I would be doing a disservice to give a simple yes or no to that question. More than a decade ago, 22 organizations, including ours, banded together as the Mountain Division Alliance to persuade MaineDOT to purchase the line and develop a common vision for the corridor. Over time, a consensus emerged for a reactivated rail line enhanced with a recreational trail. This initial planning effort was fully funded by MaineDOT. Following that effort, trail sections continued to move forward on a town by town level through Transportation Enhancement funding from MaineDOT. The rail component of the vision, however, did not move forward. In 2004, we convened the towns, as regional planning commissions do, to respond to a request from our member community about how to promote economic development on a regional level. These towns, spanning the districts of three regional planning commissions, had never met before. Over time, reactivating the line emerged not only as a vital component of our economic development strategy, but as a strategy to meet other regional goals as well around recreation, business development, tourism, and the creative economy. The same can be said for the designation and development of Route 113 as the Pequawket Trail Scenic Byway, another one of our projects. There has been no road map to "move" things along. In the beginning, we saw other regions of the state bringing attention to big ideas, and we merely wanted to get on the radar screen of our elected officials. So we hosted a public forum in 2006 - 70 people from three states turned out for the event. Since then we have hosted other meetings and forums, and two years ago, a ceremony attended by 100 people to celebrate the purchase of the 5-mile section from Westbrook to Windham. Our five elected officials from the region, particularly Senator Diamond, have been instrumental in getting things done. MaineDOT staff have been solidly supportive. Nate Moulton is a local boy raised in Hiram. There are also a few folks in the private sector starting and expanding businesses who are spurring things along. And yes, when we start to feel left out of whatever is happening statewide, we do make some noise. The noise-making happens from folks and friends on the committee. If not for the vision and the hopes and dreams of the people in the region, we would not be out there doing this work. Where other committees in our service area have fizzled, this one continues, with minimal staff support. I would say that's because this is a project the local folks want to see happen as opposed to something that planners think is good for the region. If the Bond passes, MaineDOT has indicated they will lay down track from Westbrook to Windham. So our big challenge ahead is public outreach from Portland to Gorham. Yes, we asked ourselves many times, "If we build it, will they come?" As was mentioned a few pages back, any one element by itself won't make it work. But the whole corridor, together with the uses envisioned, holds tons of potential.
