BATH — People with concerns and ideas about traffic flow in the city’s South End neighborhoods are encouraged to share their opinions Thursday, Jan. 31.

The city’s final meeting on a transportation study in that area – conducted in conjunction with nearby Bath Iron Works and the Maine Department of Transportation – will be held in the City Hall auditorium, 55 Front St., at 5:30 p.m.

The study launched last summer, informed by an initial public input session in September that drew about 60 people, Assistant City Manager Marc Meyers said Jan. 17.

T.Y. Lin, the consulting firm Bath hired to run the study, has been collecting data, and will present its findings and a range of options it proposes to alleviate resident concerns.

“It’ll be interesting to see what kind of ideas they have in mind, and also the reaction of the public about those ideas,” Meyers said, noting that the recommendations will be released for the first time next week.

Information on the study can be found at cityofbath.com/southendstudy, where people can also sign up to receive updates and meeting notices.

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The study has three focus areas: improving pedestrian safety, reducing vehicular traffic impact on the neighborhoods’ streets, and finding ways to improve parking availability or reduce parking demand.

“What became increasing clear over the past months is that there is no single action that would quickly address everyone’s concerns,” City Manager Peter Owen said in a city news release. “And while the exodus of BIW workers every afternoon is certainly a challenge, other concerns with speeding and traffic patterns also need to be addressed.”

In response to concerns, BIW recently increased off-site parking and shuttle bus service options.

The shipyard will “continue to support ride-sharing, which reduces traffic as well as demand for parking, and is making other changes to improve safety and to ease congestion,” BIW Vice President Jon Fitzgerald said in the release.

Alex Lear can be reached at 780-9085 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

Recommendations to address traffic concerns in Bath’s South End neighborhoods will be presented at a public input meeting Thursday, Jan. 31.


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