Maine

[74/171FAN]

New Saco Exit 35 Now Open (opened Monday)

[fwydriver405]

New Saco Exit 35 Now Open (opened Monday)

Got to take a look at it on the way to Portland yesterday:

Northbound:



Southbound (and taking the C/D ramp to 35):


The ME 112 SB to I-95 SB ramp has a(n) FYA for the right turn. Unfortunately, all the left turns at this interchange are still shared "yield on green" PPLT signals and not FYAs as required by 2025 MaineDOT policy* (PDF warning, 2022, 2025), though these signals are maintained by MTA, so they may have their own policy. The NB ME 112 LT to I-95 NB has yellow trap, because of the right turn overlap.



*Page 2 in 2022 policy, Page 7 in 2025 policy

[roadman65]

Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1? 


Is there an advantage to having that set up that is not visible or something?


Also how did Acadia National Park get to implement a $35 fee when an original agreement was made same as Great Smoky Mountain NP to never charge a entrance fee to users.  That was done in 1987 so you can't blame recent politics on that.


Plus to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain an extra fee is charged plus months in advanced reservation for a summit parking spot is required.  I also believe the Cadillac Summit charges by the occupants rather than vehicle.

In addition what's to stop you from paying the $35 Park fee to use the northern part of the park as the toll plaza is at Sand Beach near the south end?  Basically you can enter the park from ME Route 233 and visit Jordan Pond and not get charged by a park attendant.   Heck you can got to the Summit of Cadillac Mountain and only pay the Summit fees per person if you enter from ME Route 233.

[Rothman]

Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1? 


Is there an advantage to having that set up that is not visible or something?


Also how did Acadia National Park get to implement a $35 fee when an original agreement was made same as Great Smoky Mountain NP to never charge a entrance fee to users.  That was done in 1987 so you can't blame recent politics on that.


Plus to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain an extra fee is charged plus months in advanced reservation for a summit parking spot is required.  I also believe the Cadillac Summit charges by the occupants rather than vehicle.

In addition what's to stop you from paying the $35 Park fee to use the northern part of the park as the toll plaza is at Sand Beach near the south end?  Basically you can enter the park from ME Route 233 and visit Jordan Pond and not get charged by a park attendant.   Heck you can got to the Summit of Cadillac Mountain and only pay the Summit fees per person if you enter from ME Route 233.

You've done a very verbose job of stating what's the obvious: Only part of Acadia NP is indeed subject to the park fee, mostly the tour road on the eastern half of the island.  Jordan Pond's always been in a free area, quite by design, given where the fee collector gates are.  Having visited Acadia a few times, including when my parents volunteered there on Schoodic Peninsula, have to say keeping Jordan Pond free has been detrimental as it has been overwhelmed with crowds.  Keeping the well-known scenic areas along the tour route behind fee gates has helped more with crowd control in that regard.

That said, not sure how they got around the arrangement, but I'd bet keeping access to Jordan Pond free had a big part in it.

[Mapmikey]

Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1? 

An excuse to put these signs up?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VtrPGmCAz9xRxGjVA

I don't have a good reason.  They tore out the WB lanes as part of doing that.


They've changed the setup at Acadia NP in the last few years.  You used to only have to pay to use the one-way loop road between Sand Beach and where it turns back into 2-way traffic.  They've only (per GMSV) recently put up signs in other parts of the park saying you have to display a park pass of some kind.  I'm guessing this was done to cut down on traffic at the Cadillac Mtn road.

They have put a sign up where you used to be able to get to Jordan Pond House from the south outside the park, as well as from ME 233: https://maps.app.goo.gl/he28A8wpLMj49M2M8  and  https://maps.app.goo.gl/35eWpaaTjGVeK7hR9

[Rothman]

Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1? 

An excuse to put these signs up?
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VtrPGmCAz9xRxGjVA

I don't have a good reason.  They tore out the WB lanes as part of doing that.


They've changed the setup at Acadia NP in the last few years.  You used to only have to pay to use the one-way loop road between Sand Beach and where it turns back into 2-way traffic.  They've only (per GMSV) recently put up signs in other parts of the park saying you have to display a park pass of some kind.  I'm guessing this was done to cut down on traffic at the Cadillac Mtn road.

They have put a sign up where you used to be able to get to Jordan Pond House from the south outside the park, as well as from ME 233: https://maps.app.goo.gl/he28A8wpLMj49M2M8  and  https://maps.app.goo.gl/35eWpaaTjGVeK7hR9

Looks like they're pushing people to use the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle as well.  Doesn't look like you need to pay the $35 to ride it.

