St. John Valley Cultural Byway Phase I - Eligibility Application The Northern Maine Development Commission 2/16/2010 The St. John Valley Cultural Byway Proposal seeks designation within the Maine Scenic Byways Program. This application is prepared in cooperation with the communities of Allagash, St. Francis, St. John, Fort Kent, Frenchville, St. Agatha, Madawaska, Grand Isle, Van Buren and Hamlin. The proposed byway includes segments of State Route 11, 161 and 162, and US Routes 1, 1A.
Table of Contents Corridor Vision...4 1. Resource Specific Criteria...4 1.1 Cultural Resources 4 The Acadians 4 First Nations 6 Scotch-Irish 7 The Church 7 1.2 Historical and Archeological 8 1.3 Recreational 10 Winter Sports 10 Snowmobiling 11 Fishing 11 Canoeing and Kayaking 12 ATV Riding 13 Bike Riding 13 Hunting 14 Hiking 14 Guide Services, Camping/Lodging 14 1.4 Scenic and Natural 15 The Furbish Lousewort 15 The St. John Quaking Bog 16 2. BACKGROUND ASSESSMENT...17 2.1 Roadway / Right-of-Way (R.O.W.) Description 17 2.2 Existing Land Use and Zoning 19 2.3 Signage 27 2.4 Future Land Use 28 2.5 Safety Issues 29 2.6 Traffic Volumes/User Types 31 2.7 Roadway Improvements 35 2.8 Protection Techniques 36 2.9 Environmental Conditions 37 2.10 Other Programs 37 World Acadian Congress 37 Eligibility Application Page 2
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council 38 The Fish River Scenic Byway Corridor Advocacy Group 38 St. John-Aroostook Resource Conservation & Development Area (RC&D) 38 Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) 38 3. INTRINSIC RESOURCE ASSESSMENT...39 3.1 Corridor Impressions Survey (CIS) 39 3.2 Field Inventory 40 3.3 Refine Corridor Limits 43 3.4 Corridor Video and / or Graphic Depiction 43 4. CRITERIA ASSESSMENT...43 4.1 Universal Criteria (UC) 43 4.3 Initial Goals 46 Bibliography...47 Exhibit A Proposed Byway Corridor 48 Exhibit B Map of Deboullie Public Reserved Land 49 Exhibit C Signage Examples from Section 2.3 50 Exhibit D Corridor Impressions Survey, Section 3.1 51 Exhibit E Community Support 52 Table of Figures Figure 1 - Acadian Historic Cross... 4 Figure 2 - Tante Blanche Museum... 5 Figure 3 - Ste-Agathe Cultural Preservation Center... 5 Figure 4 - Pelletier/Marquis House... 5 Figure 5 - The Acadian Village... 6 Figure 6-Source: Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 15, p.124.... 6 Figure 8 The Old Gardner House... 7 Figure 7 - McBreairty Point Lodging... 7 Figure 9 - St. Luce of Frenchville... 7 Figure 10- Fort Kent Block House... 8 Figure 11- The Green Water Tank... 8 Figure 12 - St. Agatha Convent... 9 Figure 13- The Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel... 9 Figure 14 - The Allagash Historical Society Museum... 9 Figure 15 - St. Francis Historical Society Museum (left)... 9 Figure 17 West-Central Byway Land Use Map... 22 Figure 18 - Central-East Byway Land Use Map... 24 Figure 19 - St. John Valley Cultural Byway Land Use Base Map... 26 Eligibility Application Page 3
St. John Valley Cultural Byway (La route culturelle de la vallée St-Jean) Maine Scenic Byway Eligibility Application Corridor Vision The St. John Valley Cultural Byway is a working Byway, but more importantly, it is a cultural journey. Hewn from many political conflicts, border disputes and treatise resolutions that resulted in deportation, migration, exile, and expansion, the historical and cultural remnants are a well-preserved testimony to past struggles and triumphs. The St. John Valley Cultural Byway is a place like no other, where communities still celebrate their ancestry, from the Maine Acadians to the Scotch-Irish settlements; from the Native American tribes of the Wesget Sipu, Maliseet, and Mi kmaq to the French-Canadian or Quebecois. This is a place of cultural traditions where it is as common to hear the French language as it is English. Small-town values and helpful, knowledgeable locals leave visitors with a lasting impression and sense of place, which they are eager to recount to their friends and family. The St. John Valley Cultural Byway exhibits a heritage and a way of life as it once was and how it continues to be. 1. Resource Specific Criteria 1.1 Cultural Resources The proposed St. John Valley Cultural Byway corridor exhibits distinctive and unique cultural customs and values. Early European settlement patterns, political conflicts, border disputes and treatise resolutions resulted in deportation, migration, exile, and expansion involving the French, British, and American colonies, as well as tribal first nations of the Maliseet, Mi kmaq, and Wesget Sipu. The Acadians Figure 1 - Acadian Historic Cross Perhaps the strongest cultural influence comes from the Acadian ancestry of the many generations of families who have resided in the Upper St. John River Valley or the Valley as it is commonly called. Maine Acadian identity has developed over several hundred years in response to changing political, economic, and social circumstances. While some aspects of their heritage are shared with other Acadian groups in North America, Maine Acadians Eligibility Application Page 4
maintain a distinctive ethnic culture of their own. (NPS, 1994). The French- Canadian influence is also very prevalent in the St. John Valley. There is an inseparable tie between the Acadian culture and Acadian history, including the historic resources found along the corridor. The best-known history of the area, written in 1920 by Father Thomas Albert, claims that the first Acadian settlers landing occurred on the southern shore of the valley in 1785, at what is now St. David parish, in the present-day town of Madawaska. Most of Maine's Acadian ancestors escaped during the deportation of the Acadians by the British from Nova Scotia in 1755. Maine Acadians possess a strong sense of who they are. Like many other Americans with rural roots, Acadians' cultural identity is directly tied to retaining connections to family, religion, and land. The Acadian identity is clearly evident to the travelling public, particularly in the communities from Fort Kent east to Hamlin. The University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) is home to the Acadian Archives. The Acadian Archive documents, and preserves, celebrates, and disseminates information about the Upper Saint John Valley. In pursuing this mandate of cultural conservation, the Archives focus particular attention on the Acadian and Franco-American history and culture. (UMFK1). The Acadian Landing Site on the banks of the St. John River in Madawaska commemorates the first landing in the St. John Valley. The site is part of the Tante Blanche museum complex which includes artifact displays, a one room schoolhouse, and a house built with square sawn logs over 100 years ago. This is the scene of an annual event where residents symbolically cross the river from Canada each year. On Route 162, the Ste-Agathe Cultural Preservation Center was added to the grounds of the Historical Society property in 2003, and houses over 2,000 artifacts depicting Acadian History and the history of the community of St. Agatha. Items include religious artifacts and agricultural artifacts among other pieces that are displayed and made available to the general public during the summer months. Figure 4 - Ste-Agathe Cultural Preservation Center Figure 2 - Tante Blanche Museum Figure 3 - Pelletier/Marquis House Eligibility Application Page 5
The Pelletier/Marquis House is one of St. Agatha s oldest homes and is a museum of artifacts and history from years gone by. Acquired in 1978 by the newly formed Ste-Agathe Historical Society the House is maintained by the Society and is open to the public during the summer months. Figure 5 - The Acadian Village The Acadian Village in Van Buren is listed in the National Historic Register. The Village contains more than a dozen buildings in traditional styles including three square-hewn log houses, a barn, and school house. There are artifacts on display throughout the village and it hosts several historic and cultural events annually. First Nations Before the arrival of the first Acadian settlers in about 1784, the Upper St.John River valley was home to Native Peoples, in particular to the Wulustukieg or Maliseet (Malécite) Nation, a branch of the Algonquin peoples. The very name Madawaska is from the Maliseet's Algonquin language: "madawes" porcupine, "kak" place. The Maliseet's name for themselves, Wolastoqiyik, or Wulustukieg, is derived from the word wolastoq, which means "beautiful river." Wolastoq (Wulustuk, or anglicized, Walloostook) Figure 6-Source: Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 15, p.124. is the Maliseet name for the St. John River. The Wulustukieg or Maliseet people thus call themselves the people of the St. John River, which shows the extent to which they identify with this region. (Native Peoples in the Upper St.John River valley) The Maliseet and Mi kmaq People of the Wesget Sipu have lived on their native lands along the Fish River and the St. John River for many generations. Many of the Wesget Sipu People are French speaking Native Mi kmaq descendants who Eligibility Application Page 6
