BATH — Traffic in Bath’s South End and parking shortages in the area around the bustling Bath Iron Works facility will be among the top challenges facing Bath officials this year.
City Manager Peter Owen outlined expectations for the biggest projects facing the city in 2019 last week during the council’s first meeting of the new year.
“I am looking very forward to a lot of the implementation of things this next year,” said Owen. “There’s many things in the hopper, but I thought I’d just mention a couple.”
First on his agenda is the completion of the South End Traffic Study.
The traffic problem in the South End is not a new one. With limited on-street parking, residents are forced to compete for spots with Bath Iron Works employees. While the company does try to bus in some employees from remote lots, the congestion and lack of parking continue to be pressing concerns for South End residents.
The city has partnered with the BIW and the Maine Department of Transportation on a $75,000 study to find possible solutions to the parking shortage. The results of that study will be released later this year, giving city staff and councilors the information they need to tackle the problem. The city council took one step toward the issue late last year when it adopted heavier fines for illegal parking.
Those fine increases didn’t affect the city’s downtown, but Owen said that addressing the limited parking in the downtown would be a priority in 2019. The city did add some parking in the downtown last year, but some business owners continue to complain that there is not enough on-street parking for shoppers.
Owen also said that he was looking to resume efforts on a longtime goal of the city — the river walk project.
“We’re making progress on the river walk, which is a project that got stalled, but I’m hoping to get some results with that possibly this summer,” said Owen.
The river walk would consist of about a half-mile trail along the Kennebec River starting near the Sagadahoc Bridge and continuing up to the Riverwalk condominiums. The project has been trying for the city, as it involves getting a number of easement from riverfront property owners to build the trail.
The city also has some construction projects slated for the coming year, including adding a sidewalk along Commerical Street and making changes to the intersection of Elm and Front streets, where Front Street shifts from a one-way street to a two-way. Owen said the city will be hiring a consultant to look into possible changes.
In addition to those projects, the city will begin updating its comprehensive plan in 2019.
“There’s a number of things that are going on, and I hope to be bringing these things forward to the council in the months ahead,” said Owen.
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