The Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) held its first of seven planned informational meetings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Route 1 bypass at the Boothbay Harbor Town Office on Thursday, November 15. As was expected, the meeting's debate was split between those whose homes are at risk to one of the build options and those who believe their livelihoods are at risk if the no-build option prevails.

Tom Woodin, Boothbay Harbor Town Manager and member of the Midcoast Bypass Task Force, explained that this informal, informational meeting was to discuss the legal requirements of the DEIS process, the alternate routes considered and their impacts, and facilitate public comment.

Carol Morris, a public relations facilitator for MDOT, explained the DEIS process and reviewed the project alternatives. Morris said that although there has been much discussion in the past about a Route 1 bypass, this time, because of the DEIS process a decision on the best solution to the problem will be made.

Each of the build alternatives shares a common beginning from just before Old Bath Road to just beyond the Gardiner Road. From there, five different alternative corridors to Route 1 in Edgecomb are considered. One of these alternatives would cross the Sheepscot River and end at Davis Island, the other river crossings end along the shoreline of Edgecomb north of Route 1.

Costs of the various alternatives in dollars vary from $1.1 million for no-build to $79.1 million for the most costly build alternative. From 25-33 homes and from 12-15 businesses would be displaced under the various construction options. Morris said that costs are likely to change as the project is better defined. According to the MDOT, the no-build alternative would not reduce traffic congestion and does not fulfill the project purpose.

Morris said that the public comment period for the DEIS extends until December 21. MDOT will be working with the Midcoast Task Force to interpret public comments. A Final EIS and record of decision could come as early as mid-2008. Morris noted that it could take as long as 10 years after the record of decision to obtain project funding.

Since there is no federal funding for this project at this time, a specific appropriation by a U.S. senator or congressman will probably be necessary. The more public support the more likely, and sooner, that funding will be obtained.

An individual who owns the Edgecomb Post Office building asked if an effort could be made to save the post office since, if lost, the federal government may not replace it.

Ed Hanscom, MDOT, said that the department never intended to take the post office building and although the land may be impacted, they would try to save the building itself.

Representative Bruce MacDonald said that there was overwhelming support for a bypass solution by the people he represents in District 61 for safety, economic development, and tourism. 'Businesses here are worried about the reputation that we are beginning to get as a bottleneck…the no-build option is just as tough on people as the build options . . . On balance, I believe it has to be done, there's a lot of support …We need this for a whole bunch of reasons,' said MacDonald.

David Dudley, Boothbay Information Center, expressed concern that the recent residential developments on Davis Island and the planned Point East village will exacerbate traffic problems on Rt. 1.

'We wonder how these could have been approved without a need to study the impacts of these developments,' asked Dudley in a prepared statement.

A woman from Edgecomb who did not wish to be identified responded, 'I'm impacted directly in my home, my property and my future . . . taking homes from people shouldn't be done lightly for the convenience of two months. We're not talking about a problem that last 12 months, we're talking about spending $70 million dollars for a problem that last two months.'

Bev Risell, Wiscasset, echoed the Edgecomb woman's comments and said that she is very concerned about how the bypass will affect her downtown Wiscasset business.

Norm Pierce, Boothbay Harbor, responded, 'A major portion of the businesses in this region, all the way to Rockland, have two months to make a living and that's where we're coming from. My customers are all going to Rockland…It's killing us, it really is killing us. It's not just here; it's everything east of Thomaston. The whole area is being stifled.'

Dudley added, 'I strongly disagree that it's a two month problem. It's a year round problem.'

Angelo DiGiulian, Boothbay Harbor, concurred that the problem was bigger than a two-month slowdown, 'Over this year, four restaurants closed and a number of retailers left because there are no more day trippers coming down here. They are bypassing Boothbay. AAA is telling people to stay away, you can't get to this town . . . We are on the verge of losing a way of life, if we don't get this fixed.'

DiGiulian said that he has to budget $50,000 a year to offset traffic-related problems for his guests. From polling guests, he said a consistent comment is that 't is too difficult to get down here.'

A resident of Engelbrekt Road in Edgecomb said that he agreed that there were significant financial and economic impacts, but stressed, "I ask that the folks who look at this consider the people who are impacted from a residential standpoint . . .There are some alternatives that would impact people the least."

Hanscom said that the process for compensating residents who would be displaced by a highway project involve appraising the property, negotiations between property owners and MDOT, and a formal appeal process. He said that right-of-way experts would be available at the next two meetings to help homeowners understand the process and their options.

One homeowner noted that with the current real estate market it would be essential that displaced residents obtain replacement value rather than fair market value for their homes.

Lindy Bragg, Boothbay, said, 'I'm sitting here, hearing these people in Edgecomb and it is going to totally affect their life. It sounds really awful for a business owner to say my business is more important than your home. But if my business doesn't make it here, I've got to leave, too . . . I have the utmost respect and sympathy for what's going on, but it's going to affect us in the same way.'

Pierce added, 'We don't care which route you take. That's up to the people who are going to be directly impacted . . . not too many years ago, we built the bypass around Damariscotta. Damariscotta has thrived. Wiscasset will do the same.'

Ida Deker, Edgecomb, said that land bought by her father, and where she, her mother, and six siblings make their homes would be affected by some of the build alternatives. MDOT needs to consider the effects of displacing this group of people who have lived together on this land their whole lives. 'All seven kids, all their families, and their long-time neighbors . . . its not just some isolated houses. There's a lot there, ' she said.

Dudley expressed frustration that the bypass wasn't addressed in 1984, when Wiscasset was given a choice to rebuild the Davey Bridge or build a bypass, and before more homes were built.

Jaimie Logan, Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said, 'We have been trying to diversify our economy . . . The congestion impacts our ability to attract new businesses because they have trouble attracting employees . . . They have difficulty with suppliers . . . It's not just a tourism problem, it's not just a seasonal problem.'

Ross Edwards, Boothbay selectman, added, 'Wiscasset is putting a stranglehold on the entire region…

Almost everything we get comes over that bridge . . . Imagine emergency services trying to get through that bridge on a summer day…There are a lot of things that affect everybody.'

Dudley remarked that every coastal town south of Camden is bypassed except for Wiscasset.

The woman from Edgecomb who did not wish to be identified noted that the study area was limited to Wiscasset and asked if there was any consideration to an east/west corridor to Route 95.

Morris said that an east-west road had not been evaluated but perhaps that could be considered in a future study. The same woman questioned whether a larger bypass is less likely to be used than a smaller one, citing the difference in size and use of Damariscotta and Topsham bypasses.

Hanscom said that the Topsham bypass is being used, despite the large size and traffic lights. Morris said that this bypass is intended to be a closed route so traffic lights would not be a deterrent to use.

The next informational meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wiscasset Senior Center dinner (reservations required: 882-8230.) There also will be a meeting on Thursday, November 29 at 6 p.m. at the Edgecomb Town Hall, at which a court stenographer for the official public record will record comments.

Other meetings with a court stenographer are scheduled for Edgecomb Town Hall on Saturday, December 1 at 10 a.m. and Wiscasset High School on Tuesday, December 4 at 7 p.m.

Informal informational meetings will also be held at the Alna Fire Station on Monday, December 3 at 6 p.m. and at Westport Island Town Hall on Thursday, December 6 at 6 p.m.

Copies of the DEIS are available at the town offices of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, Newcastle, Westport Island, Wiscasset, and Woolwich.