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LATEST NEWS (primarily about R.O.A.D. actions, and non-press covered other activities) 4 August 2010 LETTER from the Town Manager, Laurie Smith, of the Town of Wiscasset to the Army Corps of Engineers. The letter begins.... On behalf of the Wiscasset Board of Selectmen, I am writing to you in regard to US Army Corps of Engineers May 24, 2010 LEDPA determination with respect to Public Notice NAE~2000-01S7S-Wiscasset Bypass. The Board respectfully asks that you reconsider this LEDPA finding.... Summer 2010. Sheepscot Valley Conservation Assn. summarizes its position regarding a ByPass, in an ARTICLE in the Summer, "Sheepscot Log." An excerpt from the article.... Fifteen years ago, when the latest chapter in the bypass wars began, SVCA's position was that the periodic summer traffic backups did not warrant the environmental damage that construction and use of a bypass would
produce. mounted, we undertook a careful analysis of the potential environmental impacts of each route based on a number of indicators including wetland loss, landscape fragmentation, effects on threatened and endangered species as well as the number of residences and businesses that would need to relocate. The results of this analysis indicated that of all the proposed routes, N8c would be the least damaging, despite its requiring a new long bridge over the Sheepscot, and would also be the most effective route in terms of reducing summertime traffic congestion. Therefore, while still favoring no-build, the seeming unlikelihood of its acceptance by the MDOT road planners led SVCA to lend reluctant support to N8c as the next best alternative. 18 July 2010. R.O.A.D. Co-Chair Morrison Bonpasse writes inquiry EMAIL to the John A. Volpe National Transportation System Center to inquire about commissioning a study for an innovative intermodal solution to the Wiscasset congestion. Except from the email.... "What this Wiscasset-congestion project needs is an innovative approach to: 1. Improve the traffic flow through Wiscasset. 2. Enhance the historic waterfront downtown of Wiscasset 3. Promote the return of railroad traffic. I'm confident that the Volpe Center could propose one or more intermodal designs which would be far better for Wiscasset and for Maine, and less costly, than the proposed By-Pass. The existing and historic Route 1 corridor is unusually wide, which provides room for innovative design.... "
5 July 2010. R.O.A.D. uses MDOT data to show traffic volume decline since 2000. See TRAFFIC VOLUME GRAPH
3 July 2010. Projected N8C Bridge would be second longest in Maine. See BRIDGE FACT SHEET by R.O.A.D. member Dan Sortwell 29 June 2010. Meeting of R.O.A.D. Voted overwhelmingly to support the improvement of the interchange at Route 1/Route27 in Edgecomb. There was discussion of the need for Red's Eats to relocate, and how that could be a "win-win" for Red's Eats, the Town of Wiscasset and for Route 1 traffic flow. One option is to move to the Wiscasset Hardware building and another is to Davis Island, with both options having views of the Sheepscot. Members will contact the Wiscasset Selectmen to explore options. 15 June 2010. R.O.A.D. meets to plan opposition strategy to the Proposed N8C By-Pass. The organization met to plan for the communication to the people of Wiscasset and Maine of the truth about the proposed By-Pass - that it's grossly destructive and expensive, and that for far less cost, the current traffic corridor can be improved. For $500,000 or less, the restaurant Red's Eats could be moved 30 yards west and out of the way, and a pedestrian bridge could be built to the current site of Red's Eats. 24 May 2010. Army Corps of Engineers selects By-Pass Route N8C as the LEDPA (Least Environmentally Damaging Practical Alternative.) See ACOE Letter. 