East West Highway Study Funding for Maine approved by Maine Senaate

[Guthook]

This is why I love the state of Vermont.

I agree with you on that count. Vermont definitely gets it right in how it treats natural beauty as a valuable commodity. I've always thought this is partly because it's much easier to get to VT than ME from the large population centers of the east coast, though, and the money from all those New Yorkers certainly helps Vermont's economy in a big way that Maine doesn't seem able to get quite as easily.

The other problem is that if you frame your argument as you did above (leave it alone and don't build highways), you're automatically branded a communist (er... socialist... whatever) and you hate America.

 

[Brambor]

The only problem with this is that the state of Vermont already has tons of highways intersecting the state in all possible directions. The North Woods with the logging roads are in a different league. Sigh - sad to see these projects...

I agree with you on that count. Vermont definitely gets it right in how it treats natural beauty as a valuable commodity. I've always thought this is partly because it's much easier to get to VT than ME from the large population centers of the east coast, though, and the money from all those New Yorkers certainly helps Vermont's economy in a big way that Maine doesn't seem able to get quite as easily.

The other problem is that if you frame your argument as you did above (leave it alone and don't build highways), you're automatically branded a communist (er... socialist... whatever) and you hate America.

 

[peakbagger]

Arguably 1-91 through Vermont was the equivalent of the proposed East West Highway. It is a major scar on the landscape that connected up multiple rural areas through to Canada and Mass. I expect Jay Peak wouldnt exist as it does today without the access afforded by I-91.

Of course buried in the dark past of the Interstate system was that many of the NE interstate highways were designed to disperse the population of east coast cities to the country in case of a nuclear exchange. By going limited access it wasnt that hard to turn all four lanes into northbound or reserve it for military use.

The current proposed east west highway alignment in Maine is really the path of least resistance. Getting it aligned with RT 2 would expose it to major political backlash and the need to deal with a lot of federal lands like the WMNF, the GMNF, Silvio Conte NRA and the Lake Umbagog NRA. By shifting it well north of RT 2, into undeveloped areas there are some conservation lands and easements to deal with but far less extensive than the RT 2 option. Canada is a lot more receptive to land takings in the public good to build the connector on their side of the border and already has allowed privately funded highways to be built.

It is interesting to note that the alignment also avoids the Maine Woods National Park Boundaries (the prior 3.3 million acre proposal, not the Quimby proposal).

 

[spencer]

How about we leave Maine COMPLETELY ALONE? The state is amazing just how it is. Many parts have an incredible Alaskan feel to them. Development begets more development, which begets more development.

I'd love to see the entire country stop building interstates. Interstates have no character or soul.

...says roadtripper from from Danvers

So, what would your book be about?

 

[roadtripper]

...says roadtripper from from Danvers

So if I move to Maine it's ok for me to disrespect the land?