Attending (Incomplete): Airport and Harbor Taxi, Chris
Andreas (Vermont Transit), Linda Belfiore (WHCA), Stephanie Clement (Friends of
Acadia), Dawn Coffin (MDOT), Fred Cook (Downeast Acadia Regional Tourism), Tom
Crikelair (Tom Crikelair Associates), Jim Fisher (Hancock County Planning
Commission), Tom Johnston (MDOT), Risteen Masters (Bay Ferries) Molly
Pheminster (Jackson Lab), Joe Robinson (Waldo Community Action), Sharon Tate
(Jackson Lab), Clare Wood (Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce)
Ý
Stephanie reported that this meeting is part of the MDI Tomorrow
project.Ý Ten years ago, the citizens of
Mount Desert Island started a community visioning/planning project to address
concerns related to growth and development.Ý
Diverse issues were identified including, attracting year-round
businesses, maintaining MDIís traditional community character, increasing
public transportation, etc.Ý Stephanie
displayed a report that was published as a newspaper insert that identified
preferred futures for the island.Ý
Several projects came out of MDI Tomorrow, including the Island Explorer
bus system, the MDI Community Health Plan, a student internship program for MDI
highschool students, and Island Connections.
Several non-profit organizations, businesses, and interested citizens
have re-initiated the MDI Tomorrow process.Ý
Transportation has once again been listed as one of the issue areas of
interest ñ hence, the formation of this working group.Ý Other working groups have formed around
community design/land use, the economy, affordable housing, youth and family
issues, and health.
The goal for the meeting was to develop a list of issues and
opportunities related to transportation on MDI, to begin developing the scope
of the problem, and to discuss who else needed to be included in the working
group.Ý Stephanie distributed copies of
a worksheet from which all the MDI Tomorrow working groups are proceeding.
Stephanie asked each committee member to list their top three
concerns related to transportation and their top three opportunities or
exciting developments related to transportation.Ý
A. ISSUES
1.
Traffic volume
2.
Congestion in Route 3 Corridor
3.
Cardiovascular health (i.e. too much dependence on cars)
4.
Lack of public transportation
5.
Congestion related to commuter rush
6.
Need to continue and expand ferry services for MDI
7.
Need funding for year round transportation (transit,
incentives for employees to ride)
8.
Road conditions - cost of maintenance, deterioration due
to traffic
9.
State roads do not meet MDOT standards
10.
Lack of parking facilities
11.
Lack of safe bikeways and walkways
12.
Year-round transit needed
13.
Lack of funding for para-transit for disabled and elderly
passengers
14.
Lack of work-related transportation for persons without
vehicles
15.
Seasonal nature of transportation needs (i.e. greater in
summer because more people)
16.
Cost of housing and land on MDI causes longer commutes
(off-island)
17.
Need a ferry to Schoodic peninsula
18.
Infrastructure doesnít accommodate RV's and Tour Buses
19.
Seasonal housing needed close to or in employment centers
20.
Need better intermodal connectivity - connections between
intermodal centers
21.
Need to retain commercial air service at
BH/HC Airport
22.
Environmental impact of de-icing procedures on roads
23.
Bike safety
24.
Safety at crosswalks
25.
Inadequate land use and access management policies,
regulations, and practices
26.
Expanding economy and population create greater
transportation demands
27.
Better signage
28.
Better road striping
29.
Need municipal parking requirements that are appropriate
for the future
30.
How many Cruise ships can we accommodate/do we want to
accommodate?
31.
Land purchase for park and ride needed
32.
Expand facilities for pleasure and work boats
33.
Insufficient information for drivers about what they are
getting into when coming to MDI
34.
People drive fast; need more and improved training
35.
Need more enforcement
36.
Diversion of traffic to back roads
37.
Need to expand capacity and season of Island Explorer
38.
Need to protect ANP from too many cars
39.
Concerns about posting weight limits
40.
Ellsworth Bypass?
41.
Need a new breakwater
42.
