The Route 27 Corridor Study Committee chaired by Peter McNelis and consisting of representatives from each of the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Edgecomb has announced a series of public participation workshops. The first set of design charettes will be held on Tuesday, May 14 in Edgecomb at the town hall, Wednesday, May 15 in Boothbay at the town hall (Railway Village), and Thursday, May 16 in Boothbay Harbor at the municipal building. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. in the respective town halls.

At these gatherings, Milone & MacBroom Inc., of Newcastle, the committee's consultant, will summarize the goals and objectives of the study, and lead a public discussion which will enable the committee to build a consensus on which to base recommendations for the implementation of physical changes along Route 27 as well as proposed revisions to the respective town ordinances.

Recommendations for improvements could be in the area of traffic management, including the width of curb cuts, location of crosswalks, sidewalks, intersection improvements, establishment of bike lanes or off-road bike paths, illumination, landscape treatments and signage. Avenues for financing these improvements will also be pursued during the later phases of the study.

Revisions to town ordinances, although tailored to each town, will be structured to provide a consistency along the Route 27 Corridor from Route 96 to Route 1.

Each workshop will begin with a short presentation by the consultant of the current conditions along the corridor with emphasis on the major development areas. Then small discussion groups will address issues and perceived problems in each community. After a brief discussion, the small groups will report their issues to the other participants to see if there is some consensus as to the issues that need to be addressed by the committee.

During the second half of the workshop, the participants will have the opportunity to suggest solutions to the identity problems. This will also be done in small discussion groups and the result of each group presented to the group as a whole. This is the opportunity for the public to give the consultant and the committee their thoughts and the time for the consultant and the committee to listen.

Upon completion of the May workshops, Milone & MacBroom will prepare an interim report consisting of written and graphical alternatives to solving the issues identified at the workshop. After review with the committee, a second round of workshops will be held, probably in July, to receive additional comments from the public and to build community consensus for the final recommendations.