Are we being misled … again?

To the editor:
    Lately, on the local news, the town Woodstock, N.B, Canada has been viewed as becoming a most progressive shopping and retail center. Is their good grace partially a blessing from our state of Maine highway decisions? It is necessary for our State Transportation Department and the town of Houlton to recognize by diverting a four-lane highway to Canada from Houlton, a terrific opportunity was opened to that community at the expense of Aroostook County north of Houlton. Why such an unfair agenda for Aroostook County?
    As we are all aware, our Transportation Department with the PAC Committee have established different corridors for studies on the termination of Highway North. I read the recent article titled, “Planning organization endorses Rt. 161 Corridor Committee”. It is important to clarify that Rt.161 is an east-west secondary road from Fort Fairfield to Allagash which apparently needs roadwork. When we refer to corridors we are not describing Maine road improvements. Indeed, there is a need for road improvements all across Maine. For example, U.S. Route 1 from Keegan to Grand Isle, and from Frenchville to Fort Kent, are also in dire need of improvement as are many other roads throughout the state.
    On the corridor issue, a formal State Public Hearing on Highway North was held in Frenchville in August 2006. At that hearing, all municipalities north of Caribou were represented and all municipalities accepted by “Standing Ovations” a unanimous plan consisting of building a two-lane highway for now from Caribou, passing east of Long Lake to the St. John Valley, with exits to New Sweden and Stockholm. Progressing north, the highway would include exits from the lake to Van Buren, an exit to St. Agathe, Frenchville and airport, an exit in Daigle to accommodate Fort Kent and its western townships. Finally, Highway North would reach the Madawaska region with a planned connection to the Trans-Canada Highway.
    This corridor route is what all municipalities agreed to and deemed fair to all. It is a corridor that the great majority of our people and Maine people want. What revenues and savings a highway can bring to a neglected region and subsequently to an entire state. Our federal delegation tell us that if our State Transportation would give us their “Political Will”, we would see to seek the necessary funds. We all know that our state does not have monies for such a project. Why in the world isn’t the state of Maine on aboard by now and where are our County politicians on this important issue for our future.
    I am concerned about self-centered attitudes from some Presque Isle and Caribou leaders who make policies and decisions affecting the St. John Valley. How can directing thoroughfare travelers and traffic through your Main Street bottlenecks serve safe and cost effective transport? In past decades, the Caribou and Presque Isle region was represented by good visionary leaders with good development records that collaborated with its neighbors to the north to build a stronger regional economy. Currently, the Maine Potato Industry is nearing extinction. The region was and is being influenced by industrial manipulators with inadequate financial research and due diligence. Why has Presque Isle and Caribou become areas of such stagnation? We ask you to follow modern times and get aboard on improvement goals that will benefit us all.
    Since 1910, railroad transportation of our goods brought great prosperity to our region. A hundred years later, as we approach year 2010 we must focus our sights on creating another economic turning point and new era of prosperity by building modern, safe highway transportation system in northern Maine. This is not in a luxury. It is a must for our development, for our growth and to compete effectively. This is what the rest of our country has, and this is what we fairly deserve.
    I close with further introspection on another lack of a very basic transportation option in the St. John Valley. Why, in this day and age of modern convenience and cost-conscious priorities, are we not provided of “public bus connection service with the rest of the state and country”? How can we help our elders, our unfortunates, our young college students and our good citizens on this? Again, this is another example of the gross disparities of services provided in the St. John Valley from the rest of our State. Why is it that our politicians do not help in leading this critical and crucial prerogative. I call this a real shame.
John F. Dionne, member
Grand Isle