From the Downeaster Motel to the Dairy Corner, from the municipal building to the marsh, Route 1 is one of the busiest commercial corridors in town, but some town officials feel the name is lacking.

Route 1 runs from Fort Kent to the Florida Keys and bears names from Dixie Highway in Miami to Dublin Street in Machias. Yet, in Scarborough, the interstate is only known by its number. At a town council meeting on Wednesday, June 6, Town Manager Ron Owens suggested the Scarborough assign a name to its portion of the roadway – an idea that has been on his mind for a while.

According to Owens, the last time a road in Scarborough changed names was when Shop and Save Drive became Hannaford Drive. Though the change in Route 1 would affect more businesses, Owens is already familiar with the process.

“It would probably be a year before it would take effect,” Owens said of how the town would proceed after deciding upon a name.

Owens said he would like to see the change coincide with the town’s 350th anniversary celebration, coming up in the summer of 2008, as another way to celebrate Scarborough’s heritage. From what he has heard so far, Owens said the most popular suggestion is Post Road, which is a variation of the route’s former name in town, Boston Post Road. Other names Owens suggested at the meeting included Marshview Boulevard, Main Street and Scarborough Boulevard.

At the meeting, Councilor Carol Rancourt asked Owens to keep the word “highway” out of the name.

“My concept is people go too fast on Route 1,” Rancourt said in an interview on Monday.

“Route 1 has a lot of historical significance, not just in Scarborough,” Rancourt said. “You should take your time on it, and get to know the community.”

The next step now, Owens said, is “to try to come up with some consensus in the community” about what Route 1 should be called – or if the name should be changed at all.

Joan Martin, who has owned Cliff’s Antiques at 370 Route 1 for 23 years, said she would not welcome the change.

“If you change Route 1, you have to change everything,” Martin said.

According to Owens, an important aspect of the procedure would be to give businesses enough time to make adjustments in a way that would be of little cost or inconvenience.

Owens said the town would have to work with the post office and have a period of time when mail can be delivered to both addresses.

Jon Canty, owner of M.A.C.’s Deli at 2342 Route 1, said making that adjustment as a business owner would be well worth it.

“I think it’d be a great idea,” Canty said. “It gives it more of a town feel.”

At the council meeting, Councilor Patrick O’Reilly brought up the fact that it might be easier to find businesses in Scarborough if the name were changed. According to O’Reilly, the driving directions on major Internet search engines recognize Route 1 in Scarborough only as Blue Star Memorial Highway – a designation given to the road nationally in honor of veterans. If those companies were to be notified of the name change, he said, it might be easier for all to find their way around town.

Though Owens is firm in his belief that the name should be changed, for now, he said, it should be a fun thing to talk about with other members of the community.

“We’d like for people to get involved,” Owens said. “After we play around with it a bit, then we can get serious.”

Survey:

At a Scarborough Town council Meeting on Wednesday, Town Manager Ron Owens suggested the following names for Route 1:

– Coastal Road

– Maine Boulevard

– Main Street

– Marshview Boulevard

– Old Post Road

– Post Road

– Boston Post Road

– Portland Road

– Scarborough Boulevard

Let us know which one you would chose by going to www.keepmecurrent.com and voting for your favorite.