Gateway 1: An innovative, community-led land use & transportation
planning project for Maine’s midcoast.
Click on map below for individual town information.
Early Spring 2008 Progress Report:
As we report the first growth projections for the Midcoast Route 1 Corridor, we begin to see how our existing patterns of growth will put pressure on the landscape as we know it.
Based on the “Riding the Currents” scenario, these projections show a pace of growth similar to that which has occurred over the past 30 years, with some adjustments as to the type and demographics of that growth.
To make it easier to analyze, we’ve broken this 100-mile stretch of corridor into five regions. The regions are:
- Region 1: Brunswick, West Bath, Bath and Woolwich
- Region 2: Wiscasset, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Damariscotta, Nobleboro
- Region 3: Waldoboro, Warren, Thomaston, Rockland
- Region 4: Rockport, Camden, Lincolnville, Northport
- Region 5: Belfast, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Prospect
Key differences, region to region:
- Region 1 will grow more than 20%, both in jobs and housing: strong growth but slower than other sections of the corridor.
- Region 2 will grow the most – a whopping 56% in jobs and 38% in new housing – due to the continuing growth of Wiscasset and Damariscotta and the large amount of available land in the region.
- Region 3, with large areas of available land and frontage on Routes 1 and 90, shows the second highest level of highway commercial growth, as well as a 33% jump in employment. Warren and Waldoboro, with significant amounts of available land compared to their neighbors, account for much of the 22% increase in housing.
- Region 4 is projected to see a 36% increase in new jobs, fueled by the growth of light manufacturing in Rockport. Available land in Lincolnville and Northport contributes to a 24% increase in new single-family homes.
- Region 5 shows growth consistent with the rest of the Corridor (36% employment and 24% housing), driven by a steady increase in smaller retail/artisan shops and condos, and growth in light manufacturing.
What’s Next?
These early findings are just the beginning. Over the next months, land use projections will be refined, we’ll add traffic projections, and, most important, the Steering Committee will start to make recommendations on how these growth patterns could be changed to better the economy, improve quality of life and maintain Route 1 as a functional arterial roadway.
You’ll be receiving notice of regional planning meetings that will take place in late April and early May; in the interim, the next Steering Committee meeting is on April 16th, from 4-8 at the Rockland City Council Chambers. The public is welcome.
Winter 2008 Progress Report:
The December Steering Committee meeting was very upbeat, with members getting a taste of how the planning process will work and taking a first look at what kind of multi-community collaborative arrangements they might consider in order to implement the plan. The minutes provide details.
As we move into the home stretch of Gateway 1, here is what you can expect for the next few months:
- 1. February: The Steering Committee will prioritize the “views of regional significance” that have been identified along the Route 1 Corridor between Brunswick and Prospect, with an eye to preserving these views for future generations.
- 2. March: With the land use and travel demand computer models up and running, the Steering Committee will for the first time see what the Corridor will look like in 2030. Decisions will be made on where the biggest problems are and which actions could be taken to solve them. These actions, or interventions, will range from new zoning to traffic calming measures to road upgrades.
- 3. April: Regional meetings of Steering Committee members and municipal officials and volunteers will evaluate the computer model results and provide feedback on problem areas and possible interventions.
All Gateway 1 meetings are open to the public. Please check meetings for details on time and place.
Gateway 1 is a landmark long-term strategic land use and transportation planning project for the Midcoast Route 1 region in Maine. A collaboration amongst communities and state agencies, Gateway 1 explores new ways of combining transportation and land use decision-making. By doing so, the project will balance community growth and local values with transportation services and needs. For Gateway 1 to be a success, we need to hear your opinions. Please click on Public Involvement to find out more.
The Gateway 1 project begins in Brunswick at the junction of I-295 and extends for 110 miles to Prospect. It directly affects the 21 communities (see interactive map above)through which U.S. Route 1 passes and also considers their interaction with the larger region, especially those peninsular or island communities whose residents, workers and visitors must use Route 1 for access.
