Harbor panel weighs waterfront expansion

BANGOR – Improvements to the city’s waterfront have translated into increased development and pedestrian traffic in that area, city officials said, but securing funding for future projects isn’t guaranteed.

Members of the harbor committee met Wednesday night at the harbor master’s office on Front Street to discuss – among other things – waterfront improvements. Overall the city is pleased.

“We have been fortunate enough to secure federal funding [for current projects], but we’re talking about a total of $7 million invested down here,” City Engineer Jim Ring said. “The question now is, ‘what do we do next?’ and it’s difficult to come up with money out of the city’s budget.”

The biggest development has been the fenced-in walkway along the Penobscot River and, since the American Folk Festival left town, many have flocked to the waterfront.

“Almost every weekend now, there’s something down here,” Harbor Master Jerry Ledwith said. “The amount of people walking down on the waterfront has increased tenfold [since the festival].”

This weekend, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, which raises money for breast cancer awareness, research and treatment likely will bring hundreds to the harbor.

Ring said attention to the waterfront is good and future development is important, but that development will best be done in phases as funding comes in, rather than the city relying heavily on taxpayers dollars.

“There is real value in developing projects, even without the funding; it’s unlikely that you will get funding if you don’t at least have a design,” he said.

The committee also discussed emergency preparedness along the Penobscot, which Ring said is tied into the city’s comprehensive emergency response plan. Ledwith, however, said the harbor area is in good shape.

“I don’t know how much more we can do to improve emergency response,” he said.

Another topic was rising fuel costs for boaters that often patrol the waters along Bangor’s waterfront. Harbor committee Chairman Harrison Clark said the impact likely won’t be felt until next spring since the boating season is nearing over.