If you live on either side of Franklin Arterial...

...And we all do...check this out and email your thoughts to Markos Miller, who is collecting them at markosmiller [at] hotmail.com. 

At the meeting last night, the Maine Department of Transportation, the city of Portland, and the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System discussed how to incorporate public participation and improve communication between official stakeholders and public observers, Miller says.

Right now, the Franklin Street Arterial Committee is considering three alternatives for the existing roadway: a) a "Boulevard" with four through lanes and two side-access lanes for parking and bikes (a la Commonwealth Avenue in Boston); b) and "Urban Street" with bike lanes and parallel parking; c) an "Urban Parkway with landscaped median limited parking and parallel biking path."

Sometime this fall, the Committee will embark on official studies of these alternatives. For now, they want to make sure they have the study and stakeholders set up properly.