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Bangor releases draft MDOT Village Partnership Initiative report; staff will present two downtown corridor options in January
Summary
City staff presented a draft MDOT Village Partnership Initiative report that offers two main improvement options for Bangor’s downtown corridor — a bicycle- and pedestrian-focused plan that keeps one-way traffic, or a more transformational two-way conversion with small roundabouts.
City Engineer Jefferson Davis presented a draft report on the MDOT Village Partnership Initiative (VPI) to the Infrastructure Committee, saying the consultant’s draft includes two primary options for the downtown Main Street corridor and related blocks and that staff will return with a final draft and cost/pros-and-cons analysis in January.
Davis said the city engaged a consultant team through a request for proposals and received a lengthy draft report; he suggested committee members focus on chapter 5, which contains the recommended improvements and two options for the corridor. Option A in the draft focuses on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and traffic/pedestrian improvements while retaining much of the current one-way circulation. Option B is a more transformative approach, proposing conversion to two-way traffic on Harlow and Central with a system of small roundabouts at several intersections and multimodal infrastructure.
Davis said the study included multiple public workshops and online surveys and that Sewell (consultant) and its subconsultant prepared a draft of recommended improvements. "When we when we bring the final draft to you, it's not brand new," Davis said; he added the final presentation in January will include DOT staff, more detailed pros-and-cons and cost estimates, and a request for a resolution to advance the chosen option to design if the committee supports it.
Council members expressed concern about senior drivers and public acceptance of roundabouts and asked for a clear pros-and-cons table and cost estimates. Councilor Lambert urged that the city consider piloting smaller areas before wide rollout to avoid disruption to longtime travel patterns. Davis and staff said additional public outreach and education would be part of any implementation process and that the consultant and DOT would assist with more detailed design and community engagement if the committee endorses a path forward.
Next steps: staff will provide a concise memo with pros and cons and cost estimates, invite the consultant and DOT to a January meeting, and request a committee resolution to proceed with the chosen option when the final report is presented. No formal committee vote occurred during the update.
