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Orono City Council Public Hearing <br />Old Beach Road Closure <br />April 24,1995 <br />Summary of Issues Raised at Informal Meeting, Thursday, April 19 <br />1. The Council was asked to discuss in detail what prompted the closure. Was it <br />a verbal or written request? By whom and how many? And why was no <br />hearing or public discussion held before action was taken? <br />2. What justifies the conclusion that rerouting Old Beach traffic through the <br />intersection of Co. Rds. 15 and 19 is safer for the residents of Orono given: (1) <br />the number of accidents and "near misses" at this intersection, (2) hazardous <br />left turns against aggressive and accelerating traffic, and (3) left turns from 15 <br />to 19 that merge into an uncontrolled right turn lane from the opposite <br />direction? <br />3. Why did Orono not explore other alternatives, such as (1) controlling access <br />without eliminating it, (2) controlling speed with signs, speed bumps, etc. <br />and (3) other traffic controls, such as one-ways or left turns onto or off of Ola <br />Beach? <br />4. Perhaps most significant of other alternatives: if Old Beach Road carries <br />more traffic than it was built to handle, why was the option of improving or <br />upgrading it not considered? <br />5. Question was raised about the validity of the "3600 cars per day traffic count" <br />and a request was made to provide more detail and documentation on this <br />statistic. <br />6. The relevance of motorists passing a stopped schoolbus on Old Beach was <br />questioned, the argument being that this violation is a function of the person <br />committing it, not the place where it happened. <br />7. Why do residents of Old Beach Road deserve special consideration when: (1) <br />the city refused to upgrade (and make safer) Co. Rd. 15 when state aid was <br />available, (2) residents along Shadywood Road have had complaints about <br />noise and speed ignored, (3) no controls are proposed for Kelly Avenue, <br />which also is used as a "shortcut," and (4) no provisions have been made to <br />make safer an extremely hazardous "blind" left turn out of Pheasant Road. <br />8. Has anyone estimated how much property values on Old Beach Road will <br />increase if it is turned into a ciil-de-sac?