Route 1 Safety Demonstration
A temporary pedestrian safety demonstration project was installed on July 8, 2026 along Route 1 near Hannaford Drive and Little Dolphin Plaza. This project is part of a regional Vision Zero safety initiative led by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) and Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG). Vision Zero is a holistic strategy aimed to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries suffered by all road users while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. With this in mind, the Scarborough Town Council adopted GPCOG's Vision Zero Action Plan in May 2025.
Project Purpose
This project aims to reduce speeds on Route 1 at Little Dolphin Drive and assess enhanced crosswalk treatments at the Hannaford Drive intersection to improve pedestrian safety at two locations with a history of serious crashes and fatalities.
Project Timeline
The demo is expected to be up until November 15th at the latest, which gives GPCOG time to collect data before the features are removed. A public survey for feedback will go out in late summer. Both the data/monitoring observations and the public opinions collected will help inform the success of the demonstration project. Any next steps will be vetted through the Transportation Committee and Town Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do the center median islands work?
The center median islands are temporary traffic-calming features that help better define where drivers should travel and where turning movements should occur. They visually narrow the roadway and encourage drivers to stay within their designated lanes while still allowing access to nearby businesses and side streets where appropriate.
How do the center median islands support traffic calming measures?
Center medians are a USDOT proven safety countermeasure. Research has shown that drivers tend to reduce speeds when roadways are more clearly defined and feel narrower. The median islands help organize traffic movements, reduce unnecessary lane changes, and encourage more predictable driving behavior, all of which can improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Does this mean cars can’t pull into that part of the lane to turn?
The median islands are not meant to be run over by vehicles and are placed in the center of the roadway where left turns are not necessary, however, emergency vehicles may still drive over them if need to. Drivers can still make permitted turns at designated intersections and driveways, but the islands help reinforce where those turning movements should occur.
What is the expected result of the study? Is there baseline data that would indicate an improvement in safety?
The demonstration project intends to evaluate whether the temporary median islands reduce speeds and crashes (especially severe crashes). Before the installation, the project team collected data in the area of interest such as vehicle speeds, traffic operations, and driver behavior. They will compare those findings with traffic data collected during the demo.
Why are the bumps needed instead of just lines?
The raised, temporary median elements provide a stronger visual and physical cue that better defines the roadway and encourages drivers to stay in their lanes. They are designed to influence driver behavior while remaining low-profile enough for emergency vehicles and maintenance operations to navigate if necessary.
What's that thing at Hannaford Dr?
The white bumps at Hannaford Dr are being used to test a truck apron at this location. With a truck apron, vehicles can turn effectively without entering the apron, give wide berth to pedestrians waiting on the sidewalk, while trucks and other larger vehicles, can use the space to off-track their larger vehicles.
Why did the town install these features?
Adding a median in the area of Rte 1/Little Dolphin Dr was a recommendation from the Town's Townwide Transportation Asssessment, completed in 2025. The corridor between Hannaford Dr to Maple Ave has seen 23 crashes resulting in injury in a 5 year period (2021-2025) and 85th percentile speeds are 39.1mph, exceeding the posted speed limit of 35mph.
How is this project funded?
The USDOT established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program in 2022, which supports local communities by funding roadway safety projects.
Resources
SS4A Demonstration Project Proposal: Scarborough - Rt. 1 from Hannaford Dr to Little Dolphin Dr (June 1, 2026)
Vision Zero 2026 Active Demonstration Projects
Contact
Questions can be directed to safestreets@gpcog.org.
