What began with a conversation among concerned residents has now led to the start of Southport Island’s first road safety initiative. A banner flying above the road near the Southport Fire Station is the first step in the program envisioned by resident Nancy Prisk and under the supervision of the island’s board of selectmen.

Reminding drivers of: “Your chance to slow down; please drive with care,” the banner was put in place on Friday, Aug. 21, as a proactive step in responding to vehicle traffic and speed on Southport. 

Prisk, who is the Southport representative to the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, proposed the initiative to the selectmen as an all-inclusive program that will involve residents, visitors, drivers, bicyclists and walkers. It will remind everyone to be careful as they use the island’s roads. 

“This is an ‘all island’ effort, because it includes all vehicles, all walkers, all bicyclists, residents and visitors,” she said in a phone interview with the Boothbay Register.

Of particular concern is the area commonly known as the Village Center, which is the area around the Town Hall, General Store and the monument. The island has only 606 residents, according to a 2010 U.S. census, but the number of seasonal visitors brings an increase in motor vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

Prisk, who is also completing her master’s degree in land use in small coastal communities, explained that the hope is to create the sense of a “village region,” which is the most populated and has the highest pedestrian use on the island.

A previous area of concern was Pratts Island Road, which has since been enhanced with speed bumps to remind drivers to slow down.

“Unfortunately, Route 27 and Route 238 are state roads and we can’t put speed bumps on these,” Prisk said. “Speed limits on Southport vary from 25 mph to 35 mph to 45 mph and drivers need to be aware that island roads do not generally have a shoulder for pedestrian use.” 

The goal of the initiative is to remind those who use Southport’s roads that safety is an island-wide concern. Future programs planned under the initiative are a roll out of signs in problem areas that will serve as reminders to drivers. Locations for the signs will be based on input from island residents.

Those wishing to assist the initiative may contact Nancy Prisk at 207-633-7677.