody online. Larry, we have anybody online with a handout? There's no other final questions. We can, we can call the meeting adjourned, but we can stick around and look at the plans if you'd like to look at some of the stuff in detail. We can put some stuff up on the screen or the hard copies over here if you'd like. So I guess with that we'll close out the meeting, but we'll stick around and try to answer any other individual questions that People might have all set. Well, thank you all very much for coming.