WILTON — Improving pedestrian safety and the visual impact of the downtown were part of improvements described in a final draft of the Downtown Revitalization Project on Tuesday.

Travis Pryor of Wright-Pierce Engineers and Darryl Sterling, community development coordinator, presented plans to the Board of Selectpersons on Tuesday.

A $400,000 Community Development Block Grant was awarded to the town in May 2015 to fund improvements. 

The plans Pryor described include changes around three downtown areas: the monument area; crosswalk and sidewalk improvements near the library on Main Street; and changes to the High Street parking lot.  

The project will likely go out to bid in June with contractors chosen by August. To avoid the tourism season, construction is expected to take place in September and October, Pryor said.

New streetlights, sidewalk bump-out areas with colored pavers, more color, more green and flowers were included in the plan. Streetscape could also include benches, bike racks and signs to make the downtown more appealing.

“The $400,000 doesn’t go as far as we wish it would,” Pryor said. 

The plan includes extending the monument area, including a crosswalk from KeyBank to the monument, a walkway through the extended monument green area, and a sidewalk on the Main Street side of the monument leading toward a sidewalk in front of the former Bradley’s Pizza and on to Wilson Lake.

The change would create a 30-foot wide drive area between sidewalks for vehicles to come around the monument.  

The sidewalks and crosswalks are intended to guide pedestrians through the now undefined area shared by motorists and pedestrians, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said.

With Maine Department of Transportation approval, a retaining wall between Wilson Stream and Main Street, in front of the library, would be dressed up and a new railing installed on the top. The wall is in good shape, Pryor said.

The sidewalk would be extended out on the library side and a bump-out created on the other side of the street for a new crosswalk at the library. New pedestrian flashing lights would improve pedestrian safety crossing the street.

About three parking spaces would be eliminated.

Parking lot improvements to the town’s High Street lot would include landscaping to provide a workable grade on the steep banking along the lot.

As part of its share of the grant, the town will rehabilitate segments of the downtown sidewalks starting at Food City and heading up Main Street toward the schools.

Irish said she will put the plans on the town’s website and copies of the plan are available for viewing at the Town Office.

Public comments on the plan will be heard at the next board meeting, she said.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net

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