came along with the Acadian People to this region during the Grand Deportation years. (Wesget Sipu~Fish River Tribe) Scotch-Irish The towns west of Fort Kent have a distinctively different cultural heritage than those in the eastern part of the valley. The first settlers of town of Allagash, often referred to as Moosetowners, reportedly came from then Baie Chaleur, and included people of English, Scotch-Irish, and Irish origin with names such as the Gardners who poled their laden boats up the St. John in the second decade of the last century. When they found the valley taken up by the Acadians, they pushed on to the mouth of the Allagash and settled on a river Figure 8 - McBreairty Point Lodging island as protection against the hunting wolf packs that infested the region.... At the front line on the rivers were Allagash men, the Gardners, Moores, Kelleys, McBreairtys, Walkers, Haffords, Jacksons." (Dietz, 1968) Figure 7 The Old Gardner House Today, these ancestral names are still integral to Allagash. The Gardner family decedents operate a sporting camp and guide service in Allagash and at the end of the Allagash Bridge, a sign bearing the name McBreairty Point Lodging is prominently displayed. Early settlers in the towns of St. Francis and St. John tended to be a mix of French-Canadian, Acadian, English and Scotch-Irish, and therefore the cultures of those ethnicities became intertwined as well. The Church The region remains strongly connected to their French Catholic heritage. Catholic parishes have historically defined community boundaries, their civic and social functions intermingling with their spiritual mission. The first Catholic parish in the St. John Valley was the St. David Church located east of downtown Madawaska adjacent to the Tante Blanche Museum. The corridor contains many long-established and beautifully ornate Catholic churches such as St. John s in St. John, St. Louis in Fort Kent, St. Luce in Frenchville, St. Agatha, St. Gerard-Mont Carmel in Grand Isle and St. Bruno in Van Buren. Figure 9 - St. Luce of Frenchville Eligibility Application Page 7
1.2 Historical and Archeological Figure 10- Fort Kent Block House Fort Kent contains a historic Blockhouse that was constructed after the bloodless Aroostook War of 1839. The Blockhouse is located at the Fort Kent Historic Site, a National Historic Landmark. The cedar building is evidence of the border dispute between the United States and England, which eventually resulted in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty resolving the border dispute between the state of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad acquired the Fish River Railroad in 1903 and completed the 60 mile St. John extension from Van Buren through Fort Kent to St. Francis in 1910. In the Town of Frenchville, the "The Green Water Tank" as it is affectionately called, is often used as the vantage point for directing newcomers in town. Built in 1910 by the B & A Railroad and put into operation in December of that year, the water tower has a capacity of 50,000 gallons. It is constructed of redwood, with steel reinforcing rods; the room underneath the tower was used for storage and had a coal stove for heat to insure that the water did not freeze. By 1958 the diesel locomotive had replaced the old steam "iron horse", and the tower was no longer needed by the railroad. The Town of Frenchville purchased the tank from the B & A and used it for many years as a water reservoir by the fire department. Figure 11- The Green Water Tank In its early days of use, trains would stop at the tank for a "fill her up" pit stop, carrying wood products, and even providing passenger service. The Frenchville Fire Dept. discontinued their use of the water tank in 1981. In 1985, a quasihistorical society was formed and took over the tower. The water tower is accompanied by a 1943 Pullman caboose, donated by the B&A to the Frenchville Historical Society in 1988. In 1995, the "Green Water Tank" was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. (The Frenchville Historical Society) Eligibility Application Page 8
On September 16, 1904, Sister Marie Therese, Superior, Sister Anseleme, Sister Victorine and Sister Euphrone, from the Daughters of Wisdom order, answered the call to establish a mission in Ste- Agathe, in the State of Maine. The convent eventually grew to house a District School, a boarding Figure 12 - St. Agatha Convent school, and a hospital with Source: http://www.stagatha.com/convent.html a home for the aged, but most of the buildings have been torn down. Wisdom High School was named in honor of the sisters contribution to the religious and social life of the people of St. Agatha and the region. Figure 13- The Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel The Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel in Lille has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973. Constructed in 1908-09, it was designed by Theophile Daoust, a French architect from Montreal and the angels atop the towers were carved by notable sculptor Louis Jobin of Quebec. The museum has been beautifully restored and houses the largest collection of Acadian and French-Canadian artifacts in the U.S. Nearly every St. John Valley byway community has a historical society and/or museum that houses historical artifacts, photos and documents that help describe its origins, culture and industry. In addition to those already mentioned, these include: The Allagash Historical Society Museum The St. Francis Historical Society Museum The Fort Kent Historical Society Museum The Roosevelt School House in Hamlin Figure 14 - The Allagash Historical Society Museum Figure 15 - St. Francis Historical Society Museum (left) Eligibility Application Page 9
1.3 Recreational The St. John Valley is rich in outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors can find something to do outdoors all four seasons. Many of the area businesses specialize in the outdoor recreation business. Visitors can go into the outdoors on their own or hire one the many local Registered Maine Guides in the area to make their trip both enjoyable and often an educational experience. No matter what a person is looking for The Greater Fort Kent Region has it. Winter Sports Cross Country Skiing and snowshoeing are two winter activities that are gaining popularity in the region and with good reason. The 10th Mountain Ski Facility has 22 km of trails for all abilities. This facility hosted the 2004 World Cup Biathlon and host smaller events annually. Lodging establishments in the area have trails for their guests as well. The area lakes provide scenic day trips as do sections of the Allagash and St John Rivers. Snowshoeing into the woods during the winter can take visitors to areas not frequented by mechanized travel. Countless woods roads and frozen streams and brooks will take those wishing solitude to their destination. The Town of Allagash supports one of the largest deer wintering yards in the region. Deer can be seen and photographed all winter. Many choose to take to the big woods in search of moose antlers that have shed. This is a popular and prosperous past time in the region and serious searchers can utilize the services of one of the many local registered Maine guides. The Four Seasons Lodge and Trail in Madawaska promotes year-round outdoor recreation by offering free use of its trails. Lonesome Pine Ski Area in Fort Kent provides downhill skiing for all abilities. The ski area has a rental shop as well as food service and lounge. Winter visitors often plan their trips to coincide with Can Am Sled Dog Race. This is the largest and most prestigious dog sled race in the New England. Mushers come from all across the US and Canada to participate in the 250 mile run. The Can Am 250 is a qualifying race for any musher wishing to eventually move on to the Iditarod Race. The start for the race is held on Main St in Fort Kent. The 250 Race is preceded by the 30 and 60 mile races. Events are planned annually for spectators of the race. Two spectator-friendly race check points are located near-by in Portage and Allagash. The finish Line for all the races is Lonesome Pine Ski Area in Fort Kent. Eligibility Application Page 10
Some area businesses offer point to point overnight sled dog trips for the hearty adventurer. The winter fisherman will find fishable waters throughout the region. The Fish River Chain of Lakes is very popular with locals and visitors alike. Lakes on the St. John and Allagash watersheds can be accessed from the area as well. Winter visitors will find all the amenities they may need. Sled Rentals are available, local guides to help in your trip and a full array of lodging, restaurant, and support services await. Snowmobiling The St. John Valley is considered one of the premier snowmobile destinations in the northeast. The region is consistently trail-ready for snowmobilers by January 1st and the local clubs, towns and businesses are very active in maintaining the 2200 miles of existing trails. Riders can find trails leading from town to town and many of the businesses are located on ITS trails or have spurs leading to them. Gas, food and lodging are always just a short ride away. Maintained trails through the North Maine Woods take riders into one of the last uninhabited areas of Maine. Adventurers can find powder riding in the area west of the maintained trail to the Canadian border. This is an undeveloped area and few services exist. Riders are urged to use caution and should be self-sufficient when traveling this area. Fishing The St. John Valley region is blessed with some of the best fishing within the State of Maine and New England. Couple the outstanding sport with some of the most spectacular scenery and it can be understood why many make the trek to the region annually. This region of Maine is one of the last strong holds for Native brook trout. Brookies can be found in almost any of the free flowing waters throughout the area. Outstanding brook trout can be found in the regions lakes and ponds. Brook trout up to four pounds are taken annually from the Fish River Chain of Lakes. Lake Trout or Togue as they are known locally can be found in the lakes of the Allagash River Chain as well as the Fish River Chain of Lakes. Both open water and ice anglers find the fish plentiful and the action fast. Eligibility Application Page 11