Glad they've done something about Jordan Pond.

[roadman65]

So in essence originally the northern part was free up until they started implementing a pass where you must display it on your dashboard.


Makes sense as a park ranger can pull you over if you fail to obtain one, but Rothman made an interesting comment about crowds.  That answers my question about the fee being extended all around and the fact he mentioned a free shuttle within the park is very plausible. I did research on why the Cadillac Mountain Summit requires reservations now and its to prevent overcrowded in the small lot on the top.


Didn't realize that Acadia is a big attraction and it attracts many to fill up its parking lots.

[Rothman]

So in essence originally the northern part was free up until they started implementing a pass where you must display it on your dashboard.


Makes sense as a park ranger can pull you over if you fail to obtain one, but Rothman made an interesting comment about crowds.  That answers my question about the fee being extended all around and the fact he mentioned a free shuttle within the park is very plausible. I did research on why the Cadillac Mountain Summit requires reservations now and its to prevent overcrowded in the small lot on the top.


Didn't realize that Acadia is a big attraction and it attracts many to fill up its parking lots.

With the exceptions of a couple newer "If you designate it, they will come" national parks (Congaree and Cuyahoga), national parks in the Lower 48 are major tourist attractions.

[pderocco]

Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1? 

Is there an advantage to having that set up that is not visible or something?

That's been like that for fifteen years at least. I think it's pretty obviously because most people heading southeast (logically north) on US-1 want to stay on US-1, so having to turn left across oncoming ME-3 traffic probably caused backups. Enlarging Myrick St and making the ME-3 traffic take that let US-1 through-traffic flow better.

[sturmde]

Landsakes, the misinformation is giving me a headache....

"Whats up with the City of Ellsworth making ME Route 3 a one way EB roadway east of US 1?"

It wasn't the City of Ellsworth, it was the Maine DOT solving a major problem.  Off-island traffic conflicted with traffic eastbound on US 1, and the traffic backed up east way beyond Marden's where Walmart used to be.  Some days it would back all the way up to ME 204.  And out of town on US 1, left turning traffic to stay on US 1 to Machias backed up a mile.  Lots of rear-end fender benders.  Not a good situation!  As someone mentioned, it was done over 15 years ago.  It essentially four-laned that segment of ME 3 by splitting it. EB traffic to MDI (Mount Desert Island) now has TWO lanes heading from US 1, and inbound/WB traffic has two lanes that split off and come to US 1 well east of the central interchange.  Think of it as a half-diamond end of that segment of ME 3.  It has worked wonders and traffic no longer backs up at the ME 3/US 1 split.

"I don't have a good reason.  They tore out the WB lanes as part of doing that."

Nope, no lanes were torn out.  It went from one lane eastbound, to two.

"Looks like they're pushing people to use the fare-free Island Explorer shuttle as well.  Doesn't look like you need to pay the $35 to ride it."

The new Trenton (before the bridge crosses to MDI) Welcome Center/Bus Station is highly recommended.  The Island Explorer propane and diesel buses go to Bar Harbor, Acadia NP, and many other places at no charge.  But, they don't "tour" you or get you up to Cadillac.  For that, take the bus to Bar Harbor, and buy a cheap ticket on Oli's Trolley, get a tour loop of the park first, then take the Island Explorer back in to stay as long as you want everywhere.

"Also how did Acadia National Park get to implement a $35 fee when an original agreement was made same as Great Smoky Mountain NP to never charge a entrance fee to users.  That was done in 1987 so you can't blame recent politics on that."

Yeah, well, in 2004, the first FLREA was passed... It's a straighforward cost recovery fee... it also contributes to the Island Explorer program.

***The Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act enables Acadia National Park to retain 80% of fees collected through the sales of passes and the collection of campground and entrance fees. These fees pay for needed repairs and projects to improve visitor services and facilities. The remaining 20% benefits all National Park Service sites.***

"Plus to go to the top of Cadillac Mountain an extra fee is charged plus months in advanced reservation for a summit parking spot is required.  I also believe the Cadillac Summit charges by the occupants rather than vehicle."

Only need a reservation during the heavy tourist season parts.  $6 is probably cheaper than any coffee at Starbucks. It's simple enough to do online: https://www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/vehicle_reservations.htm

Note the Island Explorer doesn't go up there.  Only the tour trolleys like Oli's Trolley from Bar Harbor do.