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Gray seeks sidewalks and secondary emergency access at schools with HUD funds; board presses for gated access controls
Summary
The town and MSAD 15 proposed sidewalks on Libby Hill Road and Route 26 and a new emergency access to the high school, funded largely by a HUD earmark; the planning board supported the safety aims but asked staff to refine gate design, parking control and pedestrian treatments before returning.
Town and school district representatives presented a major site plan amendment Feb. 12 to add pedestrian improvements and an emergency access to the G&G school campus.
Sebago Technics’ Nikki Conant and lead transportation engineer Michael Phy described about 1,700 linear feet of new 5‑ft sidewalks with curb on Libby Hill Road (including reconstruction of about 500 ft of existing sidewalk), roughly 400 ft of new sidewalk on Route 26, ADA‑compliant ramps and pedestrian‑scale lighting, and a new 16‑ft by 350‑ft emergency access drive intended to provide a secondary evacuation and emergency‑vehicle route into the high school parcel. Maine DOT staff have been involved in the design, and the town secured a HUD community project grant (about $838,000) supplemented by $50,000 from the town and $50,000 from the school district.
Board concerns and safety tradeoffs: The board welcomed the safety goals but raised several implementation questions. Members asked how the emergency access would be secured to prevent non‑emergency driving and parking, whether a gate should be installed at one or both ends, and how pedestrians would be discouraged from using the emergency route as an uncontrolled crossing near the signal. Sebago and staff said a range of gating and signage options (including temporary removable barriers and stronger signage) can be considered and recommended further input from the fire chief and town staff. The board also asked about bicycle accommodation; the design team said a full 5‑ft bike shoulder would increase cost and impacts and therefore the current plan retains a 3‑ft shoulder and the use of shared‑lane markings where appropriate.
Funding and next steps: The planning board held the public hearing (no public speakers attended) and directed staff and the applicant to return with refined access controls, gating/parking restrictions, and documentation from emergency‑services stakeholders. Because the project uses federal HUD funds and will proceed to construction bidding, staff asked for a focused follow‑up rather than a full re‑presentation: the board agreed to allow the applicant to return quickly with an updated access control plan and any necessary conditions to keep the project moving toward procurement and implementation.