Landlocked Salmon are considered by many to be the king of the game fish in the region. In 2008 Long Lake of the Fish River Chain located in St. Agatha and Madawaska was rated as one of the top landlocked salmon waters in New England and with good reason. This body of water regularly produces salmon six pounds and over! The St. John Watershed once known for its brook trout fishery is now home to muskellunge. Muskie were stocked by the Quebec Government in Lac Frontier, the headwaters for the Northwest Branch of the St. John. From here, muskies infiltrated the entire St. John River system. Today there is a thriving muskie fishery that is unique to other fisheries in North America. Much of the fishing takes place on the three lakes. Baker Lake located in Piscataquis County was the first downstream water to produce a viable fishery. Later Beau and Glazier Lake on the St. Francis River a tributary of the St. John started producing good fish. The current state record muskie came from Glazier Lake and was taken through the ice. The jewel of the fishery is the main stem of the St. John itself. The northern sections of the river accessible by traveling through Fort Kent to Allagash and into the North Maine Woods will bring anglers to sections of the river that will see few anglers during the course of a season. Fluctuating water levels can make river travel difficult in the summer months. The road system inside of the North Maine Woods has many access points either right to the river or just a short hike from conventional vehicle access. Today the Town of Fort Kent holds an annual International Muskie Derby each August. On average 400 to 600 anglers participate in this three day event. Some anglers will find sections of the river to fish during this event and not see another angler. The Town of St. Agatha holds the Long Lake Ice Fishing Derby in January. This derby has become very popular and includes a mix of species and fisheries from several of the other lakes in the Fish River Chain as well. Canoeing and Kayaking The Greater Fort Kent Area is a gateway to both the St. John River and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. These two rivers are famous for their pristine settings and feeling of remoteness that one will encounter while on either river. The St. John is the longest free flowing river east of Eligibility Application Page 12
the Mississippi River. Due to the fact that it has no dams for water control it is really only caneoable during periods of high water in the spring and early summer. The Allagash is caneoable all summer and is the choice of many mid to late summer paddlers. Both rivers have maintained camp sites. The Allagash does have its own set of rules and visitors should go to the North Maine Woods web site for more information. Numerous vehicle shuttle services and canoe liveries can be found in St. Francis and the Town of Allagash. Registered Maine Guides are also available to canoe trippers if they so desire. There are numerous day paddles of varying lengths available to visitors. These trips are not only on the St John and Allagash but also on the Fish River Chain of Lakes and its thoroughfares. These are easy sections of water to paddle even for beginners. Local businesses in Fort Kent and Eagle Lake rent canoes and kayaks and offer shuttle services for the Fish River Chain. ATV Riding Visitors wishing to ride ATV s will find a vast network of trails. Thanks to the local ATV clubs working with local landowners, many new trails have been opened. The trails in the region twist and wind through some of the most beautiful scenery in Maine. Wildlife abounds in the area and is sure to be spotted by the alert rider. Bike Riding Bike riding gives the visitor the chance to take in the scenery of the area at a slower pace than by automobile. There are 2 mapped cycle tours that include portions of the byway: Le Tour d Valle and the Century Ride. The 10 th Mountain Ski Center in Fort Kent opens its cross country trails to riders wishing to take on this challenging course, and the Heritage Trail an abandoned rail bed provides an excellent recreational trail for those seeking solitude while still in close proximity to the nearby towns. Two cycling events are held each year in the Valley. The County Cycle Classic is held the Second weekend in July and starts in Van Buren. Le Tour de la Valle is the second weekend in August from Fort Kent. Eligibility Application Page 13
Hunting The St. John Valley Cultural Byway communities have a rich hunting heritage. The region is the gateway to Allagash and the North Maine Woods, and more bear are taken in Aroostook County than any other county in Maine. On the average six hundred deer over 200 pounds are taken annually in Maine, one third of these animals come from Aroostook County. Bird hunters will find diverse hunting opportunities in the region. Abandoned farm land reverting back to poplar and alder hold grouse and woodcock. The vast networks of logging roads, leading west towards the Canadian border, are annual hotspots for the visiting hunter with or without a dog. The region has large populations of moose as well as coyote. Hunters will find numerous guide services and lodging establishments to help them on their quest. With the large land mass available to hunters, often one can have the area to themselves. (Recreation, 2008) Hiking Non-motorized recreational activities are numerous, but the most notable hike is the Deboullie Trail that leads to the Fire Tower atop Deboullie Mountain located in the Maine Public Reserve Land in T15 R9. This block of Maine Public Reserve Land also maintains numerous campsites and boat launches on Black, Gardner, Deboullie, Denny, Crater, Perch, Upper and Togue Ponds, in addition to hiking trails. The traveler has access to these opportunities from the St. Francis checkpoint to the north, as well as the Fish Hatchery Road in Eagle Lake to the south. (See Exhibit B Map of Deboullie Public Reserved Land) Guide Services, Camping/Lodging There are several guide services available, as well as equipment rentals for boating or snowmobiling. A variety of lodging establishments exist for the byway traveler seeking accommodations including: Allagash Guide Service Camel Brook Camps Countryside Retreat Cross Road Cabins Daigle s Bed & Breakfast D & D Rental 4 Season Fish River Junction Four Seasons Inn Gateway Motel/Restaurant KLC Lakeside Rentals Lakeview Restaurant & Long Lake Motor Inn Camping Resort Northern Door Inn Pelletier s Campground Trailside Vacation Rentals Eligibility Application Page 14
1.4 Scenic and Natural The St. John River is both a scenic and natural resource of regional and international significance. As mentioned earlier, it is the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. The St. John and St. Francis Rivers form the international border between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. The St. John River Basin is one of the largest watersheds in eastern North America. From its source in Baker Lake, Maine, near the Maine-Quebec border to its mouth at the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, the River follows a course of about 435 miles (700 kilometers). 1 The watershed has a drainage area of 21,310 square miles (55,200 kilometers). 1 The international character of the St. John River is emphasized by the fact that it follows the Maine Quebec boundary before passing through Maine and then flows along the Maine-New Brunswick boundary before flowing through New Brunswick to its end in the sea. The St. John River is home to numerous endangered plants and wildlife as well as being the habitat of one of Maine's premier wild brook trout fisheries. 1 The Furbish Lousewort The lousewort plant has been listed as endangered in both the United States and Canada. The plant's discovery by Kate Furbish in 1880 created an initial flurry of excitement. Interest gradually died down and Miss Furbish's wood betony, as it was originally called, was forgotten and assumed extinct until 1976 when the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers searched for rare plants that would be affected by the proposed Dickey-Lincoln Dam. Figure 15 - The Furbish Lousewort; Edward S. Ayensu. Courtesy of Smithsonian Institution, Dept. of Systematic Biology, Botany. The banks of the St. John River, in northern Maine and adjacent New Brunswick, are the only places in the world the rare plant grows. Aside from the slopes of Mt. Katahdin, the habitat on the St. John River banks is home to the highest variety of rare plants in Maine. Only a narrow band of steep, damp, well shaded riverbank offers the ideal habitat needed for the Furbish Lousewort to survive. The lousewort grows mostly on north-facing riverbanks because the vegetation is less dense there. They never grow in the spruce-fir forest, on lower cobble beaches or in areas where there is standing water. The forest canopy above is crucial to their survival. The annual scouring of the river banks by ice flows helps to keep the habitat free of competing vegetation, but also can wipe out entire colonies of the plant itself. 1 Water Quality in the Saint John River Basin, International Joint Commission, and Canada and Unites States, 1977. Eligibility Application Page 15
The St. John Quaking Bog The St. John Bog is located 3.3 miles west of the Route 11/US Route 1 intersection in Fort Kent. This 10-acre bog contains several beautiful and unusual plant species including orchids and bog laurel. It is also a quaking bog, which is formed when a pocket of water from an ancient lake is trapped beneath a thick layer of moss that grows over time from the shoreline. The St. John Bog has been the focus of several research studies by students from the nearby university. The many scenic view sheds found along the St. John River Valley provide an interesting mix of untouched pastoral beauty and distinctive development patterns that can be traced to the earliest settlers of the valley. The Canadian hillsides of the St. John are dotted with dwellings and ornate churches with steeple spires. Though the scenic value of the St. John may not compete with awe-inspiring geologic formations found on other state and national byways, the scenic quality of the area is a resource that is noticed and appreciated by people that visit the area, and therefore is a resource worth preserving. Eligibility Application Page 16
