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Casco Safe Streets wins DOT support and $16,000 in materials for Web's Mills demonstration; committee readies traffic data tools
Summary
Safe Streets Committee said Maine DOT and GP COG back a four-way stop demonstration at Web's Mills and will supply about $16,000 in materials; the group also plans to use Urban SDX traffic software and LJB engineering support to prioritize town corridors.
Ryan Newan, chair of Casco’s Safe Streets Committee, told the Select Board on June 16 that the committee has secured both design support and materials from state and regional partners for a demonstration project at the Web’s Mills intersection. "DOT is fully on board with this project," Newan said, adding that the agency supplied a 52-page concept presentation and will provide about $16,000 in materials including solar flashing "stop ahead" and stop signs.
The committee described several concurrent efforts: posting two volunteer vacancies, wrapping up an outreach-focused bike rodeo in May, and moving forward on the Quaker Ridge traffic-calming work that the board previously supported. Newan asked staff to share firm dates for sign installation and pavement markings when they are confirmed.
To give the town better, faster traffic information, Safe Streets said it has budgeted for or plans to use Urban SDX software to collect speed and volume data without waiting for DOT speed studies. "We can use the data to review speed and traffic counts on all the roads in town," Newan said. The committee also said it will use LJB engineering as a resource to draft corridor-level plans and to identify priorities tied to the comprehensive plan.
Board members and staff described the next steps: GP COG will hire a designer and a contractor for the Web's Mills work, DOT will assist with design refinements, and the committee will coordinate public engagement and schedule installation once details are set. Newan said the Web's Mills demonstration is being designed as a permanent improvement even though GP COG's grant is for a demonstration, and staff will work with GP COG to align the project's scope and funding.
Why it matters: DOT’s technical support and the materials commitment reduce local costs for a project that Safe Streets and residents said is important to reduce crash risk at a constrained intersection. Urban SDX data could speed decision-making on multiple corridors, allowing the town to prioritize work with more evidence.
What’s next: Staff will circulate DOT’s presentation and the design concept to the board and the Safe Streets Committee; GP COG will proceed with designer and contractor selection; the committee will continue outreach and post volunteer vacancies.
