Sanford Development News

Sanford Council Approves Traffic Calming Measures for Route 109 Main Street Crosswalks

The council considered and approved a resolution supporting a traffic calming demonstration project on Route 109 Main Street, specifically at two crosswalks south of Front Street. The project aims to address safety concerns due to high traffic speeds and near misses, where drivers may attempt to go around stopped vehicles, potentially obscuring pedestrians. The proposed solution involves installing temporary stand-up delineators and marking bump-outs to narrow the road to one lane, eliminating the opportunity for vehicles to pass stopped traffic. This is a step towards evaluating potential permanent bump-outs for pedestrian safety. Existing crosswalk signs have already been installed via a pedestrian safety grant. The council discussed the placement and effectiveness of similar flashing crosswalk signs used elsewhere in the city, noting potential maintenance issues and the tendency for them to be ignored. They also considered the possibility of removing one of the two proposed crosswalks but decided against it due to heavy pedestrian use and the difficulty of reintroducing them later. A motion to approve was made and seconded.