Unity Raceway closes-"Recreation industry to end."

[asteroid2003QQ47]

Unity Raceway closes, owner cites economy, gas prices as reasons.
By Ron Hawkes
VillageSoup/Waldo County Citizen Sports Editor

UNITY (April 8): Gasoline, one of the driving forces behind the stock-car racing industry, may ultimately be the downfall of one of Maine's most popular summertime activities.
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"Unity is a unique little race track," said Nason. "It is exciting, it's good to watch from there is always excitement. But it's rural. If you live in Bangor it's 35 miles . If you live in Augusta it's 35 miles . If you live in Skowhegan it's 35 miles . If you live in Belfast it's 25 miles . So other than the real close people that live close by, it's going to be more and more difficult to get people to go there."

Nason said many in the recreation industry are having trouble staying in business. He said recreation items such as snowmobiles are so expensive now and the gas to run them is so expensive that people cannot afford that kind of activity.

He said running a race car also is expensive. Hauling a car to the track, buying gas to operate it, the parts, tires, and everything that goes into it is expensive. Taking that money to put into recreation is getting harder for people to do, he said.

"The recreation industry as we know it is going to end," said Nason.
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http://waldo.villagesoup.com/Sports/story.cfm?StoryID=113166

Why are existing railroad beds in Maine being converted to recreational vehicle trails, doesn't that define insanity?

[Shorebound]

1. Yup

"Why are existing railroad beds in Maine being converted to recreational vehicle trails, doesn't that define insanity?"

If they have to do it, it would make far more sense to leave the rails in place and just cover them with a layer of gravel. Glad to hear that the bill to establish an assured source of funding for passenger rail is doing well in the legislature. Anyone know if it has passed yet?

Certainly true that the recreational industry is going to change. Already this year the state Bureau of Parks is seeing unusually high numbers of campsite reservations, which to me indicates that people are trying to save vacation expenses by camping rather than staying at a motel or B&B. This is after years of declining park attendance, so it represents quite a reversal.

Be interesting to see if high gasoline prices this summer affect tourist numbers. Could keep some people away, but could also bring more people in who otherwise would have gone to Europe or out West.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

2. Yet even more insanity is...

East-west highway gets private helping hand
Cianbro's chairman is gathering allies who could make this long-overdue project happen.
April 13, 2008

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Acting as a facilitator for many groups, Vigue foresees a private, four-lane toll highway connecting Coburn Gore on the state's western boundary with Quebec through Bangor and extending to Calais on Maine's eastern border with New Brunswick.
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But interest in Canada is even stronger. Such a road would be a major shortcut for commercial traffic from that nation's Maritime Provinces to its central region. Right now, trucks from Nova Scotia must travel all the way north of Aroostook Country and south again to Montreal to connect with the Trans-Canada Highway.

In addition, Canada is building a major deepwater container port in Melrose, Nova Scotia, for ships carrying up to 15,000 cargo containers. Truckers offloading such vessels would appreciate a route that would save them hundreds of miles of travel.
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http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=181042&ac=PHedi

When the pulp mill in Bailyville stopped using the rail line that connected them and the city of Calais mentioned above, did they abandon all use of railway shipping and receiving? Not by a long shot. The mill was already tied into the Canadian railway system through an existing trestle over the St. Croix River!
There ALREADY exists a road from Calais to Bangor and beyond, Pete, it's called a RAILROAD!
Stop me if I'm wrong here but I think the train could even manage to haul those deepwater containers.
(Of course the plan is to tear the tracks up very soon and convert the bed to a much needed snowmobile and ATV trail. Don't you dare call THAT insanity!)

[luckyleftyme2]

3. we built the turnpike that way

for you young fellas thats how the turnpike got built. the east west highway has been kicked around for years. it would definitely improve the welfare of those who lived near it.
many cottage industries will spring up as well as improving freight lanes. the exact route
is in question. bickering over this has not always been beneficial for the project.
And this is not the first time private money has been suggested. I think even canada has offered to help with the financing. one thing is for sure the plan has been studied for years.
public works projects leave more money in the local area and help develop new small business opportunities. it doesn't happen over night,but use the hogan road if your from bangor area or the maine mall if your from the portland area. or RTE302 in north windham area.
I worked on them and they were wall to wall fields,trees and vacant land now they meet the needs of many.
Few know that without highway improvement you can't attract business. the shame is these few
seldom are heard. the media always seems to listen to the guy with the hidden agenda.
A perfect example is the new toll plaza for the turnpike. I believe no location has been agreed on yet. all though they have made studies. soon that area will be adding lanes as traffic is increasing every year.
In 1957 I drove to pease air force everyday from topsham and returned.at 6:ooam you saw a vehicle in either your direction or the other direction maybe every 3 minutes. speed limit was 70 mph my vehicle cruised at 80. today you would cut that time to 3 seconds or less.
lets hope the east west connector gets built soon. Maine needs to grow.!