2. BACKGROUND ASSESSMENT 2.1 Roadway / Right-of-Way (R.O.W.) Description The proposed St. John Valley Cultural Byway includes segments of 4 different roads: State Route 161; US Route 1, State Route 1-A, and State Route 162 (see Figure 14). State Route 161 is a major collector road, which for the purposes of this Scenic Byway eligibility assessment, has a western terminus at the Little Black River Bridge in Allagash and a eastern terminus at the intersection of US Route 1 and the International Bridge in Fort Kent for a segment length of 30.2 miles. This segment of Route 161 includes sections in Allagash, St. Francis, St. John Plantation, and Fort Kent. From Fort Kent, Route 161 continues south to Fort Fairfield where it ends at the intersection with State Route 1-A. Route 161 was originally constructed in the 1800s and has a typical R.O.W. of 66 feet for the entire study segment. The of paved travel surface with uniform shoulder width and type for right and left margins, although shoulder construction varies as you proceed west from the built up area in Fort Kent, generally there are no paved shoulders outside of Fort Kent. Conditions include no shoulder with curbing at edge of pavement; 8 paved no curb; and 4 gravel surface. With the exception of a small area in the village of Allagash, there are no sidewalks along this section of Route 161. Pavement conditions are generally fair to good for the segment of Route 161 under assessment, though instances of potholes, frost heaves, longitudinal cracking, alligator cracking and unraveling can be found particularly in the more rural sections where the road maintenance has been limited to re-surfacing and drainage activities. The area from the Fort Kent Municipal Golf Course to the St. Francis town line is in the poorest condition. US Route 1 comprises the longest segment of the proposed byway (45.3) miles) and has a western terminus located at the intersection of Route 161 and the International Bridge in Fort Kent. The eastern terminus for the proposed byway is located at the US Route 1 and Route 1-A intersection in Van Buren. Between Fort Kent and Madawaska it is classified as a major collector while from Madawaska to Van Buren it is a principle arterial. The section between Madawaska and Van Buren is also part of the National Highway System. Route 1 continues south towards Caribou and Presque Isle and ultimately leaves the state and terminates in Key West, Florida. Also originally constructed in the 1800s, R.O.W widths range from 75 feet to 150 feet depending on location. R.O.W s widths from Fort Kent to Madawaska range from 75 to 100 feet while widths from Madawaska to Van Buren with two exceptions are 125 to 150 feet. Eligibility Application Page 17
Sidewalks are located in the downtown areas of Fort Kent, Frenchville, Madawaska, and Van Buren. They are generally in good repair with no notable improvements planned. Outside of the downtown areas, no sidewalks exist nor are any planned. Between Fort Kent and Madawaska, 2 to 4 foot gravel shoulders are the norm while the segment from Madawaska to Grand Isle has 8 foot paved shoulders. Overall Route 1 is in good to excellent condition with many improvements recently completed by MaineDOT. Route 1-A is classified as a major collector. This segment is 10.3 miles and is considered to be in good condition. The 6 mile segment of Route 162 is also a major collector and connects Route 1 in Frenchville with Route 161 in Cross Lake. The Route 162 R.O.W. is typically 66 feet with gravel shoulders of 2 to 4 feet in width. Pavement surface and road conditions are generally fair to good with some recently re-surfaced sections in St. Agatha. The segment between Frenchville and St. Agatha exhibits frequent frost heaves and undulation of road profile and cross sections. Figure 16 - Proposed St. John Valley Cultural & Scenic Byway Corridor Eligibility Application Page 18
2.2 Existing Land Use and Zoning Six (6) of the ten (10) municipalities located along the proposed byway have Growth Management Comprehensive Plans. Municipalities can identify scenic, historic, and cultural areas within their communities so that some level of protection can be afforded to them either through easements or the development of ordinances. NMDC only reviewed plans developed under the current Growth Management Act and those Plans developed in the 1990's or 2000 s. Municipalities also have the opportunity to identify archeological, pre-historic, and historic sites and building located within the town. These sites may or may not be listed on National Historic register or through the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. In many cases, these sites are locally or sub-regionally important. While all of the Plans identified the scenic quality of the region, only Allagash, Van Buren, Grand Isle, and Madawaska identified specific scenic locations. All of the plans listed specific historic or archeological sites that were either identified locally or through studies completed by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. The following tables and maps provide an overview of each of the Comprehensive Plans and Ordinances that were reviewed. Eligibility Application Page 19
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Table 1 - Existing Land Use Matrix, Western Byway Municipality Comprehensiv e Plan* Identify Scenic Areas Zoning Ordinance Allagash Yes Yes Yes. There are no specific provisions to protect the scenic or cultural resources in town. St. Francis No N/A No N/A St. John No N/A No N/A Fort Kent Yes No Yes. Subdivision and Site Design Review have review criteria that identify scenic and cultural resources. No specific standards in the Town-wide Zoning ordinance. No access management standards however there are Road Design and Parking provisions. Comments Allagash is located at the end of the proposed by-way. Allagash contains many scenic and recreational areas. Fort Kent's Comprehensive Plan identified a large number of rare natural communities. However, no location of these communities was given. There is no identification of scenic areas or strategies to protect scenic, cultural, or historic areas. Frenchville Yes No. Yes. Subdivision and Site Design Review have review criteria that identify scenic and cultural resources. No specific standards in the Town-wide Zoning ordinance. The Comprehensive Plan lists a large number of historic and cultural sites located in Town. There is no identification of scenic areas. Frenchville's Plan contains a goal that will develop some level of protection of scenic, historic and cultural sites in a land use ordinance. Eligibility Application Page 21
Figure 16 West-Central Byway Land Use Map Eligibility Application Page 22
Table 2 - Land Use Matrix, Central Byway Municipality Comprehensive Plan* Identify Scenic Areas Zoning Ordinance Madawaska Yes Yes Yes. Subdivision and Site Design Review have review criteria that identify scenic and cultural resources. There are also provisions for the protection of natural features, rare natural areas, and wildlife habitat in the town wide zoning ordinance. Madawaska also contains access management, road design and construction, and on-street parking stands in the town-wide zoning ordinance. Comments The Comprehensive Plan lists 6 locations in town that offer scenic views of the St. John Valley. The views listed include those which are accessible to the public from a public way. They include: Town View Road, Riverview Street, 11 th Avenue, Fournier Road, Acadian landing, and Mount Carmel. There was no identification of strategies to protect these views. Grand Isle Yes No No Grand Isle's Comprehensive Plan continually states the importance of tourism to the town. The Plan also identified the importance of the scenic views along the St. John River but does not identify specific locations. There are a number of strategies that promoter the protection of the St. John River and its view-sheds. There are no local ordinance provisions to prevent development in scenic areas. St. Agatha Yes Yes Yes. Subdivision and Site Design Review have review criteria that protect scenic and cultural resources. St. Agatha also has specific access management standards in place. The Comprehensive Plan does not identify specific scenic areas. It does identify cultural and historic resources and public access locations to Long Lake. Eligibility Application Page 23
Figure 17 - Central-East Byway Land Use Map Eligibility Application Page 24
Table 3 - Land Use Matrix, Eastern Byway Municipality Comprehensiv e Plan* Identify Scenic Areas Zoning Ordinance Van Buren Yes Yes Yes. Subdivision and Site Design Review have review criteria that identify scenic and cultural resources. There are also specific standards protecting archeological sites and development impact on Natural Beauty, Aesthetics, Historic Sites, Wildlife Habitat, Rare Natural Areas, or Public Access to the Shoreline. Van Buren also has specific access management standards in place. Comments The Comprehensive Plan identifies 4 scenic areas with the Town, 3 of which are related to the St. John Valley. These include the: Lake Road area, Gateway area on US Route 1 with panoramic views of the St. John Valley, and the view of seven (7) church steeples from the Lake Road. The Plan also identifies a number of historic structures and sites. Hamlin No N/A No Hamlin is the gateway to the St. John Valley on Route 1-A. There are numerous scenic vistas and several historic sites. There is no level of protection for the scenic views in Hamlin. Eligibility Application Page 25
Figure 18 - St. John Valley Cultural Byway Land Use Base Map The St. John Valley Cultural Byway Eligibility Application Page 26
