City groups trying to sway state on trail spur

Neighborhood and conservation groups in Portland are trying to convince Maine's transportation agency to build a new gateway to the Back Cove.

The connection would link the Back Cove to the Bayside Trail at the intersection of Franklin Arterial and Marginal Way. Advocates say it would be heavily used by pedestrians and commuters and would provide Bayside residents easier access to recreation and shopping centers.

The idea has strong local support, but the Maine Department of Transportation has final say on whether to build the trail. The state is planning to widen highway ramps and add traffic lights at exit 7 off I-295 later this year, but it hasn't committed to building the trail.

Pedestrian safety appears to be the main concern for state transportation officials, who are worried about the impact of adding pedestrians to an already dicey intersection.

State offices were closed Monday for Presidents Day, and an email to DOT spokesman Mark Latti seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The city's Transportation Committee will consider a resolution in favor of the trail at its 5 p.m. meeting today at City Hall. Proponents are hoping the resolution will ultimately be approved by the full council and forwarded to DOT officials in Augusta.

"Our hope is that we can continue to point out that this is something that should be a part of the project," said Jaime Parker, trails manager with Portland Trails. "Because we're spending several millions to make improvements for automobiles, we should spend several thousand to make it something that's for the people of Portland ... to access."

In addition, letters from Portland Trails, Trust for Public Land and neighborhood associations from Munjoy Hill, Bayside, East Bayside, Back Cove and Eastern Prom are being sent to the state in support of the project.

While pedestrian safety appears to be the sticking point, any issues can be addressed easily and inexpensively, said John Mahoney, an engineer with Oak Engineers, a partner on the Bayside Trail project. Mahoney says the spur would only be about 15 feet wide, and a guardrail is all that's necessary to separate pedestrians from traffic on the southbound ramp at exit 7.

"It would require additional guardrails and pavement, which is very minor compared to the scope of the (exit 7) project," he said, adding that DOT concerns about having pedestrians criss-crossing exit ramps are "valid."

Still, he says much of the required infrastructure, including crosswalks, already exist in the intersection, while new safety measures not present could be "worked out." Indeed, private engineers at local firms are already working on a design, he said.

As proposed, the trail would run parallel to Franklin from the intersection at Marginal Way, pass under the I-295 overpass, then bend to the left, where it would connect with the Back Cove Trail. Currently, access to the Back Cove from the Peninsula is gained from the East End Trail network or from Preble Street.

Although the proposed trail would only span a few hundred feet, advocates say it would have an immediate impact on the Bayside neighborhood. Alex Landry, chair of the Bayside Neighborhood Association, says it would help drive future development in the area.

"It's probably going to be in much greater demand than people think it would be," he said.

Parker says the new route would bring "myriad" health, recreation and environmental benefits to all Portlanders. More importantly, he says the new route is a "social justice issue" for Bayside and East Bayside residents, who "suffer from being boxed in by high-volume, high speed roads and not a lot of good access to parks or open spaces."

Whereas some residents must now travel an extra mile out of their way to reach the Back Cove Trail, Parker says the new route would provide "safe and easy access for thousands of people."