Invitation & Request

[Vision Zero Maine]

Hey all - Paul Drinan here from Vision Zero Maine. I'm reaching out with an invitation and a request.

On Sunday, November 16, at 10 AM, Vision Zero Maine will be hosting an event in partnership with World Day of Remembrance (WDoR). The City of Portland and people honoring Joe Lewis (who was killed in a crosswalk on India St.) will be joining us. 

We will be making an explicit ask of the city of Portland and that’s where you come in: I know that people in this group have paid close attention to the city’s Vision Zero process and subsequent Action Plan and I’d like your input. If you could pick one thing from the city to focus on in order to achieve safer speeds, what would it be? We’ll incorporate your ask into the press conference talking points and Myles has agreed to deliver that portion.

As part of the event, we typically try to have some sort of compelling visual and this year we'd like to use surveyor flags to show the number of bike/ped crashes with white flags for injuries and red flags for fatalities. 

We’d like to invite any PBPAC members to join us for the press conference and if you’re able, we also need help setting out the flags at 9 AM. 

Please see our Facebook event page and click “going” if you plan to attend.

Thanks to Andrew and BCM for helping us spread the word. 

Please email me at visionz...@gmail.com if you’d like to participate. 

Thanks all,

Paul

Paul Drinan

Vision Zero Maine

POB 17834

Portland, ME. 04112

visionz...@gmail.com

www.visionzeromaine.org

207-370-7434

[Christian MilNeil]

Thanks Paul!

I'll weigh in with an idea, although I'm not sure whether the City Council can do it on its own or whether it requires an act of the Legislature. Portland should have a citywide 25 mph speed limit on all streets that aren't expressways like I-295, and it should be allowed to establish special 20 mph "safety zones" near schools and busy pedestrian districts like Washington Ave. and the Old Port. 

I can anticipate that some people argue that changing speed limit signs without changing the physical infrastructure on streets won't make any difference. That's not true: there's robust, peer-reviewed evidence to the contrary. The City of Boston implemented a citywide 25 mph speed limit on Jan. 1, 2017, reducing the default speed limit from 30 mph. After that, average speeds went down slightly, but more importantly, the frequency of lethal speeding, over 35 mph, went down by 1/3rd. Psychologically, a lot of drivers are OK with going 5 mph over the speed limit, but not with going 10 mph over the speed limit. 

While I absolutely agree that it would be nice to have more speed humps and protected bike lanes, physical infrastructure is expensive and takes a long time to implement. Changing the speed limit signs is cheap, we know it's effective, and we could do it tomorrow. 

Since Boston changed its speed limit in 2017, about 50 other MA cities and towns have followed suit.

Maine had 599 fatal crashes in the four years from 2021 to 2024, in a state with 1.4 million people. 

In the same 4 years, Massachusetts, population 7 million, had 1,479 fatal crashes. MA has more than 5 times as many people, but they've had only 2.5 times as many motor vehicle homicides. 

Christian MilNeil
- - - - - - - - - - - - -

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to PBPAC+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAKVH%3Ds7_TmtzMvU0pmBYTRs4TQABv60djquy4V4fWfiN9EKN0w%40mail.gmail.com.

[winston.lumpkins]

In 2023 one of our top priorities was instituting a 20 MPH speed limit on Portland's minor streets; at that time I think we thought that Portland could do that for non-state roads.  

Portland is not set up to do so at the moment, and we haven't pushed for that change to be made since, focusing on other areas.  

If Portland embarks on a program of lowering all speed limits to 25 or 20 MPH, I think we would simply take over speed limit setting from the DOT, which I think we are actually able to do.  
No municipality in Maine has elected to do so, but all municipalities over 2,500 people can.  Portland's city staff don't seem to want to, but, while it would be work, it would be relatively simple if we where doing lowering all speeds in a systematic way. 

https://mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2075.html 

E. Subject to the provisions of this paragraph, if it is a qualifying municipality, set speed limits on qualifying roads. As used in this paragraph, "qualifying municipality" means a municipality that has a population of 2,500 or more as measured by the latest decennial United States census or that employs a professional engineer licensed in this State. As used in this paragraph, "qualifying road" means a town way that is classified as local by the Department of Transportation in accordance with the federal functional classification system.  

If a qualifying municipality decides to set speed limits in accordance with this paragraph, the municipality shall provide written notice of that determination to the Commissioner of Transportation and shall set speed limits for all qualifying roads in that municipality.  

Unless otherwise approved as provided in paragraph D, speed limits set by a municipality must be in 5-mile-per-hour increments within the following ranges:  

(1) From 20 to 25 miles per hour, inclusive, regarding roads in a business or residential district or a compact area, except that the lower limit may be set at 15 miles per hour on roads on islands not accessible by road or dead end roads less than 1/4 mile in length; and  

(2) From 30 to 50 miles per hour, inclusive, regarding roads in all other areas.  