2.3 Signage Generally, signage along the proposed byway corridor is relatively well designed and attractive. Of note are the bi-lingual Welcome to the St. John Valley signs placed logistically at the entrance points to the region. Way finding signage exists to help travelers find points of interest, but additional way finding signage may be needed as intrinsic resources are further identified and prioritized. (See exhibit C for examples of existing signage) The towns of St. Francis and St. John have no local land use ordinances that contain sign regulations. Section 7.14 of the Fort Kent Zoning Ordinance includes sign regulations with reasonable design standards governing size, illumination, placement, and content. Both permanent and temporary signs are regulated. The Code Enforcement Officer has sole authority for reviewing and permitting all signs that require a permit. The list of prohibited signs includes: 1. Billboards. 2. Off-premise signs. 3. Sign(s) erected on utility owned poles. 4. Sign(s) erected on trees. 5. Searchlights. 6. Hot air or gas filled balloons, or umbrellas used for advertising. 7. Sign(s) mounted or painted on a vehicle for advertising purposes, parked, and visible from the public right-of-way, except signs identifying the related business when the vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operations of that business. 8. Sign(s) designed to be transported by trailer on wheels. 9. "A" frame signs. 10. Any sign extending or protruding over public property within two (2) feet of the curb line. Signs extending or protruding over public property shall be approved by the Code Enforcement Officer. 11. Signs hung from another sign. 12. Any noise making sign. 13. Any colored sign so located as to attract attention from or obstruct traffic control lights so as to reduce its visibility and effect. 14. Any sign within twenty five (25) feet of an intersection of two (2) roads so placed in any way as to obstruct clear vision in any direction. 15. Any device illuminating a sign which directs light toward a public way in such a manner as to cast its beam in the eyes of oncoming motorists or pedestrians. Eligibility Application Page 27
The towns of Frenchville and Grand Isle both developed land use ordinances that contained a very detailed section on sign regulation. However, the legislative bodies of the towns never enacted the ordinances, and therefore no sign regulation exists. It would be possible for these towns to enact some acceptable form of signage regulation as they each have an approved comprehensive plan that provides the legal basis for such an ordinance. Ste-Agathe s land use ordinance does not contain any sign regulations. Section 11 of the Madawaska Land Use Ordinance contains sign regulations, including a table of permitted signs and corresponding reviewing authority. The ordinance states that it is the intent of this Section to establish standards for signs within the Town. It is further intended that signs shall not detract from the visual environment of a property; that they maintain and enhance the aesthetic environment; they create and maintain an attractive business climate; minimize the possible adverse effect of signs on nearby public and private property; encourage the effective use of signs as a means of communication; and improve and maintain pedestrian and traffic safety. Prohibited signs in Madawaska are very similar to those listed in Fort Kent s ordinance. The town of Van Buren s sign ordinance is nearly identical to that of Madawaska, so uniformity as to size, location and setbacks, illumination and prohibited signs is very achievable. 2.4 Future Land Use The St. John Valley region is not experiencing development pressure and therefore those towns that have undertaken comprehensive planning have not proposed any future land use strategies that would significantly change the current development patterns along the byway corridor. As stated earlier, 6 of the 10 byway communities have comprehensive plans that will be reviewed and updated at various times within the next 5-10 years. This provides the opportunity to monitor recent development patterns and trends at the local level. If byway designation is achieved, funding will be sought to create a Corridor Management Plan that will identify any additional policies and strategies recommended to achieve a consistent regulatory approach in the preservation of the byways identified intrinsic resources. These policies and strategies can be introduced to each of the byway towns through the CAG and hopefully incorporated into local land use ordinances. Eligibility Application Page 28
2.5 Safety Issues A review of local comprehensive plans did not cite many specific safety issues other than the normal snow drifting issues. If additional tourism is a desired outcome of scenic byway designation, it may be necessary to improve pedestrian and non-motorized transportation through a combination of bicycle lanes, sidewalks, and shoulder widening projects. The only other notable safety issue is crash incidences involving wildlife, which is impossible to eliminate, but might be reduced through improved roadside visibility measures and additional signage. The Maine Departments of Transportation and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are working on a number of pilot projects that would help increase visibility of animals along the roadside. The following table lists safety issues cited by communities in their Comprehensive Plans. Table 4 - Safety Issues Cited by Community Town Allagash St. Francis St. John Fort Kent Frenchville Madawaska Grand Isle Van Buren Safety Issues Cited Wesley Brook Culvert and corner freezes before rest of pavement and is improperly crowned. Deer in road during the winter months. Signage needed to alert travelers. None cited. None cited. Corner located near the Municipal Golf Course is improperly crowned. All railroad crossings are in need of upgrades (see: Road Improvements) Drainage problems were identified around the Dickey Brook Bridge. A snow drifting problem area was identified on Route 1 on top of the hill by Queen Village just past Forest Ave. The Church Road and Route 1 intersection was identified as having sight distance problems. Other intersections with identified problems are Starbarn Avenue and Route 1 and Hill Avenue and Route 1 The general condition of Route 1 west of Madawaska s downtown was cited as a safety issue. Intersection of Bridge and Main Street has a high CRF. None cited. There were no locations with high Critical Rate Factors. However, there has been a higher than expected number of accidents between the Van Buren Townline and the MMA rail crossing. Speed in the village area has also been cited as a safety issue. High incidence of car/moose collisions north of Keegan. Poor road condition along route north of Keegan. St. Agatha None cited on Route 162. Hamlin None cited. Traffic accident information was gathered from MaineDOT Traffic Engineering Accident Records to determine if there were any serious issues with traffic safety Eligibility Application Page 29
along the length of the corridor. During the study period of January 1997 to December 2007, there were a total of 24 fatal accidents along the Route 161/Route 1/Route 1-A corridor. On Route 161, there were three fatal accidents, 1 in 1998, 1, in 1999, and 1 in 2006. Allagash was the only community not having a fatal accident with one each in St. Francis, St. John, and Fort Kent. The weather was clear during each of these incidents and one person per accident was killed. During the same time frame, there were 3 fatal accidents on Route 1-A in Hamlin. The weather was also clear and the accidents occurred in three separate locations. In one incident, 2 people were killed. US Route 1 had the highest number of fatal accidents at 18 with every community having at least one incident. Madawaska and Fort Kent each had five accidents, Frenchville and Van Buren 3 each, Grand Isle had 2. Accidents occurred during winter and summer with two accidents being attributed to snowy road conditions. In total, 19 people were killed and all of the accidents occurred in unique locations. Overall there were 1,180 accidents along the proposed corridor between 1997 and 2007. A review of the data does not indicate any one location where there was a higher than expected number of accidents. Crash rates along the proposed byway are highest in the most heavily congested areas, particularly Madawaska and Fort Kent. However those accidents that are considered the most severe are higher where traffic speeds are at their maximum, including sections of Route 1 in Fort Kent, Van Buren and Grand Isle, Route 161 in Allagash. Eligibility Application Page 30
2.6 Traffic Volumes/User Types The Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering Division, and Traffic Monitoring Section is responsible for the collection of all types of traffic data and maintenance of a statewide traffic volume database. The reduction and reporting of traffic volumes and vehicle classification data are accomplished through two types of count programs. The following tables show traffic counts for byway communities. MaineDOT had completed counts in 2004. The US Route 1 communities (Fort Kent to Van Buren) on average had the highest traffic counts, Fort Kent had the highest AADT with 10,310 located at the intersection of the US Route 1 and 161. Madawaska closely followed with 10,230 located at the US Route 1 and Mill Street intersection. Both Fort Kent and Madawaska, on average had the highest traffic counts along the proposed byway which is indicative that both of these communities being Service Centers for the subregion. Madawaska also is home to the region s largest employer, Frazer Papers Inc and generates significant commuter and freight traffic. Table 5 - US Route 1 Traffic Volumes Town Station Road Location Type Group AADT Fort Kent 00602 0001X US 1/SR 161 (W MAIN) NE/O C I 9370 US 1 (CUSTOMS) Fort Kent 00608 0001X US 1 (CUSTOMS BR) NW/O C I 2010 SR 161 (W MAIN) Fort Kent 01702 0001X US 1/SR 161 (E MAIN) NE/O C I 10310 CUT FROM SR 11 Fort Kent 01707 0001X US 1/SR 161 (W MAIN ST) C I 10680 W/O ELM ST Fort Kent 02000 0001X US 1/SR 161 (E MAIN ST) @ C I 9920 FISH RIVER BR Fort Kent 02101 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST).25 MI N/O C I 4230 BOLDUC AVE Fort Kent 02301 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) N/O C I 6120 HIGHLAND AVE Fort Kent 03301 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) N/O DUBE C I 6160 ST Fort Kent 03506 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) SW/O C I 3800 KENT ST (IR 1071) Fort Kent 57100 0001X US 1 @ FRENCHVILLE TL C I 2380 Fort Kent 01306 0011X SR 11 (AROOSTOOK) SW/O C I 2420 FT KENT MILL RD Fort Kent 02903 0011X SR 11 (PLEASANT) E/O CUT C I 6940 FROM US 1/SR161 Fort Kent 03201 0011X SR 11 (PLEASANT ST) N/O C I 4960 BRIDGE ST Fort Kent 03203 0011X BRIDGE ST E/O SR 11 (PLEASANT ST) C I 4270 Eligibility Application Page 31
