I am writing to support converting the Berlin Subdivision/St. Lawrence and Atlantic rail corridor to a multi-use trail linking Portland and Auburn.
The Maine Department of Transportation has recommended holding off on making a decision about how to proceed with this state-owned corridor.
Options include removing the rails and building a multipurpose trail for hikers, bikes, etc. or a building-rails-plus-trail option. The latter would be more costly, and there are no obvious commercial users in line to use this corridor.
Passenger rail to Auburn would not be an alternative, since this line does not connect to the Portland Transportation Center/Amtrak Downeaster and so would get little potential use.
People should contact their state representatives, since they will ultimately decide the fate of this corridor.
Information about the plans can be found at maine.gov/mdot/ofps.
Joe Pelliccia, Auburn
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