We applaud Maine Department of Transportation’s proposals for downtown Wiscasset. If you missed the news, MDOT has offered to spend up to $4 million to $5 million on traffic improvements.

These include reconstructing crumbling Main Street sidewalks, widening them and making them ADA compliant. They’ll also add attractive chain-lined metal bollards, benches, lamppost lighting, informational signage, curbing and landscaping.

The state has also offered to foot the bill for paving Railroad Street, constructing a sidewalk there and 26-space paved parking lot that will include two parking spaces for tour buses. Other improvements are planned along side the Creamery Pier including adding additional parking there.

Traffic signals are proposed for the Main Street intersections on Water and Middle streets. These will move summer traffic along more effectively and make it safer for pedestrians crossing the street.

MDOT officials have offered not one but two options for the town to chose from. The townspeople, selectmen and chamber of commerce have only to decide which of the two they prefer. Unfortunately, the naysayers are already lining up worrying traffic lights will only add to the bottleneck caused by summer traffic. They’re also fretting about snow removal of all things and who’s responsibility it will be to shovel the sidewalks!

Another concern is a proposal for purchasing and removing the Haggett Garage building on Water Street and constructing a parking lot here. MDOT stated this doesn’t have to happen and likely won’t. The building lies within the historic district and was home to one of the first Ford Motor Co. dealerships in the country. There are other places downtown besides this one that would be much easier and cheaper to develop for parking. One area not mentioned is the waterfront where a large parking lot already exists and where the town’s public bathrooms are located. If asked, MDOT may be willing to commit some funds for making improvements here. This is certainly less expensive then razing a two-story brick building and hauling away the debris from it to a landfill.  

Let’s be clear — making life more difficult for Wiscasset is not MDOT’s intention. MDOT officials have indicated a genuine willingness to work with the community and compromise. They’ll return for one additional informational hearing to be followed later by a more formal public hearing. They’ve suggested the town hold a non-binding referendum on the two options to decide. That sounds more than reasonable.

If the town believes MDOT’s plans are too ambitious, there’s always a third option­ — do nothing — in which case MDOT will use its monies somewhere else and Wiscasset will be left to fend for itself.