AUGUSTA - Rep. Dan Ankeles, D-Brunswick, introduced legislation Thursday to make it easier for Maine cities and towns to lower speed limits in areas with high bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
"Giving towns the opportunity to create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists will reduce accidents and save lives," said Ankeles. "We need a faster, locally-focused way to adapt as more Maine families bike and walk in an increasing number of circumstances".
LD 527 would allow municipalities, in consultation with local law enforcement agencies, to establish bicycle and pedestrian zones with a 25 mile-per-hour speed limit. Towns could establish these zones on roads where the speed limit is currently 35 miles per hour or less and where no more than 6,000 vehicles per day pass through.
Under current law, municipalities wishing to lower speed limits must present a formal request to the state, submit to a speed study and then comply with the results, even if those results actually lead to a speed limit increase.
"This is a cumbersome and unpredictable process for towns, and I've been hearing loud and clear from my constituents that they don't feel safe and are frustrated that nobody seems to be listening to them," said Ankeles. "We shouldn't have to wait for an accident to happen before we act."
The Legislature referred Ankeles bill to the Transportation Committee, where it will be scheduled for a public hearing in the coming weeks.
Through the Legislatures website, members of the public can view public hearing schedules, sign up to testify live before the committee and access a livestream of the committee hearings online.
Rep. Ankeles, a member of the Transportation Committee, is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents District 100, a central slice of Brunswick that includes downtown, the former naval airbase and Bowdoin College.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Ankeles], c. 305-965-2744