Actions postponed for Howard Street

BANGOR – Residents of Howard Street and surrounding areas seeking relief from mounting traffic there will have to stay tuned a little while longer.

City councilors were slated to take up two agenda items tonight aimed at easing the problem. Action on those items, however, has been postponed until the council’s Feb. 26 meeting at the request of Howard Street resident Bob Cimbollek, a neighborhood representative who has been working with city officials to address increasing traffic congestion and speed.

Howard Street is part of a route drivers often use as a shortcut to Stillwater Avenue and the busy Bangor Mall shopping area.

The recommendations, developed by transportation engineer John Theriault of the Bangor firm Ames A/E, aim to keep Howard Street accessible for residents and emergency vehicles while making it less attractive for through motorists and those who want to use it as a shortcut.

The proposed fixes would cost about $25,000 to implement, City Engineer Jim Ring said during a council subcommittee meeting earlier this month.

The three recommendations call for:

. Building a small island in the center of Howard Street where it intersects with Angela Street. The island would require motorists to slow down while driving around it.

. Building a raised crosswalk, also known as a speed table, on Howard Street, about 550 feet north of Garland Street. The crosswalk would connect the sidewalks on either side of the street, which Theriault said would help reduce driver speeds in this location.

. Limiting access to Howard Street to right in-right out movements.

Because the first two proposals proved acceptable to city officials and east side residents surveyed in January, they will be the subject of one council order. The third item will be handled in a separate order because some council members think that plan needs more study.