The Casco Bay Path is a proposed off-road, multi-use path operating in a 72-mile loop between Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Brunswick. It’s a key a part of a statewide plan to attach over two-thirds of Maine’s inhabitants to energetic transportation networks.
The tracks of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad close to a path crossing within the Riverfront Woods Protect in Yarmouth may develop into a a key a part of a statewide plan to attach over two-thirds of Maine’s inhabitants to energetic transportation networks. Gregory Rec/Workers Photographer
The Casco Bay Path is dealing with an vital take a look at, with a Division of Transportation advisory council contemplating the perfect use of the 26-mile disused St. Lawrence and Atlantic Rail hall between Portland and Auburn. The perfect use – and, at present, solely sensible use – for this state-owned land is a multi-use path, opening it up for each commuting and recreation. This would cut back site visitors into Portland, notably in the course of the tourist-heavy spring, summer season and fall. Moreover, this proposed path would develop alternatives for individuals to securely benefit from the outside with household and pals, with all of the ensuing advantages for bodily and psychological well being.
Utilizing the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Rail hall as a path is totally in keeping with a imaginative and prescient for passenger rail between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. Certainly, the parallel and energetic CSX rail hall connects Portland and Lewiston, and is already utilized by Amtrak for service to Brunswick. This CSX line may accommodate expanded service to Lewiston-Auburn, Waterville, Bangor and – utilizing one other energetic line – Montreal.
But, one rail advocacy group, the Maine Rail Transit Coalition, has as a substitute argued for utilizing the disused St. Lawrence and Atlantic Rail line for a passenger rail route that will move by means of the Japanese Promenade and terminate in a brand new “Ocean Gateway” station in downtown Portland. This proposal doesn’t survive fundamental scrutiny, not least due to its proposed incursion into the treasured Japanese Promenade park. Specialists evaluating the coalition’s proposed Ocean Gateway route have soundly rejected it on account of value, logistics and feasibility.
A 2019 feasibility research by rail specialists reviewed all potential passenger rail routes from Portland to Lewiston and really useful eliminating “choices that require the Ocean Gateway station.” Amongst different issues, riders arriving at Ocean Gateway would nonetheless have to journey throughout Portland to the present prepare station to complete a journey to Boston. Plus, including a brand new Ocean Gateway station and rebuilding a train-bearing bridge over Again Bay would add tens of millions to an already-expensive mission. Though the coalition now proposes a purportedly cheaper gentle rail possibility, the 2019 research discovered that “gentle rail shouldn’t be thought of an applicable know-how for the corridors being thought of.”
Most just lately, in 2021, the Legislature accepted one other feasibility research of Portland-to-Lewiston routes, however once more eradicated additional research of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Rail path to Ocean Gateway.
That leaves the route obtainable for a path.
The imaginative and prescient is vibrant for a future with a regional off-road path. The challenges of the final a number of years have solely strengthened individuals’s love for the outside. Rail path initiatives are the right method to get individuals outdoors – no matter their background, age or potential – and supply vital infrastructure for environmental stability, public well being and financial vibrancy.
On the subject of the setting, most journeys are taken by automotive though greater than half of journeys are inside a 20-minute bike journey. A scarcity of protected and accessible house for strolling and biking is commonly in charge. Protected energetic transportation networks, together with rail trails, would create alternatives to decide on strolling and biking over driving.
Then there are the financial upsides to regional off-road trails – each individually and for the group as a complete. It goes with out saying that strolling and biking saves cash on gasoline and automotive upkeep. Plus, rail trails just like the Japanese Path present dramatic financial advantages for the communities through which they’re positioned.
The Casco Bay Path would go an extended method to reaching the targets of the statewide energetic transportation imaginative and prescient – enabling emission-free transportation, outside recreation and improved public well being. It could join individuals to current public house, similar to Again Cove, the proposed Roux Campus and the Japanese Promenade. And it might deliver collectively communities throughout the area to make us stronger, more healthy and happier.
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