Enforcement of shipping lines for cruise ships
43.
Difficulty obtaining insurance for taxi services
44.
Little or no off-season bus linkage to Boston
45.
Air quality
1.
Jackson Lab is planning for growth
2.
CHIP - Collector Road Highway Improvement Program -
Major collectors (Routes 3, 102, and 198) are 100% state funded; RRI
- Rural Road Initiative - minor collectors (Route 233, 102A, Pretty
Marsh Road) are 67% funded by the state, 33% match required by towns.Ý In 2003, the Pretty Marsh Road will have
some work done and 102A is possible.Ý
The goal for these road improvements is to include shoulders wherever
possible; the traffic volume of the road dictates the width of the shoulder.
3.
MDOT will be doing a bridge (Strut) replacement in
Somesville on Route 102 in 2003, along with a possible asphalt overlay on 198/3
4.
MDOT will be doing a thin asphalt overlay on the Eagle
Lake Road and Route 230 in Trenton (Bayside Road)
5.
Train to Boston from Portland with connections to bus
service
6.
Project Graduation ñ helps prevent kids from drinking and
driving
7.
Have embarked on study for year round transportation
needs, especially for commuters
8.
Volpe Study ñ transportation study in and around Schoodic
9.
Wilbur Smith Study - statewide study on accessibility
needs and expanding/adding fixed routes
10.
BH Chamber working with park to act as a clearinghouse
for tour buses information needs
11.
BH Chamber is participating in a cruise ship coalition -
to speak with one voice to the cruise ships operators
12.
BH Chamber lists cruise ship visits to Bar Harbor on the
Chamberís web siteóthis helps prevent multiple ship days because the cruise
ships are not allowed under law to consult with each other about when they plan
to be in a port.
13.
BH Chamber is seeking smaller cruise ships
14.
BH Chamber would like to sell park permits - on the web
site and visitor centers ñ thereby helping to fund the Island Explorer
15.
An intermodal transportation center/visitor center is
being planned which will provide park and ride facilities as well as improved
outreach to visitors
16.
Bar Harbor Master Planóaddresses bicycles and pedestrians
down Eden Street
17.
Possible rail service to our area from Bangor
18.
Possible trail development on Calais Branch Railway
19.
Intercity bus companies would like to provide year round
bus service to Bar Harbor if economically feasible - need to house drivers and
buses.
20.
MDOT putting construction information on AAA website
21.
Bicycle coalition of Maine - looking to bring more bike
tourists
22.
Opportunities for boaters - car free visit if ride Island
Explorer
23.
New Downeast Transportation bus maintenance facility
is being planned
24.
Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies will
be placed on the Island Explorer this summer
25.
Town and Chamber will not support any more peak season
events - focus on shoulder events
26.
Maine Port Authority has $200K grant opportunity for
harbor improvements
27.
Rt. 3 through Bar Harbor and the Park Loop Road have been
designated an All American Road providing grant opportunities and more local
control
28.
Visitors here don't need a car
29.
Bar Harbor Parking Review Committee and the Planning
Board are considering possible changes in parking requirements which might
create additional transit funding
30.
MDOT has put forward a state legislative bill which would
allow towns to receive more funding for road improvements if they contribute a
greater amount to public transportation options
31.
Trenton Challenge Grant - Trenton has received funding to
help them plan
32.
MDI has a bicycle plan with identified priorities,
waiting for implementation
33.
Acadia National Park is one of six transportation
demonstration parks across the National Park System
34.
Friends of Acadia, Village Improvement Associations,
Conservation Commissions, Acadia National Park and others are working on village
connector trails ñ trails connecting villages to the park.
Stephanie asked everyone to look at their listings on the contact
sheet and get back to her with changes.Ý
Also, to suggest anyone who was missing from the list.Ý
Next meeting is Friday, April 5th at 1:00 pm at the Friends of Acadia
Conference Room - 43 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, in the basement of the Swan
Agency Building.Ý Stephanie will send
out an agenda.Ý