Prior to establishing a speed limit, the municipality must perform a traffic investigation that reviews the factors identified in the applicable sections of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The municipal officers shall validate that speed limit in accordance with the procedure for establishing municipal traffic ordinances set forth in Title 30‑A, section 3009, post standard speed limit signs in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and provide written notice of that speed limit zone to the Commissioner of Transportation on forms approved by the Department of Transportation.  

[Zack Barowitz]

Great discussion. Jaime and I made pedestrian memorial signs that we installed at the locations of the pedestrian deaths, some of them are still in place including where Joe Lewis was killed. 

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

ATTENTION:
The information in this electronic mail message is private and confidential,
and only intended for the addressee. Should you receive this message by
mistake, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction,
distribution or use of this message is strictly prohibited. Please inform
the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or
opening it.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/774eb0c2-5c95-4a31-9213-abb9de347db8n%40googlegroups.com.

[Liz Trice]

Hi!

I'm a big fan of the "20 is plenty" movement, since 20 MPH is really the safe, quiet speed, and with people likely to go 5 MPH over, if its set at 25, then they're going 30, which is not safe for pedestrians. Data showing almost zero bike/ped deaths if hit by car going 20 MPH, and drastically increasing at 25 MPH

I'm curious about the statute Winston quoted; ""qualifying road" means a town way that is classified as local by the Department of Transportation" .., Does that exclude all of our arterials ie Brighton/Congress/Washington/Forest? These are the roads that most need slowing, and I believe we need to address them because they are the most direct routes for everyone, including bicyclists, busses and pedestrians. 

In addition, I believe that in order for Portland to grow it's population and housing stock, (and not contribute more to sprawl and traffic) we will need to build vertically on these routes. Much of the building types right now are single family homes, a few triplexes, and low value single story businesses surrounded by parking. Many of those lots could be 10-20+ units, but won't be economical to build if they require off-street parking for every unit. One option is to convert our arterials to green, pleasant pedestrian friendly places so that, say, a family of 4 is happy living on a 4th floor condo and letting their kids and one adult bike or bus year round the 1-3 miles that is pretty much the max distance between most points in Portland. The Brighton BRT corridor is a great place to start, and the Comprehensive Transportation Plan would be an ideal place to start to build this change.

One of the reasons I've heard often said that we can't lower speed limits (besides the DOT block), is that it will require rebuilding the arterials, which is expensive. I've put together some ideas here for how to set frontage and heat island fees to pay for rebuilding the arterials to be slow, green, and denser. 

I'd love to hear any feedback, and also ideas about how we can get some of these policies into the transportation plan.

[James Cradock]

When I read Christian's pitch, I saw a state law from 2021 allowing qualifying places to have full control over setting speed limits in the jurisdiction. It wasn't clear whether Maine DOT still had final (final-final) say on a town's limits. But limits would apply to local and state roads.

There were a couple state gov't docs/pages about this. I'll pull them and share. 

I'm all for a 20 MPH. On Forest, this would be quite significant. But on other roads, too. 

Thank you. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/a8d5fda5-14dd-4c49-a3fe-9cefadbe91c6n%40googlegroups.com.

-- 
Sent by James Cradock from sea...@cradock.net

[Zack Barowitz]

This is all excellent information, and that Forest Ave plan is great (who needs a consultant)!! However I’m a little confused by the thread. Who posted the Forest Ave slideshow?

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

ATTENTION:
The information in this electronic mail message is private and confidential,
and only intended for the addressee. Should you receive this message by
mistake, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction,
distribution or use of this message is strictly prohibited. Please inform
the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or
opening it.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/9770b097-cacd-4c98-8ead-dbc8964cd646%40cradock.net.

[Liz Trice]

I did

You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the Google Groups "Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/topic/PBPAC/A_WQWedTxNA/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to PBPAC+un...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAE741VBhausFLgeUUZjqPVKWME6A_kcPeOnD%3D2vjgK-cgJsJRA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Zack Barowitz]

Awesome. Great work!

207-838-6120

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

ATTENTION:
The information in this electronic mail message is private and confidential,
and only intended for the addressee. Should you receive this message by
mistake, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, reproduction,
distribution or use of this message is strictly prohibited. Please inform
the sender by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or
opening it.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAGw3h9FMrej4N9wpE_AG3c3eWxwRT9bSQD0KeBau1eE4sbSa7g%40mail.gmail.com.

[James Cradock]

Unfortunately, I am incorrect. 

*Local* roads speed limits can be set by qualifying cities/towns. 

Forest Ave. does not appear to be a federally-classified local road. It's an arterial. 20 MPH would be quite the game changer for, for example, Morrill's Corner: Stevens (25 MPH), Forest (30), Allen (35). 

Maine DOT can be petitioned for changes to speed limits. 

