Whiting Selectmen

The Whiting Selectmen invited me to join them for the meeting last night (April 12). Mary Alice had seen the presentation on the byway proposal at the last WCCOG Executive Committee meeting and had some concerns about the proposed route, which bypasses the longest segment of Route 1 in Whiting (between East Machias and Whiting Corner).

The Selectmen have serious concerns about the condition of Route 1, particularly in the vicinity of Indian Lake. I explained that while byway designation is one criteria that DOT refers to in prioritizing highway construction projects, it is only one of many. Building Route 1 in Whiting will be a complex and expense project. In my opinion, that project will be scheduled by DOT based on its relative merits and available funding... and byway designation won't likely have a significant impact.

I also explained that while the folks I'd talked to in Lubec were supportive of the proposed byway Route, I hadn't yet been to Cutler. And it yet turn out that the Route 1 thought Whiting will become the preferred route.

We also talked about how there are not a lot of business along Route 1 in Whiting. And that even with byway designation, most tourists will likely still use Route 1 as the shortest Route from Machias to Lubec or Eastport. Overall the Board was supportive of the effort, as means of enhancing the economic impact of tourism in coastal Washington County. We talked some about making sure that byway promotion efforts highlight business near Whiting Corner (e.g. Puffin Pines) and the Indian Lake Boat Launch and new land trust boat launch on Lively Brook. We also talked some about the name: they seemed to like Bold Coast or Maine's Bold Coast best.