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Saco staff asked to seek MaineDOT speed studies after officials find posted-limit discrepancies
Summary
City staff asked the council to authorize requesting MaineDOT speed studies on Jenkins Road and a segment from Fosse Road to the bridal school after staff found discrepancies between local posted speeds and DOT records. Officials warned studies can raise, lower or leave limits unchanged and that DOT's queue may delay results for months.
Staff asked the council to authorize the municipality to request speed studies from the Maine Department of Transportation after a review found apparent discrepancies between locally posted limits and DOT records on several streets.
Director Moore said Traffic Safety had recommended a speed study for Jenkins Road (the full length) and "one segment from Fosse Road down to the bridal school"; staff also reported researching Route 1/Main Street and finding differences between locally posted limits and the DOT map. Chief Clements described the discrepancies: Elm Street appears locally posted as 25 mph but DOT lists it as 30 mph; a Main Street segment (Eastman Park to Ross Road) is posted locally as 30 mph while DOT shows 35 mph; and a longer stretch was locally posted as 35 mph while DOT shows 45 mph.
A MaineDOT video explaining the agency's methodology for setting speeds was shown; staff emphasized DOT's methodology now weighs roadway context (lane and shoulder widths, land use, pedestrians and crash data) and that a speed study could result in the posted limit staying the same, increasing or decreasing. Director Moore said the city could request multiple studies, pursue a phased approach, or choose a single road to start; he also warned that DOT maintains a queue and the analysis could take several months (possibly six to eight months).
Councilors endorsed moving the request forward; staff said the item will return as a second reading under new business at the next council meeting for final adoption after Traffic Safety committee review.
The discussion cited DOT materials and noted the city is eligible for DOT cost-sharing and grant partnerships for engineering changes where warranted.
