HOULTON, Maine – A dozen tribal citizens gathered at the Houlton Band of Maliseet’s Community Center Wednesday, January 3 at the Maliseet Community Center evening to offer input on transportation safety concerns as part of the tribe’s ongoing effort to create a safety plan.
Spearheaded by Tribal Engineer Brian Stewart and Administrative Planner Krista Crouse, the meeting featured a two-hour discussion on ways to improve safety on tribal roads – including Foxcroft Road, Clover Circle and others.
(Courtesy of HBMI)
A survey conducted by the tribe revealed concerns ranging from the Foxcroft Road not being wide enough; insufficient lighting and signage; lack of sidewalks for pedestrians; excessive speed; and insufficient snow removal during the winter.
The creation of a safety plan is the latest step in the tribe’s effort to improve the quality of life for its citizens.
In October, the Houlton Town Council approved a reconstruction agreement with HBMI that grants the tribe a temporary construction easement for a large portion of the Foxcroft Road as part of a $15 million rebuild of the road.
Many sections of Foxcroft Road are only 28 feet wide, including the gravel shoulders that are in various stages of disrepair. The federally-funded construction project would widen the road to 32 feet, including three- to five-foot paved shoulders.
Additionally, there will be a 2.59-mile section of sidewalk from the Maliseet Riverside Village to Military Street, effectively connecting tribal facilities to downtown. As part of the agreement with the town, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will pay the town annually for the sidewalk’s snow removal.
The Foxcroft Road is a state aid road with shared maintenance responsibilities with the Maine Department of Transportation and the town of Houlton. The town is responsible for winter maintenance, while the MDOT is in charge of summer maintenance. for the rural sections of the road.
During the meeting, members of the public expressed their disappointment with the frequency and effectiveness of snow removal during the winter.
Stewart stated the reconstruction of Foxcroft Road was still in the planning stages, with construction not likely to happen until spring or summer of 2025.
