Dear Town Councilors,
 
Recently you heard a presentation and proposal to put in a bike and walking route on the St Lawrence and Atlantic Rail line from Portland's waterfront to the Lewiston/Auburn area following 295 and up through Yarmouth Junction.
 
I am writing you this important letter because of my background and knowledge in both cycling and transportation. In the cycling world, I was the president of the Portland Velo Club, (Maine's largest cycling club) for over a decade. I have raced bikes in over 2500 races over 40 years including 6 National and 2 World Championships. I continue to race in the masters class category all over New England. This includes road, mountain and cyclocross racing. I have also bike toured in dozens of countries all over the world over many years and have also commuted on bike to work, for decades. On most years, I ride more miles than I drive my electric solar powered car.
 
I was a founding member of the Maine Rail Transit Coalition and worked with Governor Baldacci on several state purchases and preservation of existing rail lines. This included my membership in the Maine state rail technical committee as a consultant and member. I have also worked for the Maine Sierra Club and the Maine Rail Group as Board member, working on green transportation and Energy. I have and continue to work on rail and transportation issues.
 
It is with this background that I urge you to NOT ADOPT the proposed resolution supporting the destruction of our rail lines.
 
We are in an era of severe climate change, and we have plans to reduce our carbon emissions dramatically over the next 15 years. Part of that plan specifically in Maine is to reduce our transportation emissions significantly. About (40-50%) of our emissions in Maine are from this sector. One of the most significant projects to do this, is the increased use of public transportation. Electrification of transportation is possible right now with the use of our existing railways to run smaller electric motorized units up and down the last railways in our state. The line from Portland to L/A is one of the most important in our state. I sat down with Governor Baldacci for hours to hash out the plan to purchase this railway for our future generations. He did not spend millions of taxpayer dollars to make a bike path for an elite few Mainers. He saw the future and how critical these last railways are. It would be almost impossible to get this route back from bikers in the future. To date only a few miles in the entire country have ever turned back to rail, once turned to trail. Despite the false claims of the “Rails to Trails” groups. 
 
These pathways are graded to handle huge volumes of freight with grades of less than 2% and an engineered base made to handle tens of thousands of pounds per square foot. These are some of the most highly engineered roadways and bridges in our entire state. Using them as a bike path is like “using a grand piano as a coffee table in your living room”. We the people of Maine, need green transportation and fast. We can do this. In 2-3 years we can convert this older line to electrified passenger rail that can be running 20 trips per day between Maine's 2 largest metro areas. Opening up job opportunities to all including all levels of income. Clean fast electrified rail could literally transform the region and take tens of thousands of cars off the roadways. This can be the start of further expansion up the state to Bangor. 
 
We actually had this over 100 years ago, electrified trollies ran on clean hydropower from the Presumpscot River, and made it between city centers in under 45 minutes (faster than today's turnpike). This, with a population that was less than today. Theodore Roosevelt actually was photographed on this interurban railway and it was quite famous. 
 
We can do this, but not if we squander our future with bike trails ripping up infrastructure. Look no further than the “DownEast Sunrise trail” in eastern Maine to see what happens to the economy when railways leave. Small recreation value and economies that are amongst the poorest in the state. Health conditions among the worst, real estate values among the worst, record drug and alcohol issues. All caused by economic blight from our railways turning into ATV trails. Probably one of Maine DOT's worst decisions in its history.
 
Please do not let this happen in Cumberland. I want a rail station where I can bike to, or drive my electric car to, and go into Portland or up to L/A for dinner or work. Please let this happen. I urge you to not adopt this resolution.
 
I am happy to make a counter presentation to the town of Cumberland on the plans we have for electrified rail on this line. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP.
  
Best Regards,
  
Paul Weiss
Cumberland ME 04021