Katharine Seelye writes on the clash between business interests and residents of rural Maine, where a proposed private toll road has revealed a difference in values.
Some people will say, "If it's not broken, don't fix it." Others believe that though something may not be broken, it could still use a tune-up. Peter Vigue, chairman and chief executive of Cianbro Corporation in Maine, falls into the latter category. He saw the lack of east-west roads in Maine as a major obstacle to growing the state's economy, and has proposed a 220 mile-long $2 billion private toll road that would take advantage of its deep water port to increase trade through the region.
While Vigue's main goal lies in building the state's economy, the residents of Maine claim that things are just fine as they are. "Maine is a rural state, and this is a businessman who is trying to make it the Northeast trade gateway," says Chris Buchanan, statewide coordinator for Stop the Corridor, a coalition opposing the highway. Many residents like Buchanan appreciate Maine for its peaceful, green pastures and charming character. The toll road, they believe, would bring unsightly infrastructure and environmental pollutants.
"Tony Brinkley, a professor who works on economic development projects for the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine, said many in the state were torn over the proposal...For everyone worried about wrecking Maine's way of life, he said, others fear that doing nothing would leave the economy stagnant."
While the project awaits a feasibility study, residents are left questioning the project's objectives. As one resident puts it, "This area has been left behind, and that's the way we like it."
FULL STORY: Plan to Speed Travel With Toll Road in Maine Hits a Nerve

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Albuquerque Route 66 Motels Become Affordable Housing
A $4 million city fund is incentivizing developers to breathe new life into derelict midcentury motels.

DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares
Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?
TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)