Pepperell Post, November 2011: Two transportation projects continue two cities' cooperation



A Newsletter by the City of Saco, Maine	November, 2011	Return to newsletter index

Two transportation projects continue two cities' cooperation

Saco and Biddeford cooperate on many areas of city services, including public transit (the Shuttlebus-Zoom), economic development finance, housing, sewer inspection and public safety. Two years ago the federal government even recognized the two cities' mill district as a single district on the National Register of Historic Places. A Biddeford housing development has already benefitted from the designation.

This postcard shows the Saco end of the old Gooch Street bridge. Note the passenger train station, exactly where the Saco Transportation Center is now located.
Two upcoming cooperative efforts are in the area of transportation.

The first is to design a pedestrian bridge in the mill district, between Saco Island and the Biddeford Mill District. The Maine Department of Transportation has indicated that it will fund the construction of the bridge. MDOT, however, has a new process where it waits for the results of a design study before it makes a final commitment. It is also paying for the design, which will get underway in the coming weeks.

The second is for systematic way of finding signage for the two cities. This plan is funded through PACTS, the regional transportation planning agency. A request for proposals seeking to design the signage system has been issued and responses are due this week. It is anticipated that the signage plan will focus on :

City gateway signs;
Vehicular directional signs;
Bicyclist directional signs;
Pedestrian directional signs;
Public transit informational signs;
Informational kiosks.

The request for proposals describes the issue: "A visit to the cities of Saco and Biddeford might leave the impression that the two are a single municipality with a river running through downtown. The first-time visitor will find no regular grid pattern of streets and roads, but instead streets and downtowns that have evolved over centuries in a piecemeal fashion --classic New England. A clear and cohesive wayfinding and signage plan will be a critically important addition to the fabric of these two historic downtowns. "

Some of the tasks under the contract:

Review and identify entrances to the cities, primary and secondary routes, ways and destinations;
Review and identify sub-areas or districts within the Study Area that may merit individual identification or designation;
Review all modes of transportation and existing signage;
Develop an attractive, readable and easily understood sign design;
Prepare electronic files for issuance with the Request for Proposals for the fabrication and installation of signs;
Develop a consistent and standardized signage plan that will provide easily understood and comprehensive direction to visitors and residents;
Present plan to each City Council.