Gorham East West Corridor

Feasibility Study

Improving Decision Making by Integrating

Land Use and Transportation

Sara Devlin

Maine Turnpike Authority

GrowSmart Summit

October 23, 2012

Study Overview

• Began in 2007 – 4 town

joint resolution

• LD 1720 directs Maine

Turnpike Authority/

MaineDOT to study:

“existing highway

infrastructure and future

capacity needs west of Route

1 in Cumberland County,

including the Gorham Area”

• Joint MTA/MaineDOT

Study

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Study Overview

• What is this study evaluating? – Traffic congestion in Study Area

– Safety issues in the Study Area

– Loss of rural character/quality of life

– WHY these problems exist

– Where should transportation dollars be invested over the long term?

– How should we be shaping our region for the future?

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Study

Area

Map

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Study Approach

• Empowered Steering Committee

• Address transportation concerns raised

by 4 towns and in LD directive

• Also evaluate the effects that land use

has on transportation and vice-versa

• Look regionally

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The Region in 2035

• 70% of growth in Maine forecasted to be in Cumberland and York Counties*

• Over 110,000 new people and 52,000 new jobs in Cumberland and York counties*

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* - Dr. Charles Colgan, USM

Time and Change

• Historic growth provides insight to the future

• Consider what the Study Area would look

like if trends continue into the future - if

everything stays the same

• What would need to be done to change

these trends?

• And who might make these changes?

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Gorham: 1925

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Gorham: 1950

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Gorham: 1975

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Gorham: 2000

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Gorham: 2010

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Gorham: 2035

Why has this happened?

• Residential development along existing

roads

• More affordable land to the west

• Relatively cheap fuel

• Historically, Mainers generally favor rural,

not urban environments

• Land use regulations allow development to

occur in most places 14 14

The Study Area in 2035

• 35,000 new houses - 9,200 additional acres of consumed land - 15 square miles

• 25,000 new jobs - mostly in retail and service

• 50,000 new people

• Jobs and homes continue to grow farther apart

• People spend 50% more time in their cars compared to today

•

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Urban AND Rural

Land Use Pattern

Testing a regionally accepted

alternate land use pattern

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Urban-

AND-

Rural: New Jobs

65% to

Urban (16,200)

30% to

Inner (7,400)

5% to

Outer (1,200)

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Urban-

AND-Rural: New Housing

Units 35% to

Urban (12,200)

45% to

Inner (15,700)

20% to

Outer (7,000)

“LEGO” Workshop

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Roadway Scenarios

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Transportation Sustainability

Three-Legged Stool

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Tra

nsit

Conclusions

• Evaluating both Land Use and

Transportation scenarios critical to success

• Need State and Local policies that connect

Land Use and Transportation

• Best benefit comes from balancing

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