SACO — The city wants your input on temporary traffic calming measures installed on Main Street.

On Sept. 30, the city, in conjunction with the Maine Department of Transportation, Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Saco Main Street, installed temporary fixtures — flexible white posts — alongside crosswalks to alert downtown drivers of pedestrian crossings. 

According to James Tasse, assistant director of the Bicycle Coalition, the temporary traffic calming measures are part of the coalition’s “Imagine People Here” campaign, a demonstration project campaign where streets are turned into a “living laboratory,” to show communities how they can easily become more pedestrian and bike friendly. 

Temporary street lines were also laid down, narrowing the vehicle travel lanes to 11 feet wide. According to City Administrator Kevin Sutherland, drivers tend to be more focused when driving on narrower traffic lanes.

“Before Main Street is paved next spring, Saco Public Works will use the data gathered during this demonstration to help design pedestrian friendly crosswalks and updated line striping,” states the city’s Facebook page. 

Community input is being gathered as part of the project. 

Residents and visitors to the area who wish to weigh in on the traffic calming measures can go to 
www.surveymonkey.com/r/SacoDemo2017.

The brief survey asks users their opinion of the temporary installation, whether it should be permanent, whether they want to see more temporary projects and provides the opportunity to add comments. 

The issue of traffic has long been a concern of residents in the city. It was second only to the revitalization of the downtown in those surveyed in a 2015 city visioning effort; and traffic was a topic at a recent candidate’s forum sponsored by Saco Main Street. 

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].