BRUNSWICK — A public forum Monday night, July 30, will be the first of many on improving Maine Street for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

The forum, which begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Meeting Room at Hawthorne School, will help the Master Plan Implementation Committee gauge public reaction to proposed changes to Maine Street.

“We want to be able to have a very open discussion with everybody who uses Maine Street or who avoids Maine Street about what we can do to make it better and then take that input and put it into action,” Councilor Margo Knight said.

Some of the major concerns with the busy street include parking, crosswalks and the possible addition of bicycle lanes.

“Some people say that it’s a wonderful main street and others say that they are frightened to cross the street,” Knight said.

The forum will allow residents to give their input on changes to parking, car lanes and the addition of bicycle lanes from Mason Street to Town Hall Place – what Knight called the “heart of the downtown business district.”

The committee also wants to hear public opinion on making Pleasant Street a two-way street and adding two raised crosswalks on Maine Street.

“(We want to make) Maine Street more pleasant for everyone and therefore make it a destination where people will come to shop, to eat. A lot of people use it as just a pass-through, and we want to make sure we keep our downtown as vibrant as possible,” Knight said. “This is a long-term study because of course we can’t just tear up Maine Street.”

Amber Cronin can be reached at acronin@theforecaster.net or 781-3661 ext. 125. Follow her on Twitter @croninamber.

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