Franklin Street redesign

Praised the added sidewalks and bike lanes as a runner, but questioned how fewer lanes at Marginal Way would handle existing backups and suggested a peanut traffic circle there.

A Newbury Street resident worried reconnected cross streets one block apart will add traffic and backups near her building's garages, and asked for smaller neighborhood meetings before finalizing four reconnected streets.

Speaking for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine and Portland Trails, supported the bike lanes and housing but urged short-term lane narrowing tests, stronger safety measures, and consideration of a pedestrian bridge for the Bayside Trail crossing.

Objected to the Boyd Street garden expansion as unplanned land loss, called for eliminating mini medians that encourage speeding, and asked that Lincoln Park be restored even closer to its original size.

Representing Greater Portland Landmarks, strongly supported restoring Lincoln Park, reconnected streets, wider sidewalks, street trees, and protected bike lanes, noting the original arterial's destruction of historic neighborhoods.

A Franklin Towers resident and veteran of the 2015 plan asked the committee to shift the alignment north as in 2015 to restore more of Lincoln Park and move traffic noise and pollution away from Franklin Towers apartments.

A Bike Ped Advisory Committee board member liked the sidewalks, bike lanes, and grid reconnections but questioned the five-lane widening at Congress and the limited safety changes at Marginal Way/295.

Criticized the plan's 33 turning lanes as highway-style overkill and too many signals, saying four-way stops would be safer; supported maximizing Lincoln Park restoration.