Town Station Road Location Type Group AADT Frenchville 35903 0001X US 1 E/O IR 2124 (CHURCH C I 3110 AVE) @ BR# 2213 Frenchville 35907 0001X US 1 W/O IR 2124 (CHURCH C I 2600 AVE) Frenchville 52300 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) @ C I 4130 MADAWASKA TL Frenchville 52402 0001X US 1 NE/O IR 334 C I 3700 (PELLETIER AVE) Frenchville 52405 0001X US 1 S/O IR 334 (PELLETIER C I 3760 AVE) Frenchville 56602 0001X US 1 NE/O SR 162 C I 4250 Frenchville 56607 0001X US 1 W/O SR 162 @ BR# C I 4080 2087 Grand Isle 30304 0001X US 1 SE/O IR 327 (WILL CYR C I 1640 RD) Grand Isle 52008 0001X US 1 NW/O IR 673 (GRIVOIS C I 1510 RD) Grand Isle 78400 0001X US 1 @ MADAWASKA TL C I 1710 Grand Isle 78504 0001X US 1 SE/O IR 340 C I 2010 (MORNEAULT RD) Grand Isle 78508 0001X US 1 NW/O IR 340 C I 2040 (MORNEAULT RD) Grand Isle 78600 0001X US 1 @ VAN BUREN TL C I 1560 Madawaska 00203 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O IR 343 C I 4000 (GAGNON RD) Madawaska 00207 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) W/O IR 343 C I 4660 (GAGNON RD) Madawaska 00503 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) E/O 26TH C I 6280 AVE Madawaska 00607 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) W/O 22ND C I 6810 AVE Madawaska 00803 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) W/O 22ND C I 7360 AVE Madawaska 01003 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) E/O 20TH C I 8170 AVE Madawaska 01803 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) E/O 19TH C I 7950 AVE Madawaska 01806 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) E/O MILL T I 9530 ST Madawaska 01807 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) SW/O C I 8910 16TH AVE Madawaska 02407 0001X US 1(W MAIN ST) W/O MILL T I 10230 ST Madawaska 02703 0001X US 1 (W MAIN ST) W/O 13TH C I 9030 AVE C Madawaska 03003 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O T I 8490 LEGION AVE T Madawaska 02930 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O 10TH T I 9560 AVE Madawaska 03307 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) W/O N 6TH C I 8010 AVE Madawaska 03503 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O 4TH AVE C I 8470 Eligibility Application Page 32
Town Station Road Location Type Group AADT Madawaska 03803 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O 1ST C I 5690 AVE Madawaska 03807 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) W/O 1ST C I 5590 AVE Madawaska 33103 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) E/O IR 339 C I 2670 (FOURNIER) Madawaska 33108 0001X US 1 (E MAIN ST) NW/O IR C I 3030 339 (FOURNIER) Madawaska 78308 0001X US 1 NW/O IR 2210 (OLD PO C I 1780 RD) (N JCT) Van Buren 02301 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O PARK ST C I 6210 Van Buren 02501 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O ST C I 6120 MARYS ST Van Buren 02601 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O SCHOOL C I 6070 ST (N JCT) Van Buren 02701 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O TYLER C I 5910 ST Van Buren 02801 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O C I 5770 JACKSON ST Van Buren 03001 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O FULTON C I 4810 ST Van Buren 03005 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) S/O FERRY C I 5280 ST Van Buren 03101 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O PIERCE C I 4080 ST Van Buren 03801 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) N/O WRIGHT C I 3740 ST Van Buren 03908 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) NW/O C I 2250 CHURCH ST Van Buren 78804 0001X US 1 SE/O IR 390 (MARTIN C I 1480 RD) (PW) Van Buren 78808 0001X US 1 NW/O IR 390 (MARTIN C I 1450 RD) (PW Van Buren 00104 0001X US 1 (MAIN ST) SE/O BRIDGE ST C I 7540 Route 1-A Counts were only available for Route 1-A in Hamlin. Highest counts were located at the Van Buren town line (2,110 AADT). These counts indicate traffic generated by commuters living in Hamlin and working in either Van Buren or on communities along the Route 1 corridor. Route 1-A serves as a heavy haul truck route for products shipped to or from the St. John Valley. Table 6 - US Route 1A Traffic Volumes Town Station Road Location Type Group AADT Hamlin 49504 0001A US 1A SE/O IR 454 (ALBERT C I 860 CYR RD) Hamlin 50700 0001A US 1A @ VAN BUREN TL C I 2110 Eligibility Application Page 33
Route 161 Traffic volumes drop off precipitously along the Route 161 corridor (Fort Kent to Allagash). Allagash has the lowest volume of all sites with an AADT of 100. This route serves as a major heavy haul freight route, a tourism route, and a route for commuters and residents to access Fort Kent or other communities. It is also the only major route into and out of the western portion of the St. John Valley. Table 7 - Route 161 Traffic Volumes Town Station Road Location Type Group AADT Allagash 35008 00940X IR 940 (FRANK MACK RD) C II 100 NW/O IR 1513 C II Allagash 35708 00940X IR 940 (FRANK MACK RD) C II 590 NW/O IR 1519 Allagash 77600 00940X IR 940 (FRANK MACK RD) C II 650 @ BR# 2014 St. Francis 59102 0161X SR 161 NE/O IR 901 (DEAD C I 1150 END RD) St. Francis 59106 0161X SR 161 SW/O IR 936 C I 1120 (SUNSET DR) St. Francis 59200 0161X 161 @ ST JOHN TL C I 1330 St John 35102 0161X 161 NE/O IR 9056 (DUMP RD) C I 1320 DESCRIPTION of HEADINGS, SYMBOLS, AND ABBREVIATIONS The following is a description of the column headings, symbols, and abbreviations used for the Coverage Count Section. TOWN: The town in which a count was taken ROUTE: The road or highway on which the count was taken. Non-Interstate Highways and Roads X indicates a Routed Highway (0196X = SR 196 0001X = US Route 1) A or B indicates an Alternate Routed Highway (0001A = US Route 1A 0009B = SR 9B) LOCATION: A description of where the count was taken. BK = Brook; BR = Bridge ; CL = County Line; CNR = Corner; CTR = Center; CUL = Compact Urban Line; DR = Drive; EB = Eastbound; HWY = Highway; IR = Inventory Road; LN = Lane NB = Northbound; OW = One Way; PK = Park; PKWY = Park Way; PL = Place; PT = Point PW = Private Way; RD = Road; RDG = Ridge; RV = River; SB = Southbound; SL = State Line SR = State Route; ST = Street; STR = Stream; TL = Town Line; US = United States Route; WB = Westbound; N/O, NE/O, E/O, etc. = North of, Northeast of, East of, etc. TYPE: Category for each count taken. A = Permanent Recorder Count B = BACTS Count C = Coverage Count T = Turning Movement Count GROUP: The factor group assigned to the location. I = Urban Group - Roadways which carry commuter traffic and exhibit little seasonal change in traffic volumes. II = Arterial Group - Roadways which carry commuter traffic but exhibit moderate seasonal changes in traffic volumes. AADT: Annual Average Daily Traffic Eligibility Application Page 34
2.7 Roadway Improvements The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) developed an updated Capital Work Plan (Work Plan) for the FY 2010-2011 biennium which covers July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011. The Work Plan represents Maine DOT s strategy to apply available resources to the design and construction of transportation infrastructure throughout the state. MaineDOT issued an updated Work Plan to reflect the following major changes since the initial 2010-2011Capital Work Plan was presented to the 124th Maine Legislature in April 2009: Cancelation of approximately 75% of initially proposed maintenance paving projects (Maintenance Surface Treatment or MST) in order to meet the funding levels set forth in the final state 2010-2011 Highway Fund Budget. Revisions associated with the amount and disposition of Maine s Highway Fund and General Fund General Obligation Bonds based on legislative changes from initial Work Plan publication to what is being sent to voters via referendum. The following projects located along the proposed Scenic Byway were listed in the updated Capital Work Plan. There is approximately 24 miles of work to be completed at an estimated cost of $1,865,800. One project is listed for the Northern Maine Regional Airport in Frenchville. Table 8 - Capital Work Plan / Roadway Improvements Town(s) PIN# Mileage Route Description Estimated Cost Allagash, St. John Plantation 017236.00 20.31 Route 161 Preliminary Engineering for Highway Improvements and Slope Stabilization/Protection: Located between Saint John Plantation and Allagash, along the Saint John River. Priority improvements will be identified along this corridor. $85,000 Fort Kent 011673.00 N/A Route 1 Highway Rehabilitation: Highway/Railway Crossing (#051157V), located 1.50 miles westerly of the Frenchville town line on the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway System. $181,000 Eligibility Application Page 35
