The Gorham Spur: Spurring Growth without Spurring Sprawl

THURSDAY, April 7, at 4:00 pm

Watch the Webinar on YouTube

Read about GrowSmart’s Position Statement here.

We’re hearing a lot about plans for a spur road connecting Gorham and the Maine Turnpike. Some people are excited, some are concerned.

  • What is it and how far along is it?
  • What has happened related to roadway improvements, land use planning, and transit since the 2012 feasibility study?
  • What still needs to happen to promote smart growth if this is to happen?

Join panelists from national, statewide, regional, and municipal perspectives as they discuss the intended goals of this project and address concerns about its impact on local communities and the environment.

PANELISTS

Beth Osborne is the Director of Transportation for America, a program of Smart Growth America. She was previously at the U.S. Department of Transportation, serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy. Beth managed the TIGER Discretionary Grant program, the Secretary’s livability initiative, the development of the Administration’s surface transportation authorization proposal, and the implementation of MAP-21.

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Peter Mills has served as Executive Director of the Maine Turnpike Authority since March 2011. After graduating from Harvard University in 1965, Mills served five years on Navy destroyers during Vietnam, and following graduation from the University of Maine School of Law in 1973, practiced law in Portland and Skowhegan. Mills served 16 years in the Maine Legislature and has written extensively on tax, education and health policy.

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Kristina Egan is executive director of Greater Portland Council of Governments. She previously worked as the director of Transportation for Massachusetts, a statewide coalition that advocates for policies that are innovative, sustainable and environmentally-friendly. Kristina also was the first director of the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance and served as a Freeport Town Councilor for over four years. She holds a Master’s degree in international economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University.

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Scott Hastings is the Town Planner for Standish, having also served in this role in New Gloucester and Asst Planner in York. Prior to this, Scott was the Planning and Community Development Director for Midcoast Council of Governments. Scott holds a Masters in Community Planning and Development from University of Southern Maine and a Masters in Geography from University of Connecticut.

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Jay Chace is Planning Director at Town Of Scarborough, where he has worked since 2007. He holds a Masters in Community Planning and Development from University of Southern Maine.

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Paul Godfrey is a Vice President and the Northern New England office leader for HNTB with extensive experience in the transportation engineering field. Paul has been extensively involved in the Gorham East-West Corridor, as Project manager for this joint Maine Turnpike Authority/Maine Department of Transportation Study focusing on the east-west corridors immediately west of Portland and in the PACTS Study of Gorham/Scarborough short term improvements in 2006.  In addition, Paul was project manager for all phases of Gateway 1 project in the Midcoast.
Thomas M. Poirier is the Director of Community Development for the Town of Gorham. He has been employed for the last 15 plus years in multiple positions within the Community Development Department. Prior to employment with the Town, he worked for a number of environment consulting firms throughout the eastern United States. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Unity College, and a Graduate Planning Certificate and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from USM Muskie School of Public Service.