Final downtown streetscape and transportation study recommends one‑way improvements, bike lanes and waterfront park; cost estimate $42.45M

The Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 19 received the final Downtown Bangor Transportation and Streetscape Improvements Study, a MaineDOT‑partner planning effort that lays out three circulation options, recommends intersection and streetscape improvements, and estimates a total program cost of $42,450,000.

Jefferson Davis, Director of Engineering, said the study is a feasibility document intended to support future design and construction funding applications. "This is just a feasibility study. There's no construction funds or engineering funds included with this aspect of it," Davis said. He and the consultant team said the study is intended to position the city to pursue preliminary engineering and construction funds with MaineDOT and federal programs.

The consultant team (Sewell and View Shed) and MaineDOT presented the process: an initial public workshop (May 22, 2024), two digital surveys (May–July and Sept. 19–Oct. 5) that drew 104 and 399 responses respectively, a sidewalk‑festival engagement, detailed fieldwork and a traffic and safety analysis. Project manager Jody O'Neil of Sewell summarized the recommended measures for the circular downtown core (Central, State and Franklin): keep one‑way circulation while adding streetscape and intersection improvements; convert angled parking to parallel in many blocks; add curb bump‑outs and raised crosswalks; install protected bike lanes with bike boxes at intersections; add bike racks; and improve ADA and detectable‑warning features.

The study presented three alternatives: Option A maintains existing one‑way circulation with targeted streetscape/intersection improvements; Option B converts the loop to two‑way traffic with signalized intersections; Option C converts to two‑way using roundabouts. O'Neil said the consultant team recommended the one‑way option with signalized intersections and streetscape upgrades for the central loop.

On specific locations, the team recommended removing a signal at Main and Broad while retaining a marked pedestrian crossing with an RRFB (rapid‑flashing beacon), reconfiguring the Washington/Broad area to remove a right‑turn slip lane and improve sight lines and crossings, and creating a shared‑use plaza in Merchant's Plaza/Broad Street that would remain open to low traffic but provide flexible space for events and pedestrian use. The team also proposed a linear waterfront park along the Condescu (river) that would reclaim unused pavement and create green space with potential flood‑mitigation and water‑access opportunities.

The study includes a detailed discussion of bike‑lane types and maintenance considerations for winter snowclearing. Committee members asked about plowing and maintenance; consultants and MaineDOT staff said treatment choice will affect maintenance and the city would need to coordinate how buffers and delineators are managed in winter. "There are collapsible ones that can be removable as well so that if a town wanted to or city wanted to take them out for the winter, they could," said Blair Winter, MaineDOT project manager.

The team provided a parking inventory: existing spaces counted 162 and the recommended alignment in the presented option yields 163 spaces, a net wash due to straightened alignments and selective bump‑outs. The consultants noted that Main Street between Water and Broad has aging water mains, storm and sewer lines and is the priority area for utility work before or concurrent with streetscape construction.

Costing and funding: the study estimates a total program cost of $42,450,000 and recommends pursuing phased work and federal discretionary funding for bundled construction projects. Consultants and MaineDOT outlined typical funding shares for preliminary engineering and construction (discussed in the meeting as roughly 80% federal/10% state/10% local for construction matches); the presentation noted that MaineDOT can fund stormwater and certain traffic improvements but not sewer or drinking water replacements.

Davis told the committee staff has drafted a resolution (not on the meeting packet) that would be brought to a future meeting and then to full council to indicate the city's intent to partner with MaineDOT on the next two stages. Staff stressed that committing to partnership acknowledges a potential local match component. The draft resolution will be returned to the committee for consideration at the next meeting.

No construction funding or formal council commitment was approved at this meeting; committee members asked staff for phased options and a timeline to accompany the draft resolution when it returns for a vote.