Rockland Council eliminates roundabout idea for Camden Street
ROCKLAND — During a special session of workshops Wednesday, Jan. 21, Rockland City Councilors debated the next course of action regarding the Camden Street project.
The consulting firm, Gorrill-Palmer Engineering, is waiting to hear from councilors of what they want in their final design. And councilors are waiting for Gorrill-Palmer to relay their options, and in terms of the roundabout, why the engineers should further the concept.
Rockland city councilors were continuing a discussion started almost three years ago on the benefits of improving the functionality and aesthetics of the section of Camden Street (Route 1) north from Maverick Square to the Rockport town line.
According to Councilor Valli Geiger, “our job is to make the economic investment so that the social development follows.”
Councilor Will Clayton cited a portion of the report by Gorrill-Palmer about easing the traffic flow.
“There’s no slower traffic in Rockland in the summertime than on Camden Street,” he said.
The reference was rephrased by Clayton to say “calming the traffic flow.”
Clayton continued, “when in the summertime we know exactly just how calm it is.”
Clayton therefore, wants to hear from the engineers what they mean by that reference.
Geiger reminded the council that: “what roundabouts have been shown to do is that drivers don’t have to stop at lights. The studies have shown that more cars get through in an hour than they do when there are traffic lights.”
Councilors also discussed the need for sidewalks and access to the neighborhood of Pen Bay Acres.
Concerning the Maverick square to Waldo Avenue portion of the project, Councilor Larry Pritchett offered an option of taking that section out of the project. On the west side, he said: “The sidewalk construction cuts across people’s front lawns. Doing any pedestrian work over there is going to be far more expensive.”
In response, Councilor Geiger defended the economic benefits of retaining the west side sidewalk project.
“The houses on the west side have had a very difficult time of it,” she said. “The one that was for sale most recently was for sale for $25,000. So, when I think about the opportunity for the owners of those houses, it can’t get any worse. When I think about places like downtown Portland, where a friend of mine lives in the West End — She walks out her door onto the public sidewalk. She spent $300,000 for her one-bedroom condo in a three-story house. Because it’s beautiful. Because, yes, she walks out onto a public sidewalk, but that is a beautiful public sidewalk. And that whole street has now become a pleasant walkable area.”
Said Mayor Frank Isganitis: “It’s the people on the west side of Camden Street, between Maverick and the Waldo Avenue light. They can walk on the east side, but they still need to cross Camden Street to get to their houses. So we need to make sure that they’re safe.
“We might be reaching a point of highest and best use because we have an issue of 18,000 to 20,000 cars a day. We certainly should make it safer for them getting to and from.”
Councilors hope to finalize their project plans before Maine Department of Transportation resurfaces Camden Street in 2016.
The Council wrapped up the meeting having agreed to request alternative options from Gorrill-Palmer in terms of walkability and movement of traffic.
Previous articles related to the Camden Street Project can be found at the following weblinks:
https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/defining-city-one-adjective-time/4359
https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/unlocking-potential-rockland-rockport-route-1-strip/19533
https://www.penbaypilot.com/article/unlocking-potential-rockland-rockport-route-1-strip/24705
