Commercial Street Operations and Master Plan

The City of Portland is collaborating with the Maine DOT and PACTS to develop an Operations and Master Plan for Commercial Street from India Street to the Casco Bay Bridge/International Marine Terminal.  The Plan's goal is to maintain Commercial Street's critical role of providing functional access to and from the adjoining piers, wharves and port passenger and freight facilities as centers for marine commerce while striking the right balance with Commercial Street's emerging multi-modal needs and its economic development and nationally recognized retail/tourist destination opportunities.

The Scope of Work is designed to address:

• Functional utility of piers and port facilities as centers for marine commerce;
• Safe, comfortable, and reasonably managed pedestrian access along and across Commercial Street;
• Management and facilitation of the freight and delivery activities, including to piers/wharves and the use of the center median area for deliveries to businesses;
• Pedestrian-scale and roadway lighting;
• Vehicular traffic operations and safety resulting in reasonable flow and travel time for all modes;
• Bicycle facilities for safety and comfort;
• Access management to improve mobility and safety for vehicles and pedestrians;
• Transit services to meet growing transportation demand;
• The potential role of technology such as advanced traffic signals and autonomous/connected vehicles to meet Commercial Street's challenges.

The cities of Portland and South Portland jointly conducted a PACTS funded study of the multi-modal transportation/land use/urban design/place-making opportunities on the corridor that stretches from Morrill's Corner/Forest Avenue to State and High Streets to Broadway/SMCC/Bug Light Park.  The corridor connects four colleges and universities as well as multiple neighborhoods and neighborhood centers.  The study commenced early in 2017 and wrapped up in the spring of 2018. 

Draft Final Report (October 2018)
Sustainability & Transportation Committee presentation

The Smart Corridor Plan is a follow-up to and builds upon the Transforming Forest Avenue Study, adopted by the city council in 2012.  Transforming Forest Avenue looked at Forest Avenue from Woodford's Corner to Deering Oaks Park/Park Avenue.  The Woodford's Corner project, the top priority from the Transforming Forest Avenue study was completed in 2018.  Plans and information about the project can be found at Woodfords Corner Public Improvement Plans. 

Libbytown Traffic Circulation Study, Phase II

The City of Portland has fine-tuned and updated the traffic analyses, begun in 2012, of the traffic circulation pattern and traffic-pedestrian-bicyclist safety in the Libbytown and St. John/Valley neighborhoods in the vicinity of where Congress Street and Park Avenue are both one way for a short stretch near the interchange with I-295.  The updated analysis looked at potential safety and accessibility benefits of converting one or both streets to two-way operation.  The Phase II analysis also updated traffic counts and traffic forecasts.

Phase I Study (2012-2013)
Draft Phase II Traffic Analysis Update Report 
Sustainability & Transportation Committee presentation (2/27)