Selected Research
U.S.Route 1 Reconstruction in Warren, Maine a Survey of Community Response to the Department of Transportation's Application of Context Sensitive Solutions
Authors:
Kathy Weymouth, Karen Curtis, Michelle Mason Webber
Abstract
This study assesses public reaction and impact regarding the Maine Department of
Transportation's new application of a “context sensitive solutions model” to a road
reconstruction project in Warren, Maine, and offers a potential template for assessing
similar projects planned and underway along U.S. Route 1 in Maine. MDOT’s context-sensitive
model includes the pursuit, evaluation and incorporation (when applicable) of input from
area citizens and other stakeholder parties potentially impacted by proposed highway
reconstruction project. Where conflicts exist, this road construction model can be
potentially flexible enough to weigh citizen concerns against Federal highway standards
and accommodate those concerns through requested waivers from the Federal Department of
Transportation. MDOT used the context-sensitive model for both the Town of Warren and Town
of Camden’s highway reconstruction projects. It resulted in the Department's requesting design
modifications from the Federal Department of Transportation, which were granted. To assess
the extent to which flexible design solutions have been successful in the Town of Warren, MDOT
has sponsored this research project to (1) survey stakeholders in the Town of Warren, (2) evaluate
the level of customer satisfaction, and (3), in the process, develop a survey model that can be
applied to Lincolnville and future highway reconstruction projects.
