The Maine Trails Coalition (MTC) has just released a 10-year vision for expanding the network of rail-trails all across Maine. The plans call for an additional 250 miles of multi-use, interconnected, off-road trails. The full report can be seen at Maine Trails Coalition at https://mainetrailscoalition.org/railtrail.
According to the MTC website, they are working to create an active transportation network which will preserve an inter-urban train corridor while also connecting communities with a biking, walking, and running rail-trail system. In addition to the many recreational benefits of such a system, is the added opportunity for people to commute to work without the use of a car.
There are important ramifications for Gorham in this plan, as well for as the Greater Portland area. The plan promotes the expansion of the current five-mile-long paved segment of the Mountain Division trail, part of the Sebago to the Sea Trail, the most used trail west of Portland. The trail follows the Presumpscot River, heading west. The paved portion currently ends at Otter Ponds in Standish, with walking trails to Sebago Lake, but the rail actually continues all the way to Fryeburg. Traveling in the other direction, extending the trail five miles further to the east would create a 10 mile paved trail reaching downtown Westbrook. Presumpscot Regional Land Trust (PRLT) coordinates the 28-mile-long Sebago to the Sea Trail and is part of the group which originally created the vision for such recreational rail-trails.
The Portland West Rail Alliance is advocating for a rail-trail segment from Westbrook to Portland along the same Mountain Division rail line. PRLT supports rail-trail expansion as an amazing opportunity in Maine. As plans move forward, there will be many ways that people can become involved in making this vision a reality.