Dubious railway plan

I concur with Gov. Baldacci’s general plans for future transportation in the state that were outlined in the Bangor Daily News on April 1. However, I wonder how many people are aware that the Department of Transportation is in the second year of a study to possibly develop rail service from Brewer to Ellsworth and to include continuing to Trenton?

Not only do the tracks run on the very edge of Phillips Lake, they are in poor repair. Are we ready to spend the millions this dubious plan calls for? Are we willing to upgrade all the crossings and build stations? When Congestion Mitigation-Air Quality funds run out in three years, are we willing to subsidize the enormous cost? Are we also going to take land by eminent domain to continue the tracks to Trenton?

A similar project was undertaken in Vermont. After three years it is now shut down. It was featured on Tom Brokaw’s “Fleecing of America.” Already this study in Maine is costing $500,000 in federal funds.

At the public meeting on March 24 in Bar Harbor, the consultants, after the first-year study was completed, narrowed the choices for the corridor. Their choices did not include the railroad. Then they were told that it must be considered anyway. In spite of the conclusions of this yearlong study, the railroad will be included. The next step will require the consultants to engage in engineering, environmental and cost studies on this option they have already eliminated.

Wouldn’t it be wise to learn what happened in Vermont before embarking on a similar project?

Sandra Lane Johnson

Orono