Town(s) PIN# Mileage Route Description Estimated Cost Frenchville 017444.00 N/A N/A Surface Water Treatment System at the Northern Maine Regional Airport. $150,000 Grand Isle, Van Buren 017063.00 3.72 Route 1 Highway Resurfacing: Beginning 0.14 of a mile southerly of the Grand Isle town line and extending northerly 3.72 miles to the Cyr Road. St. Francis 017125.00 0.34 Route 161 Highway Reconstruction: Beginning 0.34 of a mile easterly of the Station Road and extending northwesterly 0.34 of a mile to the Station Road. Van Buren 017545.00 0.01 Route 1 Strut Replacement: Reset concrete pipe ends and install pipe ties on existing concrete pipe, located 0.38 of a mile northerly of the Castonguay Road. $1,038,300 $345,000 $66,500 Total 24.34 $1,865,800 2.8 Protection Techniques Five of the ten byway communities have some form of review criteria within subdivision and site design review ordinances that provide a level of protection for the corridor segments within their towns (refer to Table 1 Existing Land Use Matrix). They include Fort Kent, Frenchville, Madawaska, St. Agatha, and Van Buren. Of the 7 byway towns that have comprehensive plans, only Madawaska, St. Agatha and Van Buren identify specific resources that should be protected along the byway corridor, while Frenchville and Grand Isle have strategies to protect natural, cultural/historic, or scenic resources. The State of Maine regulates outdoor advertising through what is known as the billboard law, and the regulatory authority of MDEP under Title 38 484.3 in reviewing applications for development that fall under their jurisdiction. Also the MDOT Access Management Rules regulating driveways and entrances are in effect for the entire proposed corridor outside of the urban compact zones. Eligibility Application Page 36
2.9 Environmental Conditions The most visible natural elements of the proposed byway corridor are the St. John, St. Francis and Allagash Rivers; the vast timberlands, farmland and pastoral landscapes; wildlife habitat associated with the aforementioned; and natural areas such as the St. John Bog and public reserve land. Their relationship to the proposed corridor is primarily twofold, 1.) a working byway with farm equipment and log trucks using the road to access the fields and forests; 2.) a recreational byway displaying signs and services of interest to fisherman, hunters, ATV and snowmobile enthusiast, and other outdoor recreational activities. The social environment definitely has a blue collar focus as people busily commute to work, transport goods and services, and access the international border crossings. The corridor is used much less for leisurely drives and sightseeing, though that opportunity is certainly apparent. The neat and tidy appearance of the villages and private residences speaks to the pride and character of the people that live and work in the St. John Valley. The cultural environment is abundantly evident to anyone traveling the corridor. The bi-lingual signage, the many Acadian references, the number of museums and historical society facilities, the many distinctive churches and religious shrines, all combine to give the traveler a sense that there is something unique and internationally significant about this part of Maine. Cultural events that celebrate the heritage and spirit of the communities include the annual Ploye Festival, the Scarecrow Festival, Long Lake Summerfest, Wesget Sipu Riverside Park Pow Wow, the Acadian Festival, the International Snowmobiler s Festival, and Moosetowner Day. 2.10 Other Programs World Acadian Congress The organizing committee of the 2014 Congrès Mondial Acadien / World Acadian Congress was officially created Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Madawaska, Maine. The Congress is to be held in August 2014 and the organizing committee includes several individuals from the proposed byway communities. This presents perhaps the greatest opportunity to integrate byway goals and strategies with this important international event, and expose those attending the congress to the many treasures and resources of the byway and region. Eligibility Application Page 37
The Maine Acadian Heritage Council The Maine Acadian Heritage Council (MAHC) is an established, recognized, and successful organization designed to represent the St. John Valley as a whole. The MAHC's membership includes all the municipalities, historical societies, chambers of commerce, and cultural organizations within the St. John Valley, providing representation from both ends of the Valley and the proposed byway corridor. This organization has been instrumental in the successful bid to host the World Acadian Congress and has also sponsored cultural heritage preservation projects such as Voici the Valley Cultureway - an audio story and guide, and Traditions d icite: The traditions of Maine s St. John Valley (Jans, Sheila; Cyr, Don; Picard, Daniel; Cultureworth, 2007). The Fish River Scenic Byway Corridor Advocacy Group The Fish River Scenic Byway CAG has been established since 2006 and has developed a corridor management plan as well as gateway signage for this sister byway, which joins the proposed St. John Valley byway at the terminus point on Route 11 in Fort Kent. There should be a number of synergistic goals and strategies that the byway CAG s can work on together, leveraging resources and creativity to enhance the experience of byway traveler that visit this region. St. John-Aroostook Resource Conservation & Development Area (RC&D) The St. John Aroostook was a major partner in sponsoring The St. John - a River without Borders Conference, held in 2002 to continue on from an effort in 1993 that focused on the international dialogue about the river's resources. It was attended by United States and Canadian members of natural resources, business, cultural and eco-tourism, environmental protection and planning communities, as well as interested members of the general public. Goals of the conference included sharing current information pertaining to the river, needs and aspirations, and a forum on building a vital community for everyone within the St. John River Basin, regardless of political borders and affiliations. The RC&D was assisted Northern Maine Development Commission, Rural Development Solid Waste Management Grant Program, University of Maine at Fort Kent, and the St. John River Society, all of whom will also be instrumental in partnering with the CAG on future byway activities. Aroostook County Tourism (ACT) Aroostook County Tourism (ACT), a 20 to 24 member standing committee of the Northern Maine Development Commission, is dedicated to improving the economy of northern Maine through its tourism efforts. Working under the brand Aroostook the Crown of Maine, ACT promotes some of the regions greatest assets like its pristine beauty, diverse culture, storied history and wonderful people to potential visitors from around the world. Eligibility Application Page 38
3. INTRINSIC RESOURCE ASSESSMENT 3.1 Corridor Impressions Survey (CIS) The Corridor Impressions Survey was conducted in a slightly different manner due to rising automobile fuel prices, the length of the corridor, and other factors. Photographs were taken in the fall of 2009 by staff from NMDC to document existing conditions and significant features that a traveler might take note of for this eligibility assessment. These photos were then correlated as closely as possible to actual mileage measurements from a known starting point, and the corridor was divided into a number of segments. This information was incorporated into a Power Point presentation so that it could be shown to a variety of audiences both local and non-resident to gather impressions and quality assessments, as well as to help promote the project and to use in developing a future Corridor Management Plan. The CIS Presentation also includes random video clips of segments of the corridor as it was traveled so as to also meet the requirements of Section 3.4 Corridor Video/Graphic Depiction. Please insert the compact disc enclosed with the application and select the file titled SJVB CIS.pptx to view the presentation. (See Exhibit D) Eligibility Application Page 39
3.2 Field Inventory The following tables inventory Cultural, Historic and Archeological, Recreational, Natural, and Scenic resources found on or accessed from the proposed St. John Valley Cultural Byway. Under the column heading, Survey Codes, symbols are used to note if the resource is fully visible (X); partially visible ( ); or not visible from the roadway, but accessible ( ). RECREATIONAL INVENTORY MILE SURVEY CODE FEATURE /DESCRIPTION Rte 11 no. Old Fish River Bridge Fort Kent (terminus of Fish River Scenic Byway) 0.2 X Jalbert Park 0.6 X Heritage Trail Rte 161 west From Rte11/US 1 Intersection in Fort Kent 1.7 Heritage Trail 1.9 Violette Settlement X-Country Skiing 3.3 X Fort Kent Golf Club 5.6 X Valley Show Horses 7.5 X P. Jalbert Canoe Landing & Park 7.7 X Heritage Trail Crossing 10.3 American Dream Resort 10.8 X Northeast Adventures Guide Service 11.1 X Trail Crossing 11.6 X River Trail 12.3 X Trail Crossing 13.5 X G.C. Hartt Boat Landing & Rest Area 17.4 Pelletier Campground 17.4 X Bran Lake Guide Service 21.1 X Game Inspection Station 22.4 X Cross Rock Inn (St. Francis Checkpoint just ahead gateway to DeBoullie) 22.8 X Boat Launch 27.0 X Gardner Sporting Camps 27.3 X Allagash Guide Service 27.4 X Allagash Outfitters US 1 east From Rte 161/11 Intersection in Fort Kent 0.0 X Tour d Valle (beginning of 69 mile bicycle tour paved shoulders/good road) Rte 162 so. From US 1 Intersection - Frenchville 4.0 X Lakeview Restaurant/Campground and Trail Head 6.0 X Long Lake Boat Landing US 1A west From Hamlin Town Line 0.0 X Century Ride Bicycle Tour (Hamlin-Van Buren leg of 100-mile route) 1.1 X ATV Trail Crossing US 1 west From US 1/1A Intersection Van Buren 17.8 ATV Trail Access 22.6 X Trail Crossing (snowmobile & ATV) Eligibility Application Page 40
