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Council approves revised resolution to continue MDOT feasibility work for I‑95/I‑195 and Ocean Park Road with cost‑sharing caveat
Summary
After debate, Saco City Council approved a revised resolution asking Maine DOT to study alternatives for Exit 2A and the I‑95 Spur, removing support for a through‑lane closure at Exit 2A and adding language that Saco's local share must be proportionate to benefits the city deems it will receive. The vote was 4–3.
The Saco City Council voted 4–3 on Monday to approve a revised resolution asking the Maine Department of Transportation to continue feasibility work on the Interstate and Ocean Park Road corridor, including reconsidering traffic patterns at Exit 2A and additional work on the I‑95 Spur and Temple Avenue.
The resolution removes support for a through‑lane closure at Exit 2A, recommends further study of signalization and alternative traffic patterns that preserve access to Ocean Park Road, and directs staff to outline Saco’s expectations for any future cost sharing with Old Orchard Beach or state and federal partners. Councilor Gunn introduced the measure and moved approval.
Gunn said the new draft followed earlier council and public input and included MDOT's acceptance of a similar draft. “Staff has coordinated with the Maine DOT on this new resolution and has included the email correspondence noting Maine DOT's acceptance of this draft resolution,” Gunn said.
Council debate focused on process, fiscal risk and the scope of benefits to Saco. Councilor Johnston said he remained unconvinced the city would receive clear benefits and that the council had effectively rejected an earlier version in March. “The current resolution still remains rather unclear as to what the benefit to Saco is,” Johnston said, and he announced he would vote no.
Councilor Hatch proposed and the council adopted an amendment tightening cost‑sharing language: the amendment replaced the phrase that Saco’s fair local share “should” be proportionate to the benefit the city receives with language that Saco’s fair local share “shall” be proportionate to the benefit the city deems it will receive. The amendment passed unanimously, 7–0.
The main motion — as amended — passed on final roll call, 4–3. The yes votes were Councilors Edwards, Berman, Hatch and Hewitt; the no votes were Councilors Parks, Dunn and Johnston. The resolution references the MDOT planning partnership (WIN 26660) and states staff will pursue further feasibility work only under the outlined considerations.
Several councilors emphasized that the approved resolution asks MDOT to perform additional study only; any engineering, design or construction would require separate council approvals and specific cost allocations at future steps. Councilor Burman stressed that subsequent design and construction phases would return for council decisions on funding and cost sharing.
No funding was approved as part of Monday’s vote. The measure returns the issue to MDOT and directs city staff to continue coordination while preserving the council’s ability to evaluate and approve any future financial commitments.
