The Town of Orono is holding its first public meeting for the Park Street Transportation Study at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10 in the Town of Orono Council Chambers.

The purpose of the meeting is to present existing transportation and land use conditions in the Park Street corridor and to gain community feedback on concerns and opportunities within the corridor. A study is being done to assess and analyze the traffic system management improvements that could be made to the Park Street corridor, from the Orono-Old Town line up to, and including, the approaches of College Avenue

Concerns over rapid development on Park Street led to a moratorium being enacted last year by the Orono Town Council to allow time to look at the corridor and see what steps needed to be taken to ensure future growth is in an orderly fashion. The state plans to construct a roundabout at the intersection of Park Street and Rangeley Road starting next year; the study does not look at that project.

“The study anticipates the roundabout is in place in the future,” said Orono Planner Janna Richards. “It should fix a lot of issues, but not everything – for instance, there could be combined intersections, crosswalks, bike lanes and other traffic management improvements. We also are looking at land use perspectives.”

At the present time the study is in a very preliminary form, with just a couple meetings held and an advisory committee formed The Jan. 10 meeting will give the public a chance to look a little more in depth at where we are and to also offer input.”

A second public input meeting will likely be held in February, added Richards. Anyone who can not attend but has thoughts may contact Richards at the town ofice at jrichards@orono.org.


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