|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2018
|
|
Maine Mall is Location for Maine Turnpike Public Meeting on Growing Congestion
PORTLAND, Maine - Members of the public who would like to offer their opinion on solutions to growing congestion on the Portland-area section of the Turnpike between Scarborough and Falmouth should stop by the Maine Mall on June 7. The Turnpike Authority will be providing information on safety and congestion challenges at an informal open house located between Aeropostale and H&M in the Center Court area. The public is encouraged to stop by at any time between 4:30 and 6:30 pm.
Over the last three years, traffic volumes on this section have been growing at about three to five percent a year and are now at record highs.
Those who cannot drop by the Mall or would prefer to comment online can go to www.maineturnpike.com/options to see a complete list of options and provide their opinions. The online comment page is available now through June 14th.
Some of the options being considered are:
- increasing availability of public transit
- adding more park and ride lots and encouraging people to rideshare
- increasing tolls during peak travel hours
- adding new Turnpike lanes between Scarborough and Falmouth
- widening other major highways
These options and others are being evaluated based on a range of important criteria, such as effectiveness in managing congestion, increasing safety, decreasing congestion off the Turnpike, reducing air pollution, cost, and the availability of funding.
The analysis will be completed in early summer and final recommendations should be available in July.
# # #