WINDHAM – The U.S. Postal Service had one more piece of priority mail to deliver in its Christmas rush this week: a letter sent by the Windham Town Council to the state Department of Transportation signifying that River Road be addressed before any other project in Windham.
Windham’s two road projects have been the topic of some recent debate with a dozen or so Windham residents attending a council meeting Dec. 14 to lobby the council to make it clear to the state that the reconstruction of the major commuter road is the town’s top priority. State transportation officials are in the process of selecting which road projects will receive funding in the next two years.
The town has submitted two projects: River Road, which is estimated to cost $12 to $15 million to reconstruct, and a $2 million project in North Windham which would align Anglers Road and Whites Bridge Road in a bisecting intersection with Route 302.
Town Manager Tony Plante, who has gone to Augusta lobbying on behalf of both projects, was sent a letter in September by Kat Beaudoin, transportation planner for the state Department of Transportation. Prompted by a letter from Windham earlier in the summer asking how it could increase the likelihood of River Road’s funding, Beaudoin replied by suggesting the town rank the two projects since reduced state and federal funding – the two sources of revenue for road projects – make it unlikely for both Windham projects to receive funding in the next budget.
At recent council meetings on the topic, Plante had said that River Road was a priority and had momentum, especially since the establishment of a public advisory committee of which he and about 20 Windham residents are a part. But Plante also disagreed with a “false equivalency” that he said Beaudoin’s letter was making of the two Windham projects. He considered both worthy of state funding and suggested the council be wary of ranking the two projects.
“What we were trying to accomplish was to let MDOT know that simply because both projects happened to be in Windham, as far as I’m concerned, is irrelevant,” Plante said at this week’s meeting in explaining his hesitancy to rank the projects. “They’re both important projects and they both deserve to be funded. But if they’re looking for a clear priority to help them set their priorities, fine.”
In a sort of pickle – by being forced to pick one over the other to increase chances of one being funded – the council Tuesday night chose to put all their chips on River Road by sending a letter. The letter, however, does refer to Anglers Road as being a necessary project as well.
A portion of the letter reads as follows:
“Following consultation with the town council with input from the public, Windham hereby unequivocally states that River Road is the higher priority.
“The reconstruction of River Road, a vital regional transportation resource, has long been recognized as apriority by both town and the MDOT. Its presence in early MDOT biennial transportation improvement programs having been weighed against other projects to be included, illustrates this fact. That funding was not available to complete or even begin work on improvements, has not changed the need for this project. In fact, as the years that have gone by, the continued deterioration of the road has made it even more important to protect public safety.
“MDOT’s efforts on River Road including the CSS (Context Sensitive Solutions) public advisory committee have created a critical mass of interest and support for the River Road project. While we urge the state and MDOT in particular to plan appropriately for and fund all Maine’s transportation system needs including projects such as the Route 302/Anglers Road/Whites Bridge Road intersection, River Road is a project of the highest importance and should be done as soon as possible.”
Council comment
Councilors were fully supportive of the letter, and voted 6-0 in a special meeting to authorize the town manager to send the letter to the state.
“It sends a message,” said Councilor John MacKinnon, “I have no issue with this.”
“The community spoke and we listened,” added Councilor Peter Busque.
“I hope the Anglers Road (project) doesn’t get put off at all,” said council Chairman Scott Hayman. “We all know that River Road is more of a priority, but (Anglers Road) also needs to be done and I just don’t want that to fall off the map.”
Councilor Matt Noel concurred.
“I completely agree, and that’s my fear,” he said. “When you have to put one on and only one, I just think it’s a bad precedent. It’s not one, I think they’re both important to get resolved.”
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