In Biddeford, the prolonged development and execution of the May Street Traffic Calming Demonstration Project has starkly highlighted the bureaucratic delays our residents often endure.

While we owe a debt of gratitude to our devoted city staff, the prolonged process to address street safety concerns is indefensible. We can and must do better for our residents.

The heartfelt pleas of 80-year-old lifelong Biddeford resident Rose Spulick during the Aug. 15 City Council meeting highlighted the challenges she faces crossing Elm Street. Mrs. Spulick asked the Council, "Which is worth more - a person's life or the cost of a pedestrian flashing light?”

 Her poignant question underscored that we cannot delay safety any longer. It was a rallying cry for expedient action. Every delay leaves seniors, children, pedestrians, and cyclists vulnerable on streets such as May, Elm, and others. These streets bustle with activity, especially given their proximity to major public parks and various amenities.

The May Street proposal is a carefully crafted plan born from research, community input, and professional expertise. While no solution is perfect, this May Street proposal addresses vital safety concerns. This plan emphasizes the need for slowing vehicular traffic and enhancing pedestrian visibility. A pedestrian island with a flashing beacon between the softball field and tennis courts enhances the safety of crossings.

 Meanwhile, adding three 40’ by 8’ landscaped medians moderates traffic speed and beautifies the area. There may be fewer parking spots, but the trade-off is a safer, more walkable community. Which do we value more?

Let's be direct: Parking spaces are not lives. The fleeting convenience of a parking spot is incomparable to the irreversible tragedy of a child hit by a speeding car. The statistics are grim. Consider this - while 90% of pedestrians struck by a vehicle at 20 mph survive, the survival rate plummets to 60% at 30 mph. Although the speed limit on May Street is 25 mph, an August 2021 traffic study found the average speed to be 30 mph.

Do we, as a community, find it acceptable to gamble with these odds? Would preserving a parking space—or even four—on May Street be worth it if it jeopardizes a child's life?

The challenge before us is about redesigning a single street and reshaping our collective values and priorities. When we champion sidewalks and bike lanes, we are signaling a commitment to a safer, healthier, and more inclusive city. By slowing down vehicle speeds, we are actively choosing to protect our most vulnerable residents. That's the Biddeford I believe in and the one I hope we strive to build.

Harnessing opportunities such as the Safe Streets & Roads for All (SS4A) grant could fast-track our ambitions. Yet, with or without federal funding, Biddeford has an inherent duty to its residents. We must prioritize safer streets, starting with May Street, and reverberate that commitment throughout our city.

Our approach should be multipronged: prompt project approvals, a 'Complete Streets' policy for informed road designs, consistent budget allocations for street safety, and an investment in data resources to ensure we make impactful decisions.

While we cannot change our city's infrastructure overnight, we have the means and duty to start. We must act with urgency to confront this growing public safety challenge. It's about prioritizing lives over parking spaces and pedestrian safety over vehicular convenience. Let's shape a safer Biddeford for everyone.

To view concept designs of proposed traffic calming measures, click here.

Liam LaFountain is a first-term City Councilor in Biddeford and a healthcare analyst at the nonprofit Healthcare Purchaser Alliance. He welcomes questions, comments, and ideas and can be contacted directly at liam.lafountain@biddefordmaine.org.

The views and opinions herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and opinions of Saco Bay News, its employees, publisher, or advertisers.