Find best use of Calais Branch sooner, not later

Ken Jackman of Damariscotta (BDN op-ed, May 1-2) expressed his fear that the Maine Department of Transportation was rushing into a decision to “rip up the rails” on the Calais Branch railroad between Brewer and Calais. He also expressed concern that the rail corridor and its economic value would be forever lost through this precipitous action.

The actual story is quite to the contrary and I would like to offer some history of the careful study that the DOT has carried out in the years since 1986 when the state acquired the line with the approval of the people of Maine and money from the General Fund.

In 1991 the DOT proposed that the rails be removed from the Calais Branch. This decision was based on the poor condition of the track and ties and the belief that the railroad would need to be rebuilt for modern, competitive freight or passenger use. There was also lack of any evidence for commercial use at that time. The salvage price of rail steel was high so the thought was to recoup some of the state’s capital investment through sale of the rails. Some private rail interests questioned the decision and the rail removal was postponed.

Since that time, the DOT and the Legislature have proceeded together to fund studies and pay for upkeep of the rail bed, removing beaver dams and spending $500,000 several years ago to kill and mow the trees and puckerbrush growing in the right of way.

The research into the possible uses of the rail bed have included years of public hearings throughout Washington and Hancock counties, legislative task force studies, professional surveys, and engineering feasibility studies costing millions of dollars. These have looked into the economic and engineering feasibility of reconstruction of the railroad to modern standards and also creating a rail with a trail. The economic value of bicycle tourism, the possible commercial uses of rail, and the cost of connecting the rail to the port in Eastport both from the Canadian side and the Bangor end have also been studied in detail. The discussion has included interdepartmental task forces including the Department of Conservation, Office of Economic and Community Development and the MDOT.

The possibility of providing passenger rail service or other mass transit from Bangor International Airport to Acadia National Park to relieve congestion and alleviate pollution in the Route 1A-Route 1 Corridor has been studied over the past three years. Certainly any decision about the future use based on these years of study cannot be called hurried.

Regarding any concern about possible irreversible loss of the right-of-way for rail use if the rails are removed, the legal department of the DOT and the national rail-banking precedent assure us all that the rail right of way can be maintained in the state’s possession even with the rails removed.

Furthermore, if a trail were to be constructed on the rail bed, agreements can be made to move the trail at any time that the railroad needs to be reconstructed. Thus the right of way could be used for economic benefit in the here and now while preserving it for any future rail use should appropriate industries express interest and the money become available for reconstruction.

During the intervening years shared-use trails have been developed in many parts of the state and neighboring New Brunswick and Quebec. Aroostook County has extensive trails used by snowmobiles, ATVs, bicyclists, horses and skiers. The town manager of Washburn has been quoted in recent BDN articles and letters that this trail system has sparked a turn-around in his town’s economic health. Last fall the state acquired the Dover Foxcroft-Newport rail bed to be used as a shared-use trail. State agencies and volunteers are working together to improve this facility, but even now in its unimproved state, entrepreneurs are already making money by providing services, food, and lodging to the snowmobilers, ATV riders, skiers and bicyclists that are attracted to the 30-mile trail. These trails, however wonderful as examples, do not help Washington and Hancock counties.

For 18 years the Department of Transportation and the legislature have been studying and discussing the best way to generate income for the people of Down East Maine through use of the state-owned Calais Branch. It has covered every economic possibility and the legal questions surrounding long and short-term use. The DOT has indeed “stopped, looked and listened.” Any decision for its used will be based on careful study and in no way will be “a quick action.”

A decision to do something constructive with the rail bed rather than letting it sit unused will be a boon to Down East. Let’s hope it comes soon.

Sally C. Jacobs, of Orono, is co-chair of the Sunrise Trail Coalition.