The Cape Elizabeth Town Council voted unanimously last week to pursue safety enhancements in the town center that do not incorporate a roundabout.

The $825,000 project would square up the two intersections – Scott Dyer Road and Route 77, and Shore Road and Route 77 – creating greater separation between the two. It would also add crosswalks while shortening existing ones and add flashing crossing lights to them.

The project is to be funded through a $400,000 grant from the Maine Department of Transportation and $425,000 through TIF funds which were allocated in this year’s municipal budget. The project must be completed in 2025 to implement the Maine DOT grant.

The area is considered a high-crash location by the state. There were 11 reported crashes there from January 2021 through August of this year, according to the Police Department.

Three other options were considered by the council, calling for a roundabout at Shore Road, a roundabout at Scott Dyer Road and a peanut roundabout, linking the two intersections, respectively. All of those options were estimated to cost upwards of $2 million and, as they are over $1 million, would have to be approved by voters at a referendum.

Councilors argued the $825,000 option could be implemented sooner, would not impact taxpayers, and would not hinge on a referendum vote, potentially delaying a solution even further. They also said a roundabout is still a possibility down the road.

“We would have to have this finished in 2025, so we can see some significant benefits immediately,” Councilor Tim Thompson said at the Sept. 9 meeting, later adding, “It’s a step in the right direction. It gives us a step toward (a roundabout) option down the road.”

Councilor Penny Jordan echoed Thompson’s argument.

“We (can) do something that positions us for the future and other enhancements,” Jordan said. “I think Councilor Thompson nailed it.”

Public Works Director Jay Reynolds confirmed that aspects of the $825,000 project, such as curbs and drainage, would not have to be redone with either a roundabout at Scott Dyer Road or at Shore Road in the future.

However, the majority of respondents to a community survey said they preferred another option. Of the 556 people who responded with their preference, roughly 45% said they preferred a peanut roundabout, 28% said they preferred the option the council approved, 18% favored a roundabout at Shore Road and nearly 8% supported a roundabout at Scott Dyer Road.

Paul Drinan, active transportation director at the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, said the roundabout options would be much safer for pedestrians and bicyclists because of the speed factor.

“Just reconfiguring the intersection prioritizes cars,” he said. “It really doesn’t do anything to address speed on Route 77 and the priority there is clearly through-put of automobiles.”

Therefore, he said, the council’s decision boils down to prioritizing cars or people.

“The other options are more expensive, it may delay the project timeline but, in the end, I’m confident in saying, regarding this intersection, it’s not a matter of if. It’s a matter of when someone will be gravely injured or worse,” Drinan said.