Aroostook County transportation meeting Oct. 2 in Caribou

To the editor:
    On June 27, 2007 the Aroostook County Transportation Study (ACTS) group met with federal and state agencies to review submittals for proposed Segment 4 (the Caribou Route 1-161 Connector) and Segment 7 (the Presque Isle Bypass). Among the attendees were representatives of the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. EPA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAEC), and consulting firm Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, (VHB) Inc. of Watertown, Mass.     According to the minutes (a public document), the meeting was intended to “advance toward consensus” on which Alignment Options would be included in Phase II (the Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit Application).
    Jay Clement, USACE, asked for clarification on the rationale for dismissing the Near West (Presque Isle) Bypass, “as it would seem to accommodate north-south traffic.” Ray Faucher, MDOT, explained the overall NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) purpose and the BPP (Best Planning Practices for Incorporating Environmental Issues in Systems Planning), and noted “the bypass location is important to serve the Easton Industrial Area east of Presque Isle. The Near West Bypass would not serve this area, and would not divert as much truck traffic from downtown.”
    For both the Caribou Connector and the Presque Isle By-Pass, the No-Action Alternative was “dismissed.” For the Caribou Connector, three alignments (4A, 4B, and 4C) are to advance to Phase II. In the case of the easterly Presque Isle Bypass, MDOT proposed that Alignment Options 2X, 4B, and 6 be advanced into Phase II. Alignment option 6 (which would swing closest to Easton) would have the least adverse impact on wetlands. The USACE agreed to the MDOT recommendations.
    On Tuesday, Oct. 2, the ACTS Public Advisory Committee (PAC) and VHB staff will meet from 3-5 p.m. at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center. The meeting will provide an update on the ACTS, focused on the alignment options currently being evaluated for the Route 1-161 Caribou Connector and the Presque Isle Bypass, and the regulatory agency review process. Anyone in Presque Isle or surrounding communities who may have an interest in attending is welcome.
Steve Sutter
Presque Isle