What's New!
- Aug. 20th Meeting Materials Available
- Upcoming Public Meeting: August 20th
- Upcoming AC and SC Meetings: August 8th
- Meeting Notes from 5.22 AC/SC Workshops
- Tech Memo on Land Use and Access Management Strategies
- DRAFT Executive Summary for Phase II Evaluation Results
- Tech Memo on Natural Resources
- Tech Memo on Review of Previous Studies
- Tech Memo on Phase II Corridor Strategies
- Tech Memo on Review of Local Plans and Development Regs
- Tech Memo on Transit, TDM and TSM
Welcome to the Central York County Connections Study
Study Overview
The study’s goal is to identify a series of recommendations designed to preserve or enhance transportation connections between central York County and US Route 1 and the Maine Turnpike. The study was begun in September 2010 and was authorized by the following Legislative Directive from the 123rd Legislature. Click here to view the directive.
It is important to understand the reasons behind this study. While there are some pockets of peak hour traffic congestion along the state routes that connect central York County to the Turnpike and Route 1, it is clear that the transportation concerns heard from residents are about more than just an easier commute. They are also about how best to improve economic development prospects in the area.
The study will answer questions such as:
- Can improved access to greater Sanford, as the region’s service center, make a meaningful economic difference to the prospects of Sanford and its surrounding communities?
- In the long run, are these prospects best served by a northerly (Portland-oriented) or a southerly (NH/ MA-oriented) connection?
- Can upgrades to existing routes serve these purposes or are more radical improvements needed?
- How will any proposed improvements affect traffic conditions elsewhere, in particular at existing connections to the Turnpike?
- How much will managing land use and access along these roads contribute to achieving these purposes?
- Finally, would improving economic development have the added benefit of allowing people to live closer to newly created jobs and services? And would this reduce the amount people travel and thus meaningfully reduce congestion?
These are the central questions this study will answer between September 2010 and the first part of 2012.
There are ten towns participating in this study, along with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) and the Maine Turnpike Authority. The towns are Biddeford, Kennebunk, Wells, Ogunquit, North Berwick, Sanford, Alfred, Waterboro, Lyman and Arundel. The Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission is also a participant.
We ask everyone who has a stake in this region to help these towns and agencies by being involved and providing feedback. For more information on how, go to Public Involvement.
