Sunrise Trail Gets the Go-Ahead
Motorized and nonmotorized users will share corridor

The vision of Maine's longest single trail-the Sunrise Trail in Hancock and Washington counties-is becoming a reality. The end and the beginning, in that order, were marked on July 15, 2005, in Machias when Governor Baldacci announced that a shared-use, four-season trail could be built on the Calais Branch Railroad bed from Ellsworth to Ayers Junction in Pembroke. Ending was 14 years of advocating by the Sunrise Trail Coalition for the conversion of the Calais Branch Corridor from an unused state-owned asset to a valuable shared-use trail that can be used for promoting healthful recreation and economic development. Beginning was the Governor's support for a Maine Department of Transportation-led cooperative effort among the towns, counties, trail advocates, economic development councils, Chambers of Commerce, and the Maine Department of Conservation, to find a way to make the trail a reality in the foreseeable future.

At the press conference on Friday, July 15, Governor Baldacci, MaineDOT Commissioner David Cole, and Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator John Balicki described the trail as one part of the Calais Branch Corridor Preservation Strategy. Maine Department of Conservation Commissioner Patrick McGowan, and Washington county legislators Senator Kevin Raye, Representative Ian Emery, and Representative Howard McFadden expressed their enthusiastic support to the crowd of over 100 people assembled in a large white tent provided by David Whitney, a Machias businessman and trail advocate. The view from the tent on that beautiful day included the Machias River at full tide and the Calais Branch Corridor meandering along its shore.

The MaineDOT Calais Branch Corridor Preservation Strategy recognizes that rail-use may someday return to the area and the corridor must be preserved. For the moment this will be done by dividing the route into three parts with 28 miles of rails remaining in place from Brewer to Ellsworth and 12 miles remaining between Ayers Junction and Calais (for possible connection to Eastport), leaving 87 miles open for trail construction through the town centers of Ellsworth, Franklin, Cherryfield, Whitneyville, Machias, East Machias, and Dennysville. Alternative routes will be used to connect into Calais, the Northern Gateway of the East Coast Greenway.

This strategy will allow use of the rail bed for recreation, healthy exercise, and economic development. If it becomes economically viable to bring rail service back to this corridor, the trail could be reconstructed alongside the rail line.

The trail is envisioned as being shared by motorized and non-motorized users. It is recognized that this will require careful design and management to ensure the safety and pleasure of all users. Until now, Federal Transportation Enhancement Funds have not allowed motorized users on funded trails. A special exception has been allowed for snowmobiles. Because these funds are traditionally the largest source of trail construction money, this ruling has presented a huge problem for funding trails where ATV trail connections are essential. Therefore the group was delighted to learn that word has been received from Jonathan McDay of the Federal Highway Commission that a special exemption has been granted to allow motorized users on a portion of the Sunrise Trail even though federal funds will be used. This ruling is a result of the extensive work by a MaineDOT "ATV Exception Committee," which included bicyclist, equestrian, and pedestrian representation to ensure that safety issues and concerns are addressed. The proposed trail rules and regulations will allow a mix of motorized and non-motorized trail-users to share the corridor safely. At first this funding will be applicable only to an experimental "pilot project" segment.

The trail most likely will be built in segments. No rails or ties can be removed until a management plan and funding are in place and have been reviewed by the Legislative Transportation Committee. The choice of where to begin will be based on these criteria. The MaineDOT has formed a Corridor Trail Management Committee to develop a management plan, find funding sources, and present the plan to the Transportation Committee. The committee will be meeting twice a month from now through November so the plan can be completed and presented to the Transportation Committee early in 2006. With a favorable review, the construction of some portion of the trail could begin in 2006.

The Sunrise Trail Coalition Co-Chairs, Sally Jacobs and Bill Ceckler, along with David Whitney, a Washington County Coalition member, all hailed the plan as a way of "finally putting the Sunrise Route of the Calais Branch Corridor back into business for Washington and Hancock counties." Three areas of benefit were recognized: improving health through use of the trail for exercise, providing a resource for recreation and social interchange, while returning an unused asset to its place as a tool for economic development.

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