Jeremy Cluchey’s recent Maine Voices submission, “Maine’s trails can heal our divisions” (April 16), makes a strong case for building more rail trails in Maine.

For too long, we’ve overlooked the untapped resources that are right in front of us – long-unused rail lines that crisscross our state. Maine is losing out on increased tourism dollars and healthier, connected communities that rail trails would bring.

Maine’s Climate Action Plan calls for using available infrastructure to reduce carbon emissions. Rail trails would do so in multiple ways, including eliminating car trips by creating carbon-free, low- to no-cost transportation alternatives like walking and biking. Moreover, rail trails protect these valuable public lands from development and preserve the ability to use them for trains once again in the future if needed.

The Maine Trails Coalition’s plan for rail trails in Maine makes a clear and compelling case for regional connectivity via four specific, publicly owned rail corridors. I’m especially excited about the Mountain Division Line, which runs from Portland to Fryeburg and already has two sections with paved, multi-use trails: one in Windham-Gorham and the other in Fryeburg. Data from the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy show that the positive impacts of connecting the nine communities by building a trail on the remaining miles of this corridor would be numerous.

The bottom line is that while passenger and freight rail may be appropriate for some currently unused corridors, most can and should be considered for rail trail

Paul Drinan
Westbrook