Phasing Plan

Introduction

Implementing a project the length of the Downeast Trail requires phasing for logistical and budgetary reasons. Rizzo Associates developed a draft Phasing Plan, which was presented to the Downeast Trail Advisory Committee and to the public at four meetings in March 2000. Some modifications to the Phasing Plan were made in response to public comments and further research. However, the Phasing Plan presented below is subject to further refinement and modification in the future.

Phase 1

Several trail segments have been identified for early implementation (phase 1). These projects have independent utility and are anticipated to attract a significant number of users in their own right, even before being connected to longer stretches of trail. In-town projects are included in Ellsworth and Machias, Calais would be connected to the headquarters of Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge, and a path would be built providing access to the public reserve lands near Tunk Lake.

Segment 3 - Rail with Trail, Ellsworth Falls to Ellsworth, 1.7 mi

Segment 6 - Rail with Trail, Eastbrook to Sullivan, 9 mi

Segment 13 - Rail with Trail, Whitneyville to Machias, 3.7 mi

Segment 19 - National Wildlife Refuge Dirt Roads, 4.9 mi

Segment 20 - Improved Snowmobile Trail, Calais, 2.6 mi

These rail with trail and improved snowmobile trail projects total 17 miles and are estimated to cost $5.6 million. It is anticipated that the 4.9 miles of dirt roads in the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge can be used without any significant improvement. With the inclusion of this segment, the off-road trail projects in Phase 1 total 22 miles.

Phase 2

During the next phase of the project, the trail would be extended from Ellsworth to Eastbrook and from Sullivan to Cherryfield, thus completing a 33-mile rail with trail linking the Union River with the Narraguagus River. The off-road segments included in phase 2 are:

Segment 4 - Rail with Trail, Ellsworth to Hancock, 2.4 mi

Segment 5 - Rail with Trail, Hancock to Eastbrook, 7.7 mi

Segment 7 - Rail with Trail, Sullivan to Cherryfield, 11 mi

These projects total 21 miles and are estimated to cost $9.6 million.

Phase 3

During this phase, a 20-mile trail would be constructed from Jacksonville to Dennysville. This trail section would connect to an on-road bicycle route on Smith Ridge Road to Route 214 and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. The construction of these trail improvements would complete the 42-mile-long Project B. The off-road segments included in phase 3 are:

Segment 16 - Rail with Trail, Jacksonville to Dennysville, 19.7 mi

Segment 18 - National Wildlife Refuge Dirt Roads, Route 214 to Charlotte Road, 9.0 miles (without improvements)

This project is estimated to cost $7.8 million.

Phase 4

During this phase, the trail from Ellsworth Falls to Cherryfield would be extended 17 miles eastward linking Cherryfield to Jonesboro Station and completing the 50-mile-long Project A.

Segment 9 - Rail with Trail, Cherryfield to Jonesboro Station, 17 mi

This project is estimated to cost $4.7 million.

Phase 5

During this phase the last off-road segment of the Downeast Trail would be constructed:

Segment 2 - Rail with Trail, North Ellsworth to Ellsworth Falls; 5.9 miles

This project is estimated to cost $2.9 million.

Roadway Improvements

As discussed previously, 50 roadway miles are included in the recommended 144-mile-long Downeast Trail. MDOT's Design Division has plans to improve Route 1A between Wilson's Corner and North Ellsworth to include 8-foot paved shoulders. Other roadway sections included in the Downeast Trail will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for potential improvements as part of the on-going transportation planning process in the region. The costs of any potential roadway improvements are not included in the cost estimate or phasing plan presented below:

Summary of Phasing of Off-road Trail Segments

Funding

The construction of 78 miles of rail with trail, improvements to existing snowmobile trails near Calais, and use of certain National Wildlife Refuge roads as part of the trail will create 95 miles of off-road trails, which is about two thirds of the total length of the Downeast Trail.

The cost of these improvements was estimated in part by using unit costs included in the construction bid documents for an MDOT trail project in Brunswick. It is hoped that the actual cost for constructing the off-road segments of the Downeast Trail could be lower for several reasons. First, it is anticipated that actual construction costs in Washington County and Hancock County will be lower than that observed in the Brunswick project because of the lower cost of living in the Downeast region. Second, construction cost could be reduced through the participation of groups like the National Guard, the Washington County Technical College, snowmobile clubs, ATV clubs, and other local groups. The State of Connecticut has been very successful in obtaining assistance from the National Guard in clearing and grading rail to trail projects. The heavy equipment class of Washington County Technical College has assisted in local projects in Calais.

The cost of easements has not been included in the Downeast Trail estimate because it is difficult to estimate at the feasibility study stage of a project. These costs and actual construction costs will become clearer as initial segments of the project are implemented.

Assuming a total cost of $31 million, it may take about 15 years to construct the Downeast Trail based on the following:

	Allocating $1 million per year for 15 years ($15 million) from the State of Maine's allocation of Transportation Enhancement funds (these funds will not be used for construction of the dirt trail segments along the railroad)
	Obtaining $10 million in federal discretionary funds from the Millenium Trails program or from a direct allocation in the next six-year federal surface transportation bill in 2003)
	Obtaining $6 million from other sources, including state bonding and recreational trails programs)

Participation of the ATV clubs and other private parties is considered essential in the implementation of the two dirt-trail segments along the railroad. The State's proposal to allow ATV use on these trail segments on an experimental basis is contingent on private sector participation in trail construction and maintenance. Private sector participation and in-kind support by public agencies like the National Guard would also be helpful to implement the high-end rail-with-trail segments.

Implementing a project of this magnitude will require creativity in design, construction, and financing. The potential breakdown of funds above is preliminary but demonstrates that the magnitude of the project exceeds traditional funding sources. Recently, MDOT has relied on the Transportation Enhancement Program to fund most of its off-road bicycle and pedestrian projects. To fund the Downeast Trail, it is likely that discretionary funding by the state and federal governments will be required.

The State of Maine will provide the required matching funds for rail-with-trail segments where federal grants are secured. A coalition of local people will need to be identified who will take responsibility for maintaining all off-road trail segments.

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