To the Editor:

I am writing to comment on the article by JT Leonard in yesterday’s paper (“Brunswick Explorer seeks cash, expansion,” Aug. 19, Page A1).

The article leaves the impression that federal funding for the Brunswick Explorer has been cut. Although it is true that the Explorer will receive less federal funding and need to raise more local funds next year, the reason is more complicated than a simple cut in funding.

The funding that was available for the start up of the Brunswick Explorer project was from a program called “Congestion Mitigation Air Quality” or CMAQ. This funding was available only for three years and covered 80 percent of the cost of running the Explorer. At the end of three years, projects like this are supported from another fund, called Section 5311, which is rural transportation funding. Under this program, federal funding continues to cover 80 percent of administrative costs but only 50 percent of on-the-ground operating costs.

This was an entirely expected change and we are grateful for the support that we continue to receive from organizations, businesses and individuals in the community.

We continue to make progress toward our goal for local matching funds and we are confident that we will meet the goal.

Lee Karker
Executive Director
Coastal Trans Inc.
Rockland