Norway's downtown praised by DOT

NORWAY — A thriving downtown is good for both citizens and businesses, Dan Stewart of the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) told members of Norway Downtown at their annual meeting on Friday, April 8.

Stewart, the Bicycle, Pedestrian and Quality Communities Program Manager for MDOT, praised the work of civic organization Norway Downtown and encouraged members to continue trying to make the town even more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

Economic benefits

Stewart walked around Norway on Thursday, April 7, and spent the night. He said he was impressed with what he found.

"I found Norway to be a very interesting and walkable community," said Stewart. "The scenery, the shops were very nice and inviting."

Ultimately, said Stewart, the object of building sidewalks and bike lanes, installing park benches, and generally cleaning up a downtown is not merely to make it pleasant on the eye, but to attract economic growth that is good for the area.

"Everything we do about creating walkable communities and green downtowns is for economic vibrancy," said Stewart. "People want to visit and they want to move their businesses to vibrant, walkable communities."

In addition, said Stewart, the recession has had less effect on home prices in towns that have made an effort to make their communities cleaner and more walkable.

"During the recession, home values have stayed higher in walkable communities," said Stewart. "It has been proven time and again. It's not a theory; it happens every time."

To underline his point, Stewart pointed to several instances from around the country that suggest a connection between creating walking space for pedestrians and economic benefits.

He pointed to a 2004 study in Carmel Indiana which found that homes within a half-mile of a 5.2 mile paved section of their Monon Trail sold for an average of 11 percent more than identical homes further away.

When San Francisco improved it's improved its Valencia Street for bicyclists and pedestrians in 2003, 40 percent of businesses reported increased sales.

Finally, a congressional study from the 90's found that, "businesses are more attracted by a city's quality of life than purely business-related factors."

"Walkable communities attract economic development," said Stewart. "People want to move their businesses to places that are vibrant."

Next steps

Stewart had a few recommendations for ways that the town could be more walkable, and praise for their current goals.

Other communities around Maine have established paved walking trails along old railroads, something which Norway could do. Stewart described a "rail trail" that connects Gardiner and Augusta, running along the Kennebec River.

"You can't believe what it's done for the connectedness of the communities, thier connectedness to the river," said Stewart. "It's a seven-mile linear park."

"[A similar trail in Norway] would become an attractive resource to bring economic development, get people coming, get people into the community."

Town Manager David Holt said that the town had previously come close to completing exactly such a project in the late 90's, even receiving a $200,000 grant from DOT that was intended for paving the trail and installing lighting.

Town leaders who planned the project, however, were disappointed when the town rejected the grant and asked the town to focus on existing sidewalks.

Stewart also had praise for the Norway Downtown Design Committee's proposal to extend a sidewalk from downtown Norway to Roberts Road, along the edge of Lake Pennesseewassee.

"The lake – what a resource," said Stewart. "One benefit of the sidewalk is to open up that part of the community to your every day life."

Sources of funding

Stewart encouraged the town to take advantage of various sources of funding, including MDOT programs such as the Regional Trails Program and Community Development Block Grants that will fund 80 percent of approved projects.

In addition, he said, it is also important to pursue local funding in the form of capital improvement projects and local fund raising.

After the meeting, Holt said that Norway has worked with the MDOT in the past, and done a great deal locally.

"We've done well with making Norway walkable," said Holt. "We've done a couple of [MDOT] Walking to School projects on Tucker Street and Marston Street."

Often, said Holt, it is better to fund the projects locally than to apply for grants.

"There's never enough money for all the projects and the [State] regulations are so daunting to meet," he said. "You can do the projects with a lot less funding locally."

Stewart closed his presentation by saying that Norway has done well in the past, but can always continue to improve.

"You have a beautiful, walkable community now. Everything I've talked about is just to make it better. I've yet to see a community that is the best it can be," said Stewart. "I have yet to see a community who has come together on a vision like this and not had tangible benefits."