Consider what makes Mount Desert Island enjoyable to you. Think about how you get to and from your daily events and activities. Is your work commute enjoyable? Do you shuttle your child to after-school activities? Do you take your parents to their doctor appointments? Ten years ago, the citizens of MDI started a community project to address concerns related to growth and development on the island. One of the many results of that project was the creation of the Island Explorer, a nationally recognized bus system. The bus system has helped reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality for the island; however, transportation issues still exist and community involvement is needed again to help envision a transportation network that maintains our quality of life.
One of the results of increased housing prices on the island is an increased distance from home to shops and employment. Owning multiple cars for work and family purposes has become a necessity, not a luxury, for many families. With limited transportation options available, the expense of owning additional vehicles has become a fact of life. Increased commute distances can elevate stress levels associated with traffic delays, which surely occurred at the Trenton Bridge last Spring. Additionally, more time spent driving means less time available for stress reducing activities such as biking and walking.
The non-motorized transportation infrastructure that currently exists on MDI raises serious safety concerns and does not meet our needs. Any cyclist who has used MDI roadways knows there are long stretches of roadway on the island that have broken down or non-existent shoulders to ride on. This essentially divides the island so that only experienced cyclists and motorized transportation can travel in certain areas. Creating bikeways would help create a more balanced transportation network for the island and would suit the varied needs of our community.
The same breaks in infrastructure are true for pedestrians. I’ve seen people walking on Route 3, a state highway, from the Hulls Cove General Store towards the Hulls Cove Visitor Center because there is no sidewalk available to them. This despite the fact that the visitor center is a prominent transportation hub for the Island Explorer buses. Additionally, the largest employer in Bar Harbor, The Jackson Laboratory, doesn’t have sidewalks leading to it. A lack of sidewalks is a real safety hazard that deters people from walking and encourages them to drive.
While facilities for cyclists and pedestrians would expand MDI’s transportation network, motorized transportation will undoubtedly remain the predominant means of travel. Intermodal hubs can serve as central locations to suit the varied needs of travelers with the idea that you could park your car or even walk or bike to a center in order to catch a bus to your final destination. The services that the Island Explorer provides in another ten years will depend to some degree on interest and support from towns and businesses. There are potential opportunities for expanding the bus season, running express routes and designing routes specifically for commuting.
Other transportation options for MDI exist as well. Vermont Transit has recently announced they’re going to extend their operating season on their Boston to Bar Harbor run through January 7th. Amtrak now runs train service from Boston to Portland. An intermodal transportation center/visitor center is being planned for Acadia National Park that will provide park and ride facilities as well as improved outreach to visitors. The Maine State Department of Transportation has put forward a state legislative bill that would allow towns to receive more funding for road improvements if they contribute a greater amount to public transportation options. We could build on these improvements. For instance, with changes in town land use codes, employers could get exemptions from parking space requirements by providing money for transportation alternatives such as increased bus service or installing bike racks and showers for employees who cycle.
Certainly it’s a relief when tourist season calms down and you find that parking spots are once again available at the grocery store but before the memories of August’s traffic congestion fade away, write down your concerns about transportation this past summer. Remember what it was like to do chores such as going to the bank, the post office and the grocery store. When you’re done, think about what challenges you’ll face once winter arrives. Would you prefer to step onto a warm bus in the winter rather than digging out your snow-bound car? Bring all these notes with you, or pass them along to a friend who can attend the MDI Tomorrow conference where these issues and others will be discussed on Saturday, November 16th at the Atlantic Oakes Inn from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Mollie Phemister, Hulls Cove resident and member of MDI Tomorrow Transportation working group