2/23 Council Agenda - Franklin/Marginal Intersection Improvements

[John Clark]

Hey folks,

Wanted to flag this item on Monday's council agenda - the first read of an agreement between MDOT and the city for improvements at Franklin/Marginal. Sounds like signal equipment will be upgraded, as well as adding a crosswalk on the "east side" of the intersection (sounds like from the park-and-ride to the Bayside Trail going into East Bayside) and "blankout signage" that activates when pedestrian are crossing. Additionally, it sounds like there will be some improvements at Franklin/Fox such as multi-modal detection for the signals.

Sounds like there's the potential for the city to ask more be added to the project (as long as the city pays for it and DOT approves), but not sure how likely that is with projects like this. 

Small improvements, I guess.

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John Clark (he | him | his)

[Markos Miller]

John,

Thanks for flagging this. Most of what I see here looks like good stuff- adding a crosswalk improving the signalization. I do have an ask in about details of any other "improvements" at Exit 7, as described in the PW memo from Feb. 2. Jeremiah is out until Mon, so we won't know much in advance. 

The idea of any additional asks is interesting. Does this group have anything in mind? My first instinct is to suggest that the redesign process is a better place to vet and find support for other Franklin improvements, but that has a slow timeline.

While I'm here, I would encourage PBPAC to check out the planning dept. recent slide show/update on Franklin, which was shared with the Bayside NA. 

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/676ed34492155a7cd435c9fc/t/695ec4597e204f65571c45bb/1767818329417/ReimaginingFranklin_NeighbAssnsPPT_Jan06-2026v2.pdf

Good things- calling out street reconnections

Concerns: calling for a median, on street parking- both solidly rejected at Open House and Workshops last year

Questions- why is Expanding Boyd St. gardens "Guiding Principle"? Why is housing not called out as a priority? Why does Street Character graphic suggest a gradual tapering of Franklin instead of definitively happening where appropriate based on traffic counts?

There has been a lot of new material added to the site recently.

https://www.reimaginingfranklin.me/about

 I'll gradually be reviewing and discussing on my social media feeds, but encourage you all to review and share your thoughts.

https://www.instagram.com/rebuild_franklin_street_now/

https://www.facebook.com/FranklinReclamationAuthority/

Finally, the city claims they are open to bringing this presentation to groups. I'd encourage you all to request a visit from city staff. There have been woefully few opportunities to review this work, and this typically results in a proposed design that misses the mark. I believe the input of this group would only help improve the recommendations to come.

Best,

Markos 

[Myles G. Smith]

Hello there,

I listened into the meeting tonight, in case there was any more information shared. There was not. 

Note that one of the first items in our joint letter to the council from December was immediate safety improvements at this intersection. I'm glad to see something being done, even if it's not nearly enough. Progress is progress.

There's so little information in the order, it's hard to be definitive that these 'improvements' are in fact improvements for all users. Maine DOT has classified Franklin as a suburban highway and treats it as such, residents, pedestrians, cyclists, children, runners, etc be damned. I can only imagine that the crash that killed Diane Bell a few months ago is what prompted this, and the welcome note that Maine DOT is paying for the costs of installation at 100%. I do not understand why Maine DOT will not cover 100% of other costs of critical safety improvements for all users on the other state highways in Portland, but it will cover this one. That's great, it shows a possibility that should become precedent. 

Ultimately, though, this is a failed intersection, which is the inevitable result of putting highway traffic through downtown. There's no amount of signals and signs that will make this intersection safer. Before 2010, the I-295 was one off ramp with a yield sign, which would encourage drivers to slow down to save their necks from the speeding traffic coming from the left. At peak times, cars would back up onto 295, which is a safety hazard owing to the ridiculous placement of two exits within a half mile of each other. The 'improved' current design and signal timing encourages traffic to speed up while exiting the ramp in order to make the green light at Marginal Way, which puts vehicles crossing the supposedly critical pedestrian route and mixes use trail while accelerating through a 5 lane intersection. There have been over a dozen injury crashes at Franklin and Marginal, and Somerset, and Cumberland, and Congress in the last decade. Whatever we hoped to accomplish with the widening of the offramps in 2010 has clearly failed. Long term, I-295's incompatibility with the urban environment is the problem here. Lanes must be reduced, ramps must be removed, and 295 should be brought back into the street grid as Franklin Street must be.

I imagine these steps proposed here will be positive, but it's hard to say for sure. Any solution that prioritizes vehicle throughput in the area will be deadly to all users. I. think that adding a crosswalk on the north side of Marginal would prompt drivers to think twice about pedestrians and cyclists as they speed across it. Improved lighting would be helpful, as this is a dark and chaotic intersection during winter rush hours, which is when many crashes have occurred. Lights and paint and signs are something, but hard infrastructure that slows vehicles is what we really need to save lives.

I would love to hear from Jerimiah if there's more information available on the details of what's proposed and what dangers it will mitigate. I trust that he's doing his best with what's been offered, here.

Myles

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