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Gorham East West Corridor
Feasibility Study
Improving Decision Making by Integrating
Land Use and Transportation
Sara Devlin
Maine Turnpike Authority
GrowSmart Summit
October 23, 2012
Study Overview
• Began in 2007 – 4 town
joint resolution
• LD 1720 directs Maine
Turnpike Authority/
MaineDOT to study:
“existing highway
infrastructure and future
capacity needs west of Route
1 in Cumberland County,
including the Gorham Area”
• Joint MTA/MaineDOT
Study
2
Study Overview
• What is this study evaluating? – Traffic congestion in Study Area
– Safety issues in the Study Area
– Loss of rural character/quality of life
– WHY these problems exist
– Where should transportation dollars be invested over the long term?
– How should we be shaping our region for the future?
3 3
Study
Area
Map
4
Study Approach
• Empowered Steering Committee
• Address transportation concerns raised
by 4 towns and in LD directive
• Also evaluate the effects that land use
has on transportation and vice-versa
• Look regionally
5
The Region in 2035
• 70% of growth in Maine forecasted to be in Cumberland and York Counties*
• Over 110,000 new people and 52,000 new jobs in Cumberland and York counties*
• 6 6
* - Dr. Charles Colgan, USM
Time and Change
• Historic growth provides insight to the future
• Consider what the Study Area would look
like if trends continue into the future - if
everything stays the same
• What would need to be done to change
these trends?
• And who might make these changes?
7 7
8
Gorham: 1925
9
Gorham: 1950
10
Gorham: 1975
11
Gorham: 2000
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Gorham: 2010
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Gorham: 2035
Why has this happened?
• Residential development along existing
roads
• More affordable land to the west
• Relatively cheap fuel
• Historically, Mainers generally favor rural,
not urban environments
• Land use regulations allow development to
occur in most places 14 14
The Study Area in 2035
• 35,000 new houses - 9,200 additional acres of consumed land - 15 square miles
• 25,000 new jobs - mostly in retail and service
• 50,000 new people
• Jobs and homes continue to grow farther apart
• People spend 50% more time in their cars compared to today
•
15 15
Urban AND Rural
Land Use Pattern
Testing a regionally accepted
alternate land use pattern
16
17
18
Urban-
AND-
Rural: New Jobs
65% to
Urban (16,200)
30% to
Inner (7,400)
5% to
Outer (1,200)
19
Urban-
AND-Rural: New Housing
Units 35% to
Urban (12,200)
45% to
Inner (15,700)
20% to
Outer (7,000)
“LEGO” Workshop
20
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Roadway Scenarios
23
Transportation Sustainability
Three-Legged Stool
24
Tra
nsit
Conclusions
• Evaluating both Land Use and
Transportation scenarios critical to success
• Need State and Local policies that connect
Land Use and Transportation
• Best benefit comes from balancing
25