Transportation Planning

SCEC supports MaineDOT’s efforts in actualizing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, assess threats to infrastructure, and planning for resiliency and adaptation. When requested, assist MaineDOT in work related to the Maine Climate Council Transportation Working Group greenhouse gas reduction, climate change adaptation and infrastructure resiliency strategy recommendations, including:

• Expand Electrification of Transportation
• Reduce the Emissions of Maine’s Internal Combustion Engines
• Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
• Adapt Maine’s Infrastructure Critical to the State
• Explore Mechanisms to Fund Transportation Needs and Facilitate Emission Reduction

Stream Crossings:

SCEC focuses on stream crossings vulnerable to floods and wash out during intense storm events that leave communities (or portions of communities) cut off from emergency services. SCEC can often assist communities in accessing grants and coordinating with the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to address these increasingly common problems. Upgrading our stream crossings protects lives, infrastructure and improves habitat for endangered and economically important sea-run fisheries.

Addison Road Safety Survey:

SCEC staff assisted in the creation of an Addison Road Safety Committee. This was undertaken to address bicycle/pedestrian safety concerns on town and state-assist roads, as well as to remediate areas on the same roads which experience flooding. A Road Safety Survey was created to provide a baseline of data in an effort to seek funding for road improvement in Addison.

Hazard Mitigation Plan Update:

In 2023, SCEC won a Hazard Mitigation Plan Update contract with Washington County Emergency Management Agency and will begin work on this in 2024.

Sunrise County Economic Council is working with The Sunrise Trail Coalition with funding from the Maine Department of Transportation to study connections between the Down East Sunrise Trail and village centers along the trail. Better integrating the DEST into these towns will help to improve wellness, connection with outdoor spaces, and town visitation.

We will create a Village Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Plan that recommends improvements to accessibility and safety for trail users in the towns of Franklin, Cherryfield, Harrington, Columbia Falls, Whitneyville, Machias, East Machias, and Dennysville. This will help us assist municipal leaders, the Maine DOT to improve access and safety.

What we are doing:

• Mapping the physical transportation infrastructure (connections between the trail and sidewalks, shoulders, crosswalks, etc.)
• Studying existing bike/pedestrian plans
• Investigating how people use and would like to use the DEST as an alternative transportation route to get from where they live to school, work, grocery stores, health services, further recreational opportunities, etc.

The East Coast Greenway is envisioned as an off-road urban trail connecting Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. Completion of the Down East Sunrise Trail will create the single longest stretch of off-road trail along the East Coast Greenway in Maine.