1. Gorham East West Corridor
Feasibility Study
Improving Decision Making by Integrating
Land Use and Transportation
Sara Devlin
Maine Turnpike Authority
GrowSmart Summit
October 23, 2012

2. Study Overview
• Began in 2007 – 4 town
joint resolution
• LD 1720 directs Maine
Turnpike Authority/
MaineDOT to study:
“existing highway
infrastructure and future
capacity needs west of Route
1 in Cumberland County,
including the Gorham Area”
• Joint MTA/MaineDOT 2
Study

3. Study Overview
• What is this study evaluating?
– Traffic congestion in Study Area
– Safety issues in the Study Area
– Loss of rural character/quality of life
– WHY these problems exist
– Where should transportation dollars be
invested over the long term?
– How should we be shaping our region for the
future?
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4. Study
Area
Map
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5. Study Approach
• Empowered Steering Committee
• Address transportation concerns raised
by 4 towns and in LD directive
• Also evaluate the effects that land use
has on transportation and vice-versa
• Look regionally
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6. The Region in 2035
• 70% of growth in Maine forecasted to be in
Cumberland and York Counties*
• Over 110,000 new people and 52,000 new
jobs in Cumberland and York counties*
* - Dr. Charles Colgan, USM
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7. Time and Change
• Historic growth provides insight to the future
• Consider what the Study Area would look
like if trends continue into the future - if
everything stays the same
• What would need to be done to change
these trends?
• And who might make these changes?
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8. Gorham: 1925
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9. Gorham: 1950
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10. Gorham: 1975
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11. Gorham: 2000
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12. Gorham: 2010
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13. Gorham: 2035
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14. Why has this happened?
• Residential development along existing
roads
• More affordable land to the west
• Relatively cheap fuel
• Historically, Mainers generally favor rural,
not urban environments
• Land use regulations allow development to
occur in most places
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15. The Study Area in 2035
• 35,000 new houses - 9,200 additional acres of
consumed land - 15 square miles
• 25,000 new jobs - mostly in retail and service
• 50,000 new people
• Jobs and homes continue to grow farther
apart
• People spend 50% more time in their cars
compared to today 15

16. Urban AND Rural
Land Use Pattern
Testing a regionally accepted
alternate land use pattern
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17. 17

18. 5% to
Outer
Urban-
(1,200)
AND-
Rural:
65% to
Urban New Jobs
(16,200)
30% to
Inner
(7,400)
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19. 20% to
Outer Urban-
(7,000)
AND-Rural:
New Housing
35% to Units
Urban
(12,200)
45% to
Inner
(15,700)
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20. “LEGO” Workshop
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21. 21

22. 22

23. Roadway Scenarios
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24. Transportation Sustainability
Three-Legged Stool
Transit
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25. Conclusions
• Evaluating both Land Use and
Transportation scenarios critical to success
• Need State and Local policies that connect
Land Use and Transportation
• Best benefit comes from balancing
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