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REPORT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL
January 15, 2002
The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Roll Call of Council: Present: Chairman Phinney; Councilors Dugas, Hamblen, Justice, Loveitt, Robinson and Willett; the Town Manager and the Deputy Town Clerk.
The meeting recessed for a public hearing on the remaining alternatives in the Gorham By- Pass Study.
Approximately 60 members of the public were present at the start of the public hearing. Thirty-seven people indicated support for alternative 1E and one individual spoke with a preference for the northern route 6B or 6C as the first alternative. Several people were concerned with the impact of a particular route to their property. The public hearing closed at 7:45 p.m.
Item #6590. Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED that
WHEREAS, the Town of Gorham has been working for over 40 years to develop a road to reduce traffic congestion in Gorham Village, enhance traffic and pedestrian safety in Gorham Village and to provide for the efficient flow of commerce, and
WHEREAS, at least 15 different studies over the past 40 years have recognized the need for a road to reduce traffic congestion, enhance traffic and pedestrian safety and improve the flow of commerce, and
WHEREAS, a major intersection study, The Clean Air Regional Signal Project Existing Conditions Study, completed in 1993 recorded over 95 large trucks per hour passing through the intersection of Routes 114/25 and
WHEREAS, the Gorham/Portland Corridor Alternatives Analysis, a major regional transportation study completed in 1997 by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Study (PACTS), identified a number of projects needed to improve the regional transportation system, and
WHEREAS, progress has been made on many of the projects identified in the regional study including the coordination of traffic signals in Gorham Village, improved traffic signal operations at the intersection of Routes 25/114 and Route 25/New Portland Road/Mechanic Street, preliminary development of a Main Street Master Plan for Gorham Village, additional traffic studies to develop short term and long range traffic improvements at the intersection of Route 114/22 and the overlap area, development of a new interchange at the Westbrook Arterial, and
WHEREAS, the development of a Bypass of Gorham Village was a priority recommendation of the Gorham/Portland Corridor Alternative Analysis Regional study, and
WHEREAS, the Maine Department of Transportation, at the request of the Town of Gorham, has been conducting an extensive Bypass study that has developed four remaining alternatives for the construction of a Bypass around Gorham Village plus considered upgrading existing roadway and considered a no-build alternative, and
WHEREAS, the Gorham Town Council believe that a no-build alternative and the alternative to upgrade existing roadway will not meet the needs of the Gorham community, the surrounding region or satisfy the goals of the Bypass study, and
WHEREAS, Alternative 1e and the northern route of alternative 6c from Mosher
WHEREAS, both routes are compatible with Gorham
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of Gorham, Maine in Town Council assembled that the Town Council strongly endorses the construction of Alternative 1e and requests the Maine Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to work towards the acquisition of right-of-way and full construction and completion as soon as possible, and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Gorham Town Council also endorses the northern route of Alternative 6c, from Mosher
The meeting recessed for a public hearing on an application for a Class IV Victualer
Item #6591 Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Hamblen and VOTED that the Town Council authorize the issuance of a Class IV Victualer
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Hamblen to adjourn. Time of adjournment 8:24 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING. Attest:
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Deputy Town Clerk
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