MILE Rte 11 no. SURVEY CODE NATURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY FEATURE /DESCRIPTION Old Fish River Bridge Fort Kent (terminus of Fish River Scenic Byway) 0.0 X Fish River Rte 161 west From Rte11/US 1 Intersection in Fort Kent 1.2 x St. John River (river access throughout this leg of the corridor) 4.3 St. John Bog 16.1 X Confluence of the St. John and St. Francis Rivers 24.1 Public Reserve Lands 28.2 Allagash Wilderness Waterway US 1 east From Rte 161/11 Intersection in Fort Kent 5.4 X St. John River (river access throughout this leg of the corridor) Rte 162 so. From US 1 Intersection - Frenchville 4.1 X Long Lake 4.2 X Common/Black Terns Colony and Northern Herron (bird-watching opportunity) US 1A west From Hamlin Town Line 0.0-7.3 X Farmlands/wildlife habitat mixed with forested areas US 1 west From US 1/1A Intersection Van Buren 10.8 30.1 X Farmland/forestland, wildlife habitat 12.0 34.0 X St. John River (river access throughout this leg of the corridor) MILE SURVEY CODE SCENIC RESOURCE INVENTORY FEATURE / DESCRIPTION Rte 11 no. Old Fish River Bridge Fort Kent (terminus of Fish River Scenic Byway) Rte 161 west From Rte11/US 1 Intersection in Fort Kent 1.2 35.0 X St. John River and views of Canada 11.7 X O Leary Memorial Park 13.6 X Scenic Turn Out (views of the river and Canada) 16.1 X St. Francis River Confluence 28.2 X Allagash Wilderness Waterway take out point (confluence w/ St. John River) Excellent views of fall foliage mid-september to early October throughout US 1 east From Rte 161/11 Intersection in Fort Kent 6.2 X Scenic Turn Out and Rest Area Rte 162 so. From US 1 Intersection - Frenchville 0.0-6.0 X Farm country 4.2 X Scenic views of Long Lake and surrounding hillsides US 1A west From Hamlin Town Line 0.0 10.0 X St. John River Views; farm and forest; wildlife habitat US 1 west From US 1/1A Intersection Van Buren 27.6 X Rest area 34.0-35.5 X Village; Canadian views; St. John River Eligibility Application Page 41
CULTURAL, HISTORIC & ARCHEOLOGICAL INVENTORY MILE SURVEY CODE FEATURE/DESCRIPTION Rte 11 no. Old Fish River Bridge Fort Kent (terminus of Fish River Scenic Byway) 0.8 University of Maine Fort Kent Campus (Acadian Archives) Rte 161 west From Rte11/US 1 Intersection in Fort Kent 1.2 X Post Office 1.5 International Bridge and Port of Entry 8.8 X St. John s Catholic Church National Historic Site 10.9 X Roosevelt School 11.3 X Cemetery 12.0 X O Leary Homestead 12.5 X Old Custom House 15.6 X St. Paul s United Church of Christ & cemetery (1886) 15.2 X St. Francis village 16.6 X St. Francis Historical Society and Museum 27.0 X Olde Gardner House 27.4 X Crawford House 35.0 X Allagash Historical Society and Museum US 1 east From Rte 161/11 Intersection in Fort Kent 0.1 X Blockhouse Bridge 0.2 X St. Louis s Catholic Church 0.9 X St. Louis s Cemetery 9.5 Voisine Cedar Mill 9.9 X St. Luce Catholic Church & cemetery 12.0 X Frenchville Historical Society (Caboose and water tower) 12.8 X Frenchville Starch Co. Rte 162 so. From US 1 Intersection - Frenchville 3.9 X Ste-Agathe Historical Society, Cultural Preservation Center, Pelletier/Marquis Home US 1A west From Hamlin Town Line 1.5 X St. Joseph s Church 7.2 X Roosevelt School US 1 west From US 1/1A Intersection Van Buren 10.7 X Veteran s Memorial 10.9 X Van Buren Public Library 11.0 X St. Bruno s Catholic Church / cemetery 14.0 X Acadian Village (National Register) 22.8 X The Musée culturel du Mont-Carmel & cemetery 24.8 X St. Gerard Cemetery 25.8 X Post Office 26.0 X St. Gerard s Catholic Church 27.8 X Mont-Carmel Cemetery 32.5 Acadian Cross (historic crossing site and memorial) 32.6 X Tante Blanche Museum 32.7 X St. David s Catholic Church (1871) & Cemetery 33.5 X St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery Eligibility Application Page 42
3.3 Refine Corridor Limits The St. John Valley Cultural Byway s proposed corridor limits are as follows (See Exhibit A): Little Black Bridge to International Bridge Ft. Kent = 30.2 miles International Bridge Ft. Kent to Route 1A intersection Van Buren = 45.3 miles Route 1A Van Buren to southern Hamlin town line = 10.3 miles From the Ste-Agathe Boat launch north on Route 162 to Route 1= 6 miles. The total length of the corridor is 91.8 miles. 3.4 Corridor Video and / or Graphic Depiction See the Corridor Impressions Power Point presentation referred to in Section 3.1. 4. CRITERIA ASSESSMENT 4.1 Universal Criteria (UC) UC #1 - Resources must be visible from the roadway. Most of the resources identified as significant are visible and accessible from the St. John Valley Cultural Byway roadway. These include the many historic resources listed on the National Register as well as the St. John, St. Francis and Allagash Rivers. (See section 3.2 Field Inventory) UC #2 - The roadway must be a state numbered route that safely accommodates 2-wheel drive automobiles. The byway corridor includes US Routes 1, 1A, State Routes 11, 161, and 162 and safely accommodates 2-wheel drive vehicles for the entire length of the corridor. UC #3 - The corridor must exhibit significant, exceptional and distinctive features of the region it traverses. The list of distinctive features exhibited along the St. John Valley Cultural Byway corridor include the Acadian Village in Van Buren, the Acadian Cross in Madawaska, the historical society facilities in St. Agatha, Frenchville, Fort Kent, Eligibility Application Page 43
St. John, St. Francis, and Allagash. These cultural assets preserve and exhibit the history of the region. Also exhibited are the development patterns and landscapes that evolved from the early European cultural influences such as the vast farmlands, the village centers located in close proximity to the rivers that provided sustenance and transportation networks to move people and goods, the rolling hills and forest lands that provided the wildlife habitat for Native Americans and eventually the Scotch-Irish settlers of the Allagash. There are many distinctive examples of French architecture exhibited in the many ornate churches, the late 19 th century commercial buildings preserved in the villages, and the quaint, well kept residential areas along the corridor. UC #4 - It is recommended that the roadway be at least one mile in length and if appropriate, provide access to the resources. The proposed byway is 91.8 miles in length and provides access to all of the corridor s intrinsic resources identified as significant in the previous sections of the eligibility application. UC #5 - A majority of the corridor must exhibit the qualifying resources. These resources should be as continuous as possible, for the present and future. See the attached Corridor Impressions Survey (Exhibit D) with resource photos and corresponding mileage locations. UC #6 A Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) must be organized to support the scenic byway designation. The Maine Acadian Heritage Council (MAHC) is an established, recognized, and successful organization designed to represent the St. John Valley as a whole. The MAHC's membership includes all the municipalities, historical societies, chambers of commerce, and cultural organizations within the St. John Valley, and representation from both ends of the Valley is the primary reason that MAHC agreed to become involved in the byway project. Through its membership, which is inclusive of all the byway communities and their citizens, the MAHC will help organize and facilitate the byway s corridor advocacy group (CAG). The CAG will act on its own authority and not that of the MAHC, but will provide CAG activity reports to the MAHC Executive Board as well as the full membership to increase public awareness of byway activities. Individuals that have volunteered or have been selected and appointed to serve as CAG members include: Eligibility Application Page 44
Table 9 - CAG Membership ST. JOHN VALLEY CULTURAL BYWAY Corridor Advocacy Group Member Name Representing Brenda Deveau Cyr Plantation Donat Cyr Winterville Terry Ouellette St. Agatha Darlene Coltart Madawaska Cleo Ouellette Frenchville Ann Roy Van Buren Rudy Parent Hamlin Marilyn McBrairety Allagash Gene Perreault St. Francis Joella Theriault St. John Plantation Don Cyr Grand Isle Lise Pelletier Fort Kent UC #7 A Community Participation Program must be developed and implemented. As stated in UC #6, the CAG will work with the established MAHC network to develop a Community Participation Program that will keep the St. John Valley byway communities abreast of all byway activities and provide a conduit for public input on project ideas, initiatives and strategies to support byway goals. UC #8 Strong local support must be demonstrated. The following communities have submitted letters of support for the byway initiative: (See Exhibit E). UC #9 A Corridor Management Plan must be developed with the endorsement of local governments. This criterion will be addressed during the Designation Phase. Eligibility Application Page 45
4.3 Initial Goals Protect, maintain, preserve and enhance the intrinsic resources that exist along the St. John Valley Cultural Byway Corridor to enhance the experience of the byway traveler. Preserve and improve the function of transportation infrastructure, access and safety for the traveling public on the St. John Valley Cultural Byway Corridor. Foster community support for, recognition of, and participation in Byway activities. Educate residents and visitors on the importance and significance of Byway resources. Foster sustainable economic and tourism development through Byway activities to create opportunities for an improved local and regional economy that benefits byway travelers, local residents and businesses in the Byway corridor and beyond. Eligibility Application Page 46
Bibliography (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2010, from WESGET SIPU~FISH RIVER TRIBE: http://www.wesgetsipu.com/ Dietz, L. (1968). The Allagash. NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Jans, Sheila; Cyr, Don; Picard, Daniel; Cultureworth. (2007). Voici the Valley Cultureway. Voici the Valley Audio Story and Guide. United States of America: Penmor Lithographers; Downeast Duplicating. Native Peoples in the Upper St.John River valley. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://upperstjohn.com/history/natives.htm Recreation. (2008, 4 25). Retrieved January 15, 2010, from Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce: http://www.fortkentchamber.com/page.php?4 Service, N. P. (1994). Acadian Culture in Maine. Copyright University of Maine at Fort Kent. The Frenchville Historical Society. (n.d.). Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.aroostook.me.us/frenchville/society.html Eligibility Application Page 47
Exhibits Exhibit A Proposed Byway Corridor Eligibility Application Page 48
Exhibit B Map of Deboullie Public Reserved Land Eligibility Application Page 49
Exhibit C Signage Examples from Section 2.3 Eligibility Application Page 50