Economic survey on proposed highway produces mixed results

CARIBOU – A preliminary economic analysis of a dozen possible routes for a new north-south highway in Aroostook County has found that few of the proposals would benefit a high percentage of the region’s businesses.

The study results, however, suggest that a combination of “linkages” among various communities or constructing segments of proposed corridors would best serve The County, according to an economist working on the project.

The study results were presented Tuesday by Gary Mongeon of RKG Associates Inc. of Durham, N.H., during a regular meeting of the public advisory committee for the Aroostook County Transportation Study.

The results were garnered through a survey of employers along the major transportation routes in The County. But several PAC members said more business people should have responded to the questionnaire distributed earlier this year.

One survey targeted the larger employers in the region, such as manufacturers and shippers. Out of almost 300 surveys sent, 64 or 21.7 percent were returned. A similar questionnaire was sent to 138 businesses along U.S. Route 1 between Houlton and Caribou, which depend on drive-by traffic for business. Of those, 39 were returned for a 28.26 percent response rate.

The results of the survey, conducted on behalf of the Maine Department of Transportation by RKG Associates, will be used in conjunction with other data, such as the environmental impact of a new roadway, to determine where it would most improve the highway system in Aroostook County.

Public hearings are scheduled later this year on a proposed route or a potential combination of routes.

Although Mongeon and other study officials appeared pleased Tuesday with the response rate, PAC members thought more would be better.

“I realize it’s good, but I want more,” PAC member Paul Bouchard of Fort Kent said.

Madawaska Town Manager Art Faucher said just two out of seven motels responded to the survey. “That was pathetic,” he said.

“Maybe they were too busy with the tourists,” said Linda Anne Cyr, a PAC member from Madawaska.

Faucher and Bouchard suggested contacting those on the list of survey recipients and asking them to return the survey. Study officials said the list would be provided so PAC members could make those contacts.

According to Mongeon and DOT officials, the study was conducted to verify what they already believed to be true regarding what route would serve The County best.

In the survey of the region’s larger employers, no single corridor got high marks from those responding, according to Mongeon. The most favorable corridor cited was the proposal that would parallel Route 1 in the southern section of The County, a result not surprising to study officials given that it would serve the region’s most populated areas.

There also was concern expressed by the larger employers about potential routes that could bypass business locations, which surprised researchers a bit since the respondents are not dependent upon customers coming to their door for business.

The survey also found that 40 percent of the responding businesses were concerned that at least one of the corridors could have a harmful effect on their business and sales could be lost. Mongeon said that in judging economic benefits, study officials also have to consider that some businesses could be hurt by a new roadway.

“These are the largest employers of The County,” Mongeon said.

When Mongeon was asked if he believed such negative effects were possible, the economist said, “It’s a perception that you have to deal with.”

In addition to the smaller, “mom-and-pop” type of businesses also surveyed, an additional 60 surveys were distributed along Route 1, south of Interstate 95, and in downtown Houlton to gather broader opinion on concerns about a new roadway bypassing businesses. The Houlton sample will be analyzed separately at a later time, but preliminary analysis showed most were opposed to any new construction.

Of those responding in the second survey, about 90 percent said they were dependent on pass-by traffic for business.

In addition, several said they were concerned that any new roadway, especially one constructed through the middle of The County, would divert business away from them.

Some businesses said they could be forced out of business, while others said they could suffer a loss of sales or have to downsize their business, the survey found.

At the same time, those responding said the corridor that would benefit their businesses also would improve the local economy.

Preliminary environmental impacts of the proposals are scheduled to be presented during the next advisory committee meeting in March.