Bar Harbor’s Goal: Zero Traffic Deaths Here’s What’s in Bar Harbor’s New Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan.
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Bar Harbor’s Goal: Zero Traffic Deaths

Here’s What’s in Bar Harbor’s New Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan.

Carrie Jones

May 26, 2026

A police vehicle parked on the side of the road next to a damaged black car involved in an accident, with emergency response personnel on site and a tow truck in the background.
Recent accident at Old Norway Drive. File photo.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Thrive Juice Bar & Kitchen.

An assortment of colorful juice and smoothie cups featuring the Thrive logo, with a vibrant background and text highlighting their offerings including juices, smoothies, breakfast, lunch, and online ordering.

BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor has officially adopted a new goal: to stop traffic deaths and severe injuries on its streets.

Between 2019 and 2023 there were five fatal crashes and 17 injuries that were severe caused by crashes.

“Even one fatal or incapacitating injury crash is too many,” writes the town’s newly approved Bar Harbor Vision Zero Safety Action Plan.

Now, there’s a plan meant to help reduce those numbers.

On May 19, the Bar Harbor Town Council approved the safety plan and authorized Town Manager James Smith to explore ways to implement some of the strategies the plan identifies.

“It’s been a little over two years worth of work,” Staff Planner Hailey Bondy said, thanking all the people involved.

More than 500 people responded to the project’s safety survey in 2024. The survey was focused on finding out information on making Bar Harbor’s streets safe. An interactive GIS map on the town’s website has had over 700 pins and comments.

“We’ve identified 12 corridors that have the highest priority for the town to address. The bulk of the plan is addressing these corridors,” senior transportation engineer Paul Pottle, who is also a Bar Harbor resident, said while presenting with Bondy at an August 2025 town council meeting.

Most of the crashes that involved a pedestrian were in downtown Bar Harbor, often on Mount Desert Street. The cause is typically when a vehicle fails to yield to a pedestrian in a right-of-way.

Acknowledgment page for Bar Harbor's Vision Zero plan featuring a list of steering committee and advisory group members, as well as contributors from various organizations and departments.

A 2022 federal government grant—Safe Streets for All (SS4A)—funded $200,000 of planning to create the plan, which is “meant to provide Bar Harbor with a holistic, well-defined strategy to prevent roadway fatalities and serious injuries,” according to the town’s website.

The town then contracted with Stantec, a consulting firm, to create the plan. The final draft was presented this May. Town staff, a committee, and residents all participated in the 115-page plan.

There will be public communication and outreach to gather input. It’s not an engineering plan, it’s a planning level vision, Smith said.

Councilor Randell Sprague said he was grateful for the report and it was almost like a small comprehensive plan about the safety of the town’s streets.

THE PLAN

Infographic outlining recommendations for improving traffic safety in Bar Harbor, focusing on safer people, vehicles, roads, speeds, and post-crash care. Highlights key strategy areas including location-based designs, system-wide improvements, policies, partnerships, and education.

The plan creates a framework that looks to four key strategy areas: location-based designs; system-wide design and operations improvements; policies and partnerships; and education and public awareness.

The goal is to create safer roads and safer people and safer vehicles as well as post-crash care and safer speeds.

Some of the potential changes—such as reconfiguring state roads or changing the speed limits on those roads—can’t be done by the town, but require state or federal agreement.

According to the plan, “Achieving a truly safe transportation network with zero incidents of death or serious injury will require shifts in how government agencies and departments work together but also requires intentional safe behavior and awareness of Bar Harbor residents and visitors.”

KEY LOCATION-BASED IDEAS

Infographic outlining the impact of roadway safety on personal safety, the economy, and the environment, highlighting statistics on pedestrian fatalities at different vehicle speeds.

The plan looks to the following seven locations as higher location-based needs:

  • Main Street and Mount Desert Street Intersection Improvements
  • Hulls Cove Intersection Improvements
  • West Street and Eden Street Roundabout
  • Kebo Street, Eden Street, Mount Desert Street, and Eagle Lake Road Intersection Improvements
  • Multi-Use Path Connection to Hull’s Cove
  • Eagle Lake Road Improvements
  • Head of Island Roundabout

MAIN STREET AND MOUNT DESERT STREET

Infographic outlining improvements for the intersection of Main Street and Mount Desert Street, highlighting safety concerns for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Aerial view map detailing road layout at a junction between Main Street and Mount Desert Street, including estimated crash modifications, design elements, crash reduction factors, and anticipated reduction in crashes over five years.

HULLS COVE INTERSECTION

Infographic highlighting the Hulls Cove Intersection Improvements project, detailing overview, key steps for short and long-term solutions, and potential performance metrics for enhancing pedestrian safety.
Aerial view diagram of Bar Harbor Road showing proposed traffic modifications and estimated crash reduction factors for various safety design elements, including crosswalks and pedestrian beacons.

