SAFE NEWS
5/9/11 CAPE ELIZABETH TOWN COUNCIL VOTES UNANIMOUSLY TO BUILD SHORE ROAD PATHWAY!!!!
Cape Elizabeth Town Council Unanimously Votes to Build Shore Road Pathway!
The Cape Elizabeth Town Council voted unanimously tonight, May 9, 2011, to move forward into the construction phase of the Shore Road Pathway Project. After about forty-five minutes of public comment and council discussion, the town authorized accepting a number of grants and private donations, as well as using money in two different town infrastructure funds, to build the $1.03 million project.
Consideration of the project was the first actionable agenda item of the evening’s Council Meeting and it followed a report by the town assessor on the property tax revaluation process
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Chairperson Dave Sherman called for a fifteen minute of public comment before the Council discussion. Three residents raised questions about the funding and safety value of the pathway, and eight residents spoke in support of the Pathway and urged Council support. Jim Kerney, co-chair and treasurer of the Safe Access For Everyone (SAFE) committee described the fundraising success of the group, which raised over $100,000 in the eleven months since the Council authorized them to do so. Discussion did not exceed the fifteen minute period.
After a motion from Sara Lennon to approve authorization of the project as described in the meeting agenda, the Council then took up discussion of the Pathway project. Questions about the funding situation dominated, with councilor Jessica Sullivan the most skeptical of the project. Sara Lennon and Caitlin Jordan offered the most forcefully supportive statements. The vote, however, was unanimous.
The Council approved a motion to authorize building the project and allowing the town manager to locally administer the project. The Council authorized the following funding plan for the project, which included using funds for sidewalks and infrastructure already in the town budget :
MaineDOT Quality Communities Program (TE Funds) grant: $729,000
Cape Elizabeth Town Center Sidewalk Account 60,000
Balance Remaining of July 2010 Funding for Project Design 26,000
Portland Area Comp. Transportation System Credit Program 40,000
Projected Local Donations from SAFE committee 100,000
Cape Elizabeth Infrastructure Improvement Fund 75,000
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$1,030,000
No money raised from local taxes in the Cape Elizabeth budget was applied towards the project. Any unused town funds will be returned to the town budget.
About thirty people attended the meeting, considerably less than at meetings held during the public comment process a year ago, but still enough to fill nearly every chair in the seating area of the Council Chambers. At the conclusion of the Council vote, the room broke into applause and cheers.
The SAFE Committee thanks everyone who participated in the process of getting the Shore Road Pathway approved and funded! Your attendance at meetings, comments and financial contributions made all the difference in moving this project along. We hope you enjoy the Pathway you will have helped create!!!
$15K Needed by May 5!
Dear Neighbors:
After years of planning, designing and fundraising, the Shore Road Pathway is poised to become a reality!
Through a combination of grants and private fundraising, supporters of the Shore Road Pathway have raised over $850,000 towards construction of this project.
We need to quickly raise a another $15,000 by May 5 to achieve a critical fundraising target that will build the Shore Road Pathway.
While many of you have already given, we are asking you to consider giving again. This is a terrific opportunity to improve the safety of Shore Road, enhance the healthy lifestyle of our community, and connect some of our town’s most precious recreational and community resources.
Your donation today will enable us to hopefully begin construction this year. We need your support now to push this effort over the finish line. Please send a tax deductible contribution today to:
Shore Road Pathway
PO Box 215
Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
Please contact me or visit our website at safecape.org for images, more details and the pledge sheets. Thanks in advance for your generosity.
Jim
Jim Kerney
Co-Chairman and Treasurer
Shore Road Pathway
1015 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107
jimkerney@gmail.com
4/15/11 SHORE ROAD PATHWAY PROJECT RECEIVES $729,000 GRANT!!
The Town of Cape Elizabeth has been successful in its quest for federal dollars to build the Shore Road Pathway, a 3 mile walkway in the public right of way along Shore Road. On Wednesday, April 13, the Maine Department of Transportation published its 2012-13 Workplan, which included a $729,000 grant from the Quality Communities Program (a dedicated fund of federal Transportation Enhancement dollars for bike/ped projects) to build the Shore Road Pathway.
This news comes on top of last week's announcement that the environmental permits for the project have been approved. The town is now able to proceed with construction.
Among SAFE Committee members, the reaction was predictably positive. "This is HUGE!" commented treasurer Jim Kerney, saying that "This is all extremely exciting and deserves a toast tonight! Thanks to everyone for their tireless efforts and special thanks to those of you that went the extra miles!" Committee member Lisa Hansen said "How exciting to think our dream of a Pathway could become a reality!".
Despite the good news, the SAFE Team knows its work is not yet complete. There are still some procedural details that must be finished before the town will put the project out to bid, and the final $15,000 of the grant's local match needs to be raised.
SAFE Committee member Jim Tasse noted that "Now it's crunch time. . .we need to mobilize every person in the area who believes in safe pedestrian access to public roads to help us raise the last piece of the local match."
To learn how to contribute to the Shore Road Pathway, click on the Contribute Now link on the www.safecape.org homepage.
4/8/11 Spring Update
Latest News on the Shore Road Pathway
1. Fundraising for the local match for the project's construction grant is at $87,000! Nearly halfway there! Please click on the fundraising link on the Home page to learn how to contribute!
2. The Pathway's environmental permits are approved! This is another milestone passed on the way to construction!
3. Still waiting to hear on the Quality Community Program grant, which will fund construction of the Pathway. Expecting the grant announcements later in the spring.
11/9/10 Cape Elizabeth Gets $40,000 for the Shore Road Pathway!
Cape Elizabeth Shore Road Pathway Project receives $40,000 from Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System!
Read the Portland Press Herald story by clicking the "More Info" link.
more info
10/5/10 SAFE Committee Sets Goal of Raising $100,000 for the Shore Road Pathway by Year's End!
To date, SAFE has raised $74,400 towards the $200,000 required as a 20% local match for the Maine DOT Quality Community Program grant the town has applied for to build the Pathway. This grant will fund the remaining 80% of the million dollar project costs, or about $800,000. If Cape Elizabeth's application is successful, they will get the Pathway built for a fraction of its total cost.
To re-energize the fund raising process, the SAFE committee set a goal of raising another $25,600 by year's end.
Please help us reach our goal! Don't delay, make your contribution today! Click MORE INFO to download the gift/pledge form! Find us Facebook, too: Safe Access for Everyone!
more info
8/18/10 Fund Raiser Scheduled for August 30
$70,000 raised so far! $130,000 to go! Please save the date--full details coming soon!
6/15/10 Fund Raising Going Well!!
Over $50,000 raised already! Don't delay, make your contribution today! Click MORE INFO to download the gift/pledge form! Find us Facebook, too: Safe Access for Everyone!
more info
6/14/10 Town Council Votes to Authorize QCP Funding Application!
By a 5 to 2 vote (Jordan and Sullivan opposed), the Cape Elizabeth Town Council authorized the submission of the application to the Maine DOT Quality Communities Program for funds to build the Shore Road Pathway. The project will cost approximately $1 million, and the SAFE team is currently raising money to cover the local match, which will total about $200,000. We're already over $50,000! Please download the pledge form by clicking the MORE INFO link below, and send in a contribution today!
And find us Facebook: Safe Access For Everyone
more info
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