March 28, 2024
Letter

Down East rail trail

This is a response to Ken Jackman’s column, “Don’t rip up Calais Branch” (BDN, May 1-2). The last time a train ran on the Calais Branch line was almost 20 years ago. Rail service ended because private industry found it was not economically profitable. After two decades of neglect, the cost to restore the branch line is estimated to be many millions of dollars.

Is this something the state is prepared to do? With pressing demands for limited tax dollars, it seems unlikely that a $100 million bond issue for a marginal rail line will receive public approval any time soon.

Instead of the “save the rail line for the future” approach that has plagued Down East, now is the time to act to hook on to the real engine driving economic growth in Maine – tourism. In June 2003, I wrote a letter to the editor on environmental tourism and the Calais Branch line. That letter quoted state statistics that tourism is the fastest-growing sector of Maine’s economy and now is the time for Washington County to gain a share of this industry.

A 120-mile multi-use trail will serve the lucrative snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle sectors of the tourist trade. Additionally, a multi-use rail trail will open the scenic beauty of Washington and Hancock counties to mountain bikers, cross-country skiers and hikers.

However, the rail-trail supporters are not closed-minded. This group advocates for continued state ownership of the railroad right of way. If there is a future need for rail service Down East, the multi-use trail will be returned to rail use. In the meantime there is a great potential for economic benefit from a rail trail.

Jackman stated that he is one of a very small group of people who now enjoy the abandoned rail line with track cars. This group will lose its private playground when the rails are removed. Are the members of this group really asking for rail preservation for economic growth or for their own personal interest?

Wayne A. Peters

Roque Bluffs


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