WEST STREET AND EDEN STREET ROUNDABOUT

Infographic detailing plans for the West Street and Eden Street roundabout in Bar Harbor, Maine, highlighting safety concerns for pedestrians and cyclists and proposed improvements.
Aerial view of a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Eden Street, West Street, and West Street Extension, featuring design elements for crash reduction estimates.

KEBO, EDEN, MOUNT DESERT STREETS AND EAGLE LAKE ROAD INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS

Overview of improvements planned for the intersection of Kebo Street, Eden Street, Mount Desert Street, and Eagle Lake Road, focusing on pedestrian safety and traffic flow.
Aerial view of a proposed roundabout design at the intersection of Kebo Street, Eagle Lake Road, and Eden Street, featuring a crash modification table with estimated factors for reducing accidents.

MULTI-USE PATH CONNECTION TO HULLS COVE

Information page about the Multi-Use Path Connection from Hulls Cove to Bar Harbor, including project overview, responsible parties, and cost details.
Aerial view of Route 3 with an emphasis on a proposed separated bicycle lane, detailing crash reduction factors, types of crashes from 2019 to 2023, and anticipated reductions in crashes over five years.

EAGLE LAKE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS

Infographic detailing Eagle Lake Road improvements in Acadia National Park, including safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists.
Aerial view of Eagle Lake Road with a proposed roadway design plan for a separated bicycle lane, featuring a table summarizing estimated crash modifications and safety improvements.

HEAD OF THE ISLAND ROUNDABOUT

Infographic discussing the proposed head of island roundabout in Bar Harbor, Maine, highlighting traffic safety concerns, potential solutions, and implementation steps.
Aerial map depicting Bar Harbor Road (Route 3) and Main Street (Route 198) with proposed modifications including a multi-lane roundabout. The image includes an estimated concept for crash modification with a table showing design elements, crash reduction factors, types of crashes, and anticipated reductions in crashes over five years.

SYSTEM-WIDE DESIGN CHANGES

Infographic outlining a plan to remove or relocate parking spaces obstructing intersections and crosswalks in Bar Harbor. Includes overview, cost, timeframe, responsible parties, and key steps to implement for improved roadway safety.
Click to enlarge

The report also has ten system-wide design changes meant to decrease accidents. They include:

  • Remove or Relocate Parking Spaces Obstructing Intersections and Crosswalks
  • Enhance the Design of Major Intersections
  • Implement Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements Around Schools and Community Facilities
  • Implement Pedestrian Safety Improvements Around Uncontrolled Crosswalks
  • Inventory Utility and Other Obstructions and Prioritize Improvements
  • Enhance the Design of Rural Intersections and Roadways
  • Audit and Reduce Posted Speed Limits Where Appropriate
  • Develop a Traffic Calming Toolkit for Neighborhood Streets
  • Improve Town-wide Wayfinding Program
  • Evaluate and Modernize Traffic Signals
Infographic discussing the inventory of utility and obstructions in Bar Harbor, Maine, with key steps for prioritizing roadway improvements for safety.

POLICIES + PARTNERSHIPS

Infographic outlining a Town-Wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan for Bar Harbor, including cost, timeframe, and key implementation steps.
Infographic outlining a mobility study proposal for downtown Bar Harbor, including cost, timeframe, responsible parties, and an overview of traffic patterns and pedestrian safety.

Another set of pages in the plan focuses on policies and partnerships needed to be adopted or created and/or strengthened to achieve the town’s safety goal. Those include:

  • Formally Become a Vision Zero Community by Adopting a Resolution
  • Partner with State and Regional Organizations for Demonstration Projects
  • Develop a Town-Wide Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan
  • Complete a Downtown Mobility Study
  • Develop a Comprehensive E-Mobility Policy
  • Work with Community Partners, Schools, and Major Employers to Establish Safe Commuter Routes
  • Adopt a Complete Streets Policy
  • Partner with Acadia National Park to Ensure Roadway Safety
  • Prioritize Regional Coordination for Safety Initiatives Through the League of Towns
  • Implement a Rapid Response Program

EDUCATION + PUBLIC AWARENESS

Infographic promoting an educational curriculum on pedestrian safety in Bar Harbor's public schools, outlining key steps for implementation, potential performance metrics, and collaboration with local organizations.
Graphic explaining budget allocation for street safety improvements in Bar Harbor, featuring the municipal building entrance and key steps to implement funding.

One of the plan’s final sections focuses on five ways to increase education and public awareness. Those pieces include:

  • Encourage an Educational Curriculum on Pedestrian Safety
  • Conduct Awareness Campaigns to Support Vision Zero
  • Monitor Progress and Update the Vision Zero Plan Every Five Years
  • Allocate Budgetary Funds to Street Safety Improvements
  • Keep Roadway Safety a Top Priority of the Bar Harbor Police Department

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

Council Agenda

Safe Streets For All Action Plan

Crashes Have Increased in Bar Harbor. A New Draft Plan Outlines How the Town Could Respond To Make Things Safer.

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