FORT KENT, Maine – Fort Kent residents will have a chance to voice their concerns and hopes for downtown street improvements during a public hearing on Dec. 5. The work would be funded via MaineDOT’s Village Partnership program, through which Fort Kent would get roughly $10 million in grant funding for the projects.
The Village Partnership program focuses on revitalizing the downtown areas of communities by making them more walkable, bikeable, and business-friendly. Other Aroostook communities involved in the partnership include Madawaska, Van Buren, and Presque Isle.
Fort Kent Town Manager Suzie Paradis said that DOT representatives visited about a year ago and explained the program and the amount of funding that would be available. Paradis said the town quickly jumped on board and went out to bid for an architectural firm, landing on TYLin of Falmouth. This firm will host the hearing and gather public feedback.
“This is the first public hearing,” Paradis said. “It’s very preliminary. I believe sometime in January or February there will be another public hearing with more details about what kind of changes they will make.”
The work will focus on the area of Main Street between Village Road and Northern Maine Medical Center as well as The Mills, which is an area that includes Main Street, Pleasant Street and Market Street. Paradis said this circular area is called “The Mills,” because it was close to a mill. It includes three miles of sidewalk that will be revamped.
In addition to improving sidewalks, the work will also enhance safety downtown. Paradis said residents have raised concerns about accidents in two areas in particular: the Monument Square area and in the Hall Street area.
As part of the grant program, Paradis said the town and architectural firm would need to have completed designs by April of next year. Once the application is reviewed, the project can formally begin. Paradis said construction work would likely not begin until 2025.
The hearing is set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5 at the Knights of Columbus Hall on 372 Frenchville Road.