Thank you. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAE741VAQ4cd%2B9T%3DF9pd2fhrkR0QXdMf3SH6krt%2Bmbm8U_8YMcw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Paul Drinan]

Unfortunately, pretty much every major road leaving Portland is under DOT control: Rt 22 (Congress), Rt 25 (Brighton), & Rt 302 (Forest).

Thankfully they're paying more attention to a new context-driven matrix than the guidelines under Title 23.

Paul Drinan

W: 207-370-7434

M: 207-615-5202 

pdr...@gmail.com

Vision Zero Maine

Friends of Fort Gorges

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/6308f31d-89e2-4ff7-b931-b72562f2eb31%40cradock.net.

[Michael Dixon]

Not to mention Route 26 aka Washington Ave (aka 295 on-off ramp in one particularly disturbing stretch), which is finally getting some attention but still needs a lot more according to the crash data.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAKVH%3Ds4SN5ZUweJYgxm%2BKpMaWoP6dLG6G3oNMF%2B1hm7h1Zznfg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Winston Lumpkins]

I want to circle back to Paul's question: what single thing could Portland be asked to do on Sunday? 

If taking on our own speed limit setting authority would only allow us to change speeds on streets which currently are already low speed streets, then it might not be worth asking Portland. However, what about making an ask of the DOT?  Specifically that they recognize that Portland is a uniquely urban environment, and that the whole city should not have a speed limit over 25MPH?  Although that phrasing doesn't support folks outside of Portland, and my understanding, based on a presentation from the Yarmouth bike ped group, is that the new speed limit setting metrics are pretty problematic for rural roads, and may still be using the 85 percentile for rural roads...     

Have you invited state legislators? 

Now my 2 cents: I think the ask should be specific to the crashes which have occurred.  Speed was probably a factor, though even at 20 miles an hour not everyone will survive being hit by cars- so, in the downtown this spring there were 2 deaths.  Both very near/in crosswalks, one signalized and one unsignalized.  

The city is working on some of PBPACs 2025 goals, but there are 2 which there has been little progress towards: 

• Hiring an additional staff member to focus on Safe streets adjacent projects (we called it "Sustainable Transportation Manager" because South Portland has one of those, but the title doesn't matter, would be similar to bike ped coordinator).  I think the city hired an additional employee to help manage transportation projects in general, though I don't know who that is or if they really did; but, if they had a specific person for non-car throughput safety projects, that person could help get demonstration projects off the ground: and what would really help prevent these types of fatal crashes is encouraging yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks on a massive scale.  Falmouth had some nice big f*ckoff speed bumps this summer- why haven't we put those up on Fore street on either side of the intersection with India street?  Why has nothing been done to slow traffic on Franklin?  The signal timing hasn't even been adjusted to allow peds to fully cross in one go: you still have to wait twice, and no one does...  The answer to those questions is there is no one person at city hall who's supposed to make sure that small problems are quickly addressed: the long term planning seems to be happening, but, we need to make streets safer now. 
  
  
• Forming an official Complete streets committee or Board: PBPAC isn't enough, the city needs an official complete streets committee to ensure that all projects are reviewed for safety by someone other than just city staff.  

Winston Lumpkins IV (he/him/his)

Past Chair, Portland Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
https://www.portlandbikeped.org/

winston....@gmail.com
207-408-1508

• 
  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CAGPwo-J23mu3hmVF4eWnE-Q3skNuniAF9%2B-tbBro1h87bWuyMg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Jaime Parker]

Thanks Paul,

I will be away for the event, but the one thing I think would have the most immediate impact is if the City would invest in materials and staff to install and manage temporary/quick-build traffic calming on a city-wide scale.  This could be in conjunction with a marketing campaign to educate road users on the rationale for the installations, and the concept of V0.

Jaime Parker

(he/his)
Special Projects Director
Portland Trails
ja...@trails.org
207.329.6180

Non Sibi, Sed Omnibus

--

[Paul Drinan]

Winston - thanks for bringing this back into focus. 

There have been some good suggestions so far but please keep in mind that the ask (and intent) here is for PBPAC to pick one item from the city's Vision Zero Action Plan that will impact speeding in Portland. Remember, this year’s theme for WDoR in the U.S. is Safe Speeds Save Lives so whatever you all suggest should be aligned with that. 

I'm a big fan of speed humps/bumps/tables because they work but the only place I'm seeing those listed in the Vision Zero Plan is on Vannah Ave. Maybe the ask is to add more of these on pedestrian-heavy streets?

Thanks for the input and let's set a deadline for this of Friday/Saturday.

Paul Drinan

W: 207-370-7434

M: 207-615-5202 

pdr...@gmail.com

Vision Zero Maine

Friends of Fort Gorges

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CABaJc7xRLAGx0ytPhjZxZTz%3DCV5z7xKm4EAo3os84ikg7ksSGQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Paul Drinan]

Good suggestions Jaime - thank you!

