City Asks for Help Identifying Dangerous Streets 

By Lee Burnett, Submissions Editor 

City officials are asking for help in identifying dangerous streets, sidewalks and crosswalks in the city. An online survey has been developed that asks for specific locations and explanations of the dangerous conditions. According to Public Works Director Matt Hill, “it could be a tricky turn, a confusing signal or a crosswalk that’s not well lit enough.” 

The survey can be found by clicking  https://arcg.is/jCG5S. Input is welcome from drivers, walkers, cyclists, wheelchair users and others. The survey feedback will be combined with high-crash location data and used to develop a “safety action plan” that prioritizes projects. The city would then be eligible for federal implementation funds awarded through a competitive grant process. According to Hill, the goal is to reduce or eliminate injuries and deaths from traffic accidents.  

The Safe Streets for All program is a new federal initiative. Sanford is the only Maine municipality to have been awarded a $200,000 planning grant. Hill said he is unsure how extensive implementation grants will be, but he understands there is a lot of flexibility as long as projects reduce danger. “It’s kind of open-ended. It’s not just infrastructure. It could be technology or something else.”  The city is making extra efforts to survey underserved people. “There is a strong component of equity.”