by joshg1
The study is an environmental assessment of the (a) route, and of the requirements of the physical plant exclusive of stations? Nothing about service/operations, costs thereof or ridership, which would require alternatives (bus, no build)? And it hasn't come up for a vote or veto yet?
Going back 2 months on this thread- any transportation plan in SW Maine is more about drawing people into Vacationland , than getting Mainers into civilization. Foamy advocates will go on about how great it would be to ride a train from here to there, but the money is interested in increasing the number of sucke- ah- tourists. Traffic congestion, commuters, population statistics all pale in comparison with Freeport and Brunswick's coastal, pretty, touristy. As opposed Lewiston- grim, horrible reputation.
I imagine this thinking is why Vermont has two Amtrak routes and central NH has none. NH is just as mad for shaking down tourists as Maine, but the chamber of commerce/economic development types know that Concord and Manchester are too miserable to be destinations.
Going back 2 months on this thread- any transportation plan in SW Maine is more about drawing people into Vacationland , than getting Mainers into civilization. Foamy advocates will go on about how great it would be to ride a train from here to there, but the money is interested in increasing the number of sucke- ah- tourists. Traffic congestion, commuters, population statistics all pale in comparison with Freeport and Brunswick's coastal, pretty, touristy. As opposed Lewiston- grim, horrible reputation.
I imagine this thinking is why Vermont has two Amtrak routes and central NH has none. NH is just as mad for shaking down tourists as Maine, but the chamber of commerce/economic development types know that Concord and Manchester are too miserable to be destinations.