The Cape Elizabeth Town Council on Wednesday turned down nearly $400,000 of state and federal funds that would have helped pay for a full stoplight in the town center.
The issue has split the town for years, with some residents saying a full signal is necessary for safety and traffic flow, but others arguing it was unnecessary, too expensive and could harm the town’s rural character. For years, the intersection has just had a blinking traffic signal.
Councilors were as divided as townspeople on the matter.
The council voted 4-3 against authorizing the Maine Department of Transportation to go forward on a plan to install a full traffic light where Route 77/Ocean House Road and Scott Dyer and Shore roads meet. The plan would have also redesigned that intersection.
Then the council voted 5-2 not to accept a $363,500 grant from the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee for the project.
Even with that money, the town’s share of the $1.1 million project would have exceeded $700,000.
Councilors who opposed the traffic light plan said it was too costly in these economic times when the town has many other spending priorities. Councilors Anne Swift-Kayatta, David Backer, Penny Jordan and Sarah Lennon voted against the stoplight plan.
Councilors David Sherman, Paul McKenney and council Chairman James Rowe voted in favor of it.
They argued it was necessary for safety at the intersection and that the town will need a new light there anyway because one may be required when the town’s proposed new library is built.
They also warned that the price tag for the job – which included improvements to such infrastructure as sidewalks and storm drains – would be higher in the future.
After the first council vote against having the state transportation department move forward with the intersection work, Rowe joined the majority of councilors in the vote to turn down the grant. He said the issue was moot at that point.
Cape Elizabeth must now repay the state as much as $25,000 for preliminary work the state transportation department already did on the project, said Town Manager Michael McGovern.
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