Meeting #3 Minutes: January 7, 2009

Meeting #3 Notes

January 7, 2008
Committee Members: Alex Landry, Bob Stevens, Greg Martin, Liz Hoglund, Jaime Parker, Boyd Marley, Markos Miller, Laura Thibideau, Mark Adelson, Michael Langhella, Cyruss Hagge
Staff: Mike Bobinsky, Kathi Earley, Bille Neddelman, Carl Eppich

1. Welcomes and Introductions

2. Roadway/Corridor Data

• crash data/problem areas and peak hour info postponed to future meeting w/ DOT data (some info gleaned by data provided by Alex Landry via email): 9 year period: Franklin and Cumberland: 68 accidents, Somerset to Cumberland: 20 accidents, mostly daylight hours, normal conditions, Fridays. Not significantly greater than other roadways. (noted: $10,000 damage threshold to be classified as ‘accident’)
• roadway dimensions : Maps provided by Bill Needelman. Right of Way: 13.5 acres, 3600 ft long, width varies from 80ft at ends to 210 ft (Lancaster/Oxford)
• abutting property info: mostly zoned B-3, mixed use/downtown zone. Top of Old Port lot zoned for 240 ft height.

Questions/Comments:

• what is ratio of open land to roadway in 13.5 acres?
• Road curves where there is city property abutting: opportunity for Place Making
• what are lane widths?

3. CSS overview

• Markos Miller presented a PowerPoint presentation from ITE
• Broader view of Transportation design; more holistic approach- bike, transit, arterial
• Conventional design versus CSS approach
  • Design
  • Functional
  • Design speed
  • Level of service
  • Land use- future use
  • Context
  • Building context
  • Defines place
  • Highlight difference between CSS model and convential traffic planning model. Thoroughfare type and context being additional influencing factors.

Questions/Comments:

• What does CSS say about curvature and grade changes in roadway?
• Can we see about getting this posted to the site?
• Need to come to agreement on definitions, rather on names, focus on attributes
• Arterial vs. Streets vs. Collectors

4. What is good about Franklin- small group discussion

Small group discussions of what is positive about roadway and buildings /other assetts in Study Corridor. See attached page

5. Homework for next meeting: review complete Community Vision Statement.

What changes would you need to see to make this the Vision Statement for the Study Committee? Make an effort to write these down so we can develop our Vision to guide our work and share with others.

6. Next meeting: Thursday, Jan 22nd 6:00 pm- 8:00pm Consultant will be joining us.
7. Comments:

• Final Draft of Peninsula Traffic Study available. Can send out digital copies?
• Bayside Trail design underway. Discussion of footbridge over Franklin. Questions about timing of bridge. We need to be part of this conversation.
• John Mahoney, Bayside Trail Proj. Manager willing to attend future meetings to discuss.
• Pleased by positive nature of comments offered
• Note that Islanders need to be identified as Stakeholder group and added to Outreach List in Mtg #2 notes.
• Traffic Plan available in pdf format online: http://www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/peninsula.asp
• Upcoming Events: Sustainable Portland panel discussion: Jan 15th, 4:30-7:30 PMA
• Maine St Pier Forum Jan 29th
• MSP Community Design Workshop Jan 31st (1/2 day)
• Scott Teas of PSA reports that Portland Sociaty of Architects is very interested in this study and plans in remaining engaged and active.

5. Next Meeting

• January 22, 2009, at 6pm.
• Review Vision Statement
• Traffic Data
• Work with Consultant

Details of #4: What is good about Franklin? – Small group discussion

• Roadway Function
  • Functional for Auto
  • Moves lots of traffic
  • Access Management
  • Flow Constraint
  • Connects to Interstate and Maritime
  • Good real estate potential
  • Potential for development
  • Uninterrupted green space
  • Visual accessibility (defined/relationship of lots of assets
  • Various elevations and moves thru variety
  • Allows lots of possibilities
  • Width of roadway in allowing for tall and short buildings
  • Moves people well (but for peak times, not safe anymore, gridlock)
  • Connects: islanders, commuters, residents of core Bayside
  • Gateway
  • Higher Pedestrian use noticed (Whole Foods, may be employees commuters)
  • In decent shape (pavement)
  • Direct route to downtown
  • Efficient
  • Relieves pressure on neighbourhoods
  • Fast, smooth/good condition
  • Few accidents in bad weather
  • Water to water route
  • Easy way finding
  • Effective as a feeder route
  • Not so many distractions
  • Wide, well maintained lanes
  • Wide- opportunity
  • Pier/Gateway connector
  • Access to Eastern Waterfront
  • Trolley potential
  • Some areas where scale is good

• Buildings and other assets
  • Cathedral
  • Lincoln Park
  • Landmark buildings that facilitates great volumes of pedestrian access (Cumberland and Congress area)
  • Underutilized land
  • View corridors toward Back Cove/Blackstrap Mountains
  • Trees
  • Lincoln Park
  • City land nearby
  • Available width (underutilized)
  • Mixed use character (higher % in east vs. west Bayside)
  • Felling the wind (environment around you)
  • View corridor from park to bay to Cathedral, to future building
  • Lots of land
  • Lincoln Park
  • Crab apples
  • Campaign sign location
  • Development potential
  • Cultural diversity along corridor
  • Historic warehouse- Remnant building
  • The arrival at Commercial Street
  • Gateway at both ends
  • Access to Back Cove and trail systems
  • Trees
  • Lincoln Park
  • Extra land
  • Cathedral
  • Gardens
  • Pines (Congress and Cumberland)
  • Mix of use
  • Diversification
  • India Street Corridor/Middle Street
  • Old Port
  • Bangor Savings Bank
  • Architecture (Hugo’s)
  • Newbury/Temple
  • Old Warehouse
  • Pearl Street
  • Eastern Prom Waterfront residential development
  • Adjacent public land