Paul Drinan

W: 207-370-7434

M: 207-615-5202 

pdr...@gmail.com

Vision Zero Maine

Friends of Fort Gorges

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/CALT9reAM6ZCp%3D5vTiUAp6Mnh7VuLajBf7Hidr_kOjLnEQCWmig%40mail.gmail.com.

[mylesgsmith]

From a public communications perspective, slowing cars is the simplest, cleanest message. When you're on camera with a reporter, a quote for an event like this is going to be about 3-6 seconds long. They're going to want a setup of the people this impacts and we want to give them the problem and the solution. Here's my thoughts:

Problem: "Drivers are going faster, paying less attention, and driving bigger vehicles than ever. Fatalities and serious injuries are way up in Maine, even more than in most other states and big cities." 

Solution: "The #1 way to prevent crashes, injuries, and deaths is to reduce speeds. Other cities have made their streets safety by reducing speed limits to 20mph. 20 is plenty. Ultimately, we have to redesign our streets to make them safe and usable for everyone."

[winston.lumpkins]

Myles probably has the right of it here: we should be very clear that we're asking for action from the STATE, with support for it from the Council.  


Here's a link to Portland's Quick Action Plan for Vision zero- there may be something in there worth highlighting: https://portlandme.portal.civicclerk.com/event/8078/files/attachment/26891 

Again, have we invited Portland's Delegation to Augusta?  I thought I had a spreadsheet with all their emails in it really handy, but I can't find it and need to head to work.  

If possible adding a solid ask for more city resources to be devoted to demonstration type projects to slow drivers on streets where the speed limit is already low and where drivers are not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks: both some kind of employee who's only job is that, and money to implement it. 

Something like: 

"While our legislature gets it together and allows cities and towns in Maine to implement downtown safe zones where arterial streets can be slowed to 20 miles and hour, the city of Portland needs ensure that drivers are slowing down on streets where the speed limit is already low, and yielding to Pedestrians in crosswalks: the crosswalk before us, where Joe Lewis was killed is a site where left turning cars routinely fail to yield to pedestrians: it is shameful that nothing has been done to increase those yield rates in the months since he was killed, and that nothing has been done at other crosswalks where injuries have occurred due to drivers failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, which is a city wide problem." "Portland must devote resources to increasing yeild rates city wide, and this includes hiring a city employee who's only job is to co-ordinate Pedestrian and bicycle improvements, as The Portland Bicycle and ped committee has long called for, indeed, has called for since that position was eliminated. " 

That's so long and so in the weeds it may not come through- someone needs to shorten it.  I also claim in it that Joe was in the crosswalk; I believe that he was when he was struck, or at least I think it's likely, but even if he was crossing a few feet outside of it, a raised crosswalk or another method of ensuring left turning cars slow could have saved his life and could save the life of any of us who use that street to walk to work.  Cars really do not yield there when turning up India Street from Fore Street, I have been nearly hit there by left turning cars more than a few times.  

 That's a way that PORTLAND, on our own, could make some progress and prevent deaths in the short term while the State lags.  I think we have to say that even if it's long and in the weeds.  

[Scsmedia]

Link to the spreadsheet Winston referred to.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xlnUeXU2Ay7TCnRdLzPfoZt0Nl1jvPwBozDhoj4K4KQ/edit?usp=sharing

Comments on last night's meeting.

The plans only call for the removal of 0 to 5 trees.  One of the guys noted that there is one tree that probably would need to be removed (Park Ave  and State) no matter the plan.  The question about removal of trees was from one person who was questioning why they saw keeping trees as highly important.

Several people discussed speed on the sidewalk area cycle tracks.  I mentioned that there may be state laws governing this.  Turns out I am only half correct.  My dive into state law this morning noted speed limits on sidewalks only pertain to 

Electric personal assistive mobility devices

4. Speed. On sidewalks, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may not exceed speeds of 5 miles per hour. On public ways and bike paths, a person operating an electric personal assistive mobility device may not exceed speeds of 15 miles per hour.

[PL 2001, c. 687, §16 (NEW).]

Apparently, in 2001, people in electric wheel chairs were becoming a nuisance to legislators.  There is no other sidewalk related ordinances in Maine Statute relating to speed.

[Side note, the committee hosted a forum:  Benefit or Menace, A Panel Discussion on the Issues of Motorized Vehicles on the Streets, Sidewalks and Trails of Portland in September of 2004.] 

I think we need to do a site walk as a group to come up with a postition on the desired concept to push forward.

Lastly, I forgot to ask about it, but note that there was no reference to High Street in these plans.

Steven Scharf

207-415-4662

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/PBPAC/2ddde950-0b57-49fe-a844-285bf10a701bn%40googlegroups.com

.