News

Transportation solutions sought

Studies to focus on parking, pedestrian concerns

By Meredith Holt

Posted on May 02, 2002, at 12:00 a.m.

Most everyone had something to say about local parking and transportation issues at the University Town Meeting Wednesday afternoon.

Consultants working on the three transportation studies under contract with the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System were present to get input and reaction from those in attendance. The studies are in the beginning stages.

“We want to hear what your issues are, what types of change would you like to see investigated,” said Thomas L. Gorrill, president of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers, Inc.

The studies are designed to develop both short-term and long-term solutions to the current parking and transportation problems.

The three studies concentrate on Old Town, Orono, the University of Maine campus and the routes operated by The Bus. The studies are known as the Stillwater Corridor Study the University Study, and the Transit System Study, respectively.

The Stillwater Corridor Study will be conducted by the Louis Berger Group, Inc. of Manchester, N.H., and could lead to new ways to access the university. The University Study will be conducted by a team of consultants led by Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers, Inc. of Gray, Maine. Tom Crikelair Associates of Bar Harbor will lead the Transit System Study.

According to the handout, “Overview of Transportation Studies,” which was handed out at the meeting, the Transit System Study will re-examine the current routes and service levels and recommend practical redesigned routes and service levels for The Bus.

The first study is expected to cost between $80,000 and $100,000. The second study is estimated to cost about $80,000. The third study will cost about $50,000. The Federal Transit Administration will fund 80 percent of the cost for each study, and local funds will pay for the remaining 20 percent.

Comments and suggestions from the audience dominated the meeting.

Aaron Sterling, the president of Residents on Campus, suggested banning first-year students from bringing cars to campus, an increasing number of green bikes available on campus through the Green Bikes program and improving lighting as possible solutions.

“One of the key elements to remember is that any one element relates to everything else,” Sterling said.

Tom Crikelair of Tom Crikelair Associates pointed out that the red residential lots are mostly at the edges of campus. He suggested the possibility of moving commuter and faculty lots to the Steam Plant and other peripheral lots in order to centralize residential lots.

Another student expressed concern for the competition between cars and pedestrians. He said that safe areas for pedestrians to walk need to be better defined.

“Parking spaces seem more important than pedestrian safety,” he said.

Scott Caton, first-year student and member of the General Student Senate, suggested that the study team look at the pathways created by heavy pedestrian traffic and consider putting sidewalks in those areas.

Eric Conrad, senior philosophy major and president of the Off-Campus Board, suggested creating speed bumps to slow down people driving through and around campus.

Conrad would like to see the university become a “walking campus,” and hopes to get cars away from the center of campus.

Shannon Stanhope, third-year social work student and president of the Panhellenic Council, pointed out the effects of seasonal changes on transportation and parking on campus.

Stanhope suggested that the study teams compare the percent of commuter students with the percent of residential students. She also suggested combining residential and commuter lots so that student and staff parking are separate because their respective needs are different.

Sophomore civil engineering major Chris Parks brought up winter snow removal issues. He questioned whether snow removal crews pay attention to cleanup of sidewalks, in addition to roads.

John Wallinga, a university employee, voiced the need for better access in and out of campus. He suggested a bridge out of the town of Bradley crossing the Stillwater River to help regulate traffic flow.

Shannon Martin, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication would like to see public transportation expand. Within her department, the faculty arrives and leaves at the same time, she said.

The discussion group closed with a thank you to Jonathan LaBonte for his help in organizing the event.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 2nd, 2002, 12:00 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.