Council authorizes Safe Streets for All grant application to study High Street safety amid public pushback

The City Council voted to authorize the City Manager to submit a Safe Streets for All application to the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund a comprehensive safety action plan for the High Street corridor. Staff said the grant (planning-focused) would pay for traffic and engineering studies, stakeholder engagement, and a potential demonstration project; it was presented as a data-driven step that precedes any capital or roadway redesign.

Grant basics and staff rationale: Staff proposed a modest application (the low-end example cited was $100,000) with a 20% local match that could be covered largely by in‑kind staff time and available TIFF funds. The recommendation follows earlier technical assistance via a Thriving Communities grant and a consultant-led corridor study; staff emphasized that more rigorous data and community engagement are needed before pursuing infrastructure changes.

Public concerns: Several residents voiced strong opposition to concepts that had circulated in earlier drafts — notably proposals referred to as a ‘‘road diet’’ or lane reductions — citing traffic volume, safety for emergency vehicles, parking loss, and the potential for unintended traffic diversion to side streets. Speakers repeatedly said that eliminating lanes would worsen traffic and that MaineDOT (which controls the state highway) should be closely involved. Staff and some councilors replied that MaineDOT would be consulted and that the grant would support the formal data and processes necessary to pursue any future changes.

Council action: After discussion the council voted to authorize the city manager and economic development staff to submit the application by the May 26 deadline. Several councilors said they supported the application because it would produce data and a community-driven plan rather than placing a redesign on the street without analysis.

Why it matters: High Street is a busy state-controlled corridor in Ellsworth; decisions about lane configuration, crosswalks, and other safety improvements require engineering data, state coordination, and public buy-in. The grant will allow the city to fund that analysis without fronting large capital expenditures and will anchor future funding applications.

Next steps: If the application is submitted, staff will complete the required match documentation and continue engagement with MaineDOT and stakeholders; the final plan — if funded — would be presented to council and the public and could support future construction grants or demonstrations.