Council receives traffic advisory, school strategic-plan survey and Route 1 meeting notice

Interim City Administrator Emily Cole Prescott delivered several administrative updates at the Saco City Council meeting on Sept. 15, including a traffic advisory, the opening of a school strategic-plan survey and meeting dates, and notice of a regional Route 1 planning meeting.

Prescott said CSX crews will perform railroad crossing repairs at the Main Street crossing in downtown Saco beginning at 9 a.m. on Sept. 17. Main Street will be closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles while crews complete repairs; the work is subject to change for weather or other factors and the city will post updates if available. Detour details are included in the administrator’s report.

Prescott also announced that Saco Schools has opened an initial community survey as part of a comprehensive revision of its strategic plan. The school district will hold strategic-planning committee meetings twice monthly on Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; members of the public interested in participating as a standing committee member were directed to the contact listed in the committee notice.

Finally, Prescott noted the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) — in partnership with Saco, Biddeford and Scarborough — will hold a Reimagining Route 1 public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Saco Public Works. The meeting will allow residents to review ideas such as traffic calming, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, transit options and intersection changes and provide feedback to help prioritize projects.

Councilors asked no substantive questions during the update; no votes were taken on these informational items.