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Residents press Castine Selectboard for more traffic calming and to review Water Street one-way trial
Summary
Residents told the Selectboard that speeding on Wadsworth Cove Road and the recent trial one-way conversion of Water Street have raised safety concerns; board members said signs, a radar trailer and coordination with HCSD patrols are options and that Water Street will be reviewed after the summer trial.
Residents at the Aug. 4 Castine Selectboard meeting urged the board to accelerate traffic-calming measures and to review a temporary conversion of Water Street to one-way traffic.
Lewis Cohen (Wadsworth Cove Road resident) told the board there are no speed-limit signs on his road and that speeding is "out of control," suggesting speed bumps. Town Manager Derik Goodine said two speed-limit signs are already on his list to install on Wadsworth Cove Road and that the town's radar speed-monitor trailer should be deployed there soon. Selectboard members also suggested contacting the Hancock County Sheriff Department (HCSD) to increase patrols when they are in Castine.
David Agnew (Spring Street resident) and other neighbors raised concerns that drivers diverted by the Water Street one-way conversion have been turning around on Spring Street and using private driveways as U-turn spots; the board said the one-way change followed prior board discussion and a public hearing on May 5 and will be assessed after the seasonal trial period.
Why it matters: residents identified immediate pedestrian and emergency-access concerns tied to seasonal summer traffic and erosion-related barriers on Water Street. The board said traffic-calming tools (signage, radar trailer data) and continued monitoring will inform whether the one-way order becomes permanent.
The meeting also touched on potholes and emergency-vehicle access near Water Street; town staff will continue to track and prioritize repairs.
