Eastern Trail
News

January 2005 EASTERN TRAIL NEWS

In this ETA news summary :
- 2005 Goal: The Trail Construction Bond
- RR Liability Insurance
- Scarborough Marsh is experiencing significant use - Another Scarborough Access Agreement 
- 2005 Outings 

2005 starts with a new goal: Trail Construction Bond 
This past fall trail groups across Maine realized we are all seeking the same federal and state funds. We considered competing for the same funds or working as a team to find additional funds. 

We learned that a partial list of Maine shared-use trails, like the Eastern Trail, that are already on the drawing board, approved, or partially complete will cost $58 million to complete. Annual statewide funding for shared-use trails is $1 million. When will these trails be complete? 60 years. 

The solution: A $10 million Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond. The project was born just a few weeks ago. The steering committee includes officers of trail organizations from York to Washington County and up to Aroostook County. 

The Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond is making great strides. We've had dozens of meeting with senior officials in several state agencies, and many organizations statewide. They include the health community, tourism industry, outdoor recreation organizations and state agencies. We thank Representative Sean Faircloth of Bangor who submitted legislation for a $10 million bond. It will to kick start trail construction across Maine. We are most grateful to Governor John Baldacci for fitting us into his busy schedule to discuss the bond. 

Legislators tell us we need to demonstrate overwhelming public support to put the bond on the ballot. We are seeking all the endorsements we can from businesses, municipalities, and community organizations. We need their support. We need yours to collect more endorsements. 

We already have some impressive endorsements. A sample includes: Portland Trails, Bicycle Coalition of Maine, City of Saco, Healthy Maine Walks, Brunswick Area Rotary, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, American Lung Association of Maine, and many more. See web site below for most complete
list. 

After 15 January, for more information, see www.TrailsforaHealthyMaine.Org
designed donated by Elizabeth Guffey of Daedalus Design Group. 

RR Liability Insurance 
Two short sections of the Eastern RR corridor still carry a few trains each year. Kennebec River Rail Trail and the Mountain Division Trail have rail-with-trail in their future. Insurance costs skyrocket when trails operate in rail corridors. To help us all, State Senator Barry Hobbins introduced legislation to clarify Maine landowner liability immunity law. Language is proposed to specifically include active rail corridors. Mac Sexton is looking for similar federal issues. 

Scarborough Marsh is experiencing significant use. We have received many messages from happy users. Bob Bowker reports that on short a Christmas Day ride out and back he counted some 25 visitors on his return 2.4-miles ride. But, not all is well. E-mail mentions dog owners who are not all cleaning up after their pets. Bollards have been damaged and removed. 

Another Scarborough Access Agreement 
Theresa Desfosses, a Scarborough developer and owner of ¼ miles of the Eastern
Railroad corridor, reached an agreement with the town. Under that agreement,
the town was given an easement along Scarborough Marsh and the Nonesuch River
for Eastern Trail construction. Ms. Desfosses will also donate funds to support
trail construction. 

This section when complete, will allow users to travel the historic corridor
from Pine Point Road to the Nonesuch River. Two additional easements are needed
to connect Scarborough Marsh with South Portland's Greenbelt at Wainwright
Farms. 

2005 Outings 
Ethan Davis is generating the 2005 season outings calendar. He can use your
support. Lead an outing of length, duration, location and date you wish. Once
you announce it, you will find it forces you to have fun. Work and a lawn can't
stop you. Plan on the annual Amtrak-ET loop ride on the first Sunday in April.
Contact Ethan Davis to lead your favorite ride. Ethan needs walk leaders for the marsh. 

2005 Eastern Trail-a-Thon 8-Lighthouse Ride. Saturday 17 September 
Bob Bowker is expanding this year's ride to include a family 12-mile ride, a Cape Elizabeth loop ride, and a 75-mile ride including the Cape ride and an adventure all the way to Biddeford Pool loop ride. Contact Bob if interested in helping.

Stay with it 
2005 celebrates the 100th anniversary of Einstein's three landmark theories:
atomic structure, quantum physics and special relativity. "It's not that I'm so
smart," Einstein once said, "It's just that I stay with the problem longer than
others." Stay with the ET. 

If you can dream it, you can do it. --Walt Disney 

The best way to predict the future is to create it. 

Never, never, never give up.
- Winston Churchill.

Never, never, never grow up.
- Dr. Seuss 

A highway takes your car to the country, a greenway your mind. 
- Charles Little

Call us (207.284.9260) or e-mail the ETA office