16 February 2010. R.O.A.D. Submits "Comments" to Army Corps of Engineers. R.O.A.D. member, Dan Sortwell, also submitted "Comments" Among other good points, Dan noted that traffic data needs to be accurate. He wrote, "MaineDOT assumed a 1.5% annual increase in traffic volume and used that to project the traffic volume in 2030 from their 2000 model4. However, as shown in the graph below, national traffic volume actually dropped in 2008 and then rose only slightly in 2009. My own impression is that traffic volume through Wiscasset also dropped during 2008-2009, in line with the national trend. One of the goals of the Wiscasset Traveler Information System (WTIS), put in place by MaineDOT, was to report on traffic volume for the 2009 summer season5. This report should be out by May, 20106. I would recommend that the LEDPA determination be delayed until MaineDOT changes their traffic volume projections for 2030 (p.14 of the USACE public notice) to reflect actual traffic data from 2009." 2 January 2010. "Public asked to participate in Wiscasset Bypass public process " AUGUSTA – The Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced it is accepting public comments on the three final choices for a bypass route around Wiscasset’s downtown. Comments will be accepted by the USACE through February 19, 2010 and can be emailed to Jay Clement at jay.l.clement@usace.army.mil or mailed to him at: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Maine Project Office 675 Western Avenue, #3 Manchester, Maine 04351. 22 July 2009 Discussion on "As Maine Goes" re: Crash on Davey Bridge: "Wiscasset Bridge Crash Snarles Route 1 Traffic" The discussion included State Rep. Jonathan Kane and Wiscasset resident Don Jones. 4 July 2009. Webcams and radar monitors are LIVE at the Wiscasset and Edgecomb ends of the Wiscasset Corridor. Click on Webcams/Radar and then click on the device to be monitored. 13 September 2008. Steve Cartright of Waldoboro writes LETTER to Kat Fuller, Chief Planner of MDOT re: Bypass and need for comprehensive solution to Route 1 congestion. The letter begins... The congestion
in Wiscasset is greatly exaggerated. I drive this road frequently
and very seldom have to wait very long. If you relocated Red's Eats,
a lot of the summer tie-ups would be reduced. It's crazy to let
one, ho-hum food stand create major traffic flow problems. The traffic
back-up at Wiscasset pales compared to traffic jams on Route 128
10 June 2008. By-Pass Task Force sees progress on four "Alternatives" to By-pass 1.
Install cameras to provide web based traffic information that
will tie in with variable message signs. See full MDOP report of "Interim Treatments Action Plan" 7 June 2008. R.O.A.D. Co-Chair, Morrison Bonpasse, sends followup LETTER to MDOT Commissioner, David Cole to urge MDOT to install Web cameras at each end of the Wiscasset Traffic Zone and to install a web-connected permanent traffic counter. Bonpasse wrote, "It's now the second week of June, and the seasonal increase in traffic in Wiscasset is upon us, but I haven't heard from you about the webcams or the traffic counter." [See the earlier followup LETTER of 30 April, and the initial DEIS feedback LETTER to Commissioner Cole of 19 December 2007.] 28 January 2008. R.O.A.D. was advised by D.O.T. Consultant, Carol Morris, that the R.O.A.D. application to join the Task Force was turned down. However, email communications to the Task Force will now be sent to R.O.A.D. See Carol Morris email 24 January 2008. The Mid-Coast Bypass Task Force met in Edgecomb and discussed the DEIS comments submitted to D.O.T. Also discussed was the R.O.A.D. application to join the Task Force. D.O.T. prepared a SUMMARY of the public's comments on the D.E.I.S. 18-19 January 2008. R.O.A.D. requests to join the Mid-Coast Bypass Task Force in 18 January 2008 EMAIL to Carol Morris, Communications Consultant for the Bypass project. She responded with an EMAIL on the same day asking for information about R.O.A.D. Morrison Bonpasse, for R.O.A.D. responded by EMAIL on 19 January, and noted that R.O.A.D. has a website and is devoted entirely to the issue of solving the seasonal Wiscasset traffic problem. 21 December 2007. R.O.A.D. submits DEIS Comments to MDOT. In addition to opposing the five MDOT proposed routes, R.O.A.D. made three requests: 1. for a permanent counter to continuously monitor traffic volume in Wiscasset. 2. for webcams to be established at either end of the SSZ (Seasonal Slow Zone). 3. for an evaluation of the costs of building a pedestrian tunnel or bridge in the vicinity of the intersection of Route 1 and the railroad.
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