Portland Launches Traffic Safety Initiative on Washington Avenue
PORTLAND, Maine — This week, the city of Portland commenced a new traffic safety project on Washington Avenue, aiming to enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The initiative, which began Thursday, includes the installation of roadway paint, traffic posts, and speed bumps between Veranda Street and Ocean Avenue. These measures will serve as temporary tests for safety improvements before any permanent changes are implemented.
The overarching objective is to improve pedestrian crossing safety, strengthen bike facilities, curb reckless driving behaviors, and reduce speeding. The roadwork is set to continue until Wednesday, August 6. This project is part of a broader city-wide effort, which includes two other active safety improvement projects in Saco and South Portland, with temporary installations scheduled for removal by November 15.
Data from the Greater Portland Council of Governments revealed alarming statistics: from 2017 to 2021, 92 fatalities and over 580 serious injuries resulted from traffic crashes in the region, with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists accounting for 40% of deaths. In response, the council, alongside the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, developed the Vision Zero Greater Portland action plan, targeting zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2045.
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is supporting these initiatives and is actively involved in additional projects, including the installation of traffic cameras on Interstate 95 and 295. The urgency of these improvements is underscored by findings indicating that Maine’s traffic-related death rate exceeds the national average.
“These projects are about more than paint and posts,” stated Andrew Zarro, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. “They’re about protecting lives and creating safer street designs for our community.”
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