FAQs

Long-distance trails like the Casco Bay Trail have many purposes. Simply put, they provide a safe, enjoyable way for people of every age and ability to commute, exercise, socialize, and enjoy the many benefits of being outside. They connect communities, boost public health, and encourage economic growth and sustainable transportation. 

• Transportation: The Casco Bay Trail would provide a critical resource for people who don’t or can’t drive – or simply want to drive less. It would connect to public transportation options like the Greater Portland Metro Bus. We envision an integrated transportation network in which long-distance trails and public transportation can seamlessly get people where they need to go in Maine. 

• Safety: The Casco Bay Trail would improve the safety of bikers and pedestrians by providing a trail that is separated from cars. With pedestrian deaths from car accidents on the rise, the trail would provide a safe, traffic-separated space to commute and enjoy the outdoors. 
• Environment: Long-distance trails help the environment by reducing car trips. Half of the car trips in America are within a 20-minute bike ride, and a quarter are within a 20-minute walk. The Casco Bay Trail would help make these biking and walking trips safer and more enjoyable – and encourage people to leave their cars behind.

Creating and building a long-distance public trail is a big endeavor that involves entire communities, multiple factions, and government entities. It helps to think of the process in terms of seven basic steps, outlined by our friends at The Eastern Trail:

1. Identify the route. 
2. Secure public access along the entire route. 
3. Secure permissions to use trail as such. 
4. Complete design and engineering work. 
5. Secure funds. 
6. Construct the trail. 
7. Cut the ribbon and welcome the public!  

Keep in mind that different portions of a trail can progress on different timelines. One section, for example, could be at stage 3, while another is at stage 1.

The State of Maine has created a process for studying potential non-rail uses of state-owned rail corridors. The first step is to establish a rail use advisory council, which reviews and makes recommendations about the benefits and costs of potential uses of the rail corridor. We completed this step for the Portland-to-Auburn section of the trail in January 2023, with 12 members voting for a trail use (either interim trail or rail with trail), and 7 voting for interim trail. The next step is for the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation to make a recommendation based on the advisory council’s report, and for the legislature to approve use of the corridor as a trail. 
There is also an ongoing advisory council process for the Lewiston Lower Road, another section of the Casco Bay Trail. 

In October 2019, Rails to Trails Conservancy published an expansive study of the many benefits of walking and biking trails like the Casco Bay Trail. Their deep dive into national data led to several significant findings. 

• Currently, walking/bike trails contribute $34+B to the national economy annually. As more trails are connected, return on investment could even exceed $138B per year.   
• Choosing walking or biking instead of driving currently saves more than $3B a year in fuel costs, with potential to climb to almost $22B per year. 
• Nationwide, economic spending impact from our 2,000+ rail trails is $10.6B, with potential to hit $21B per year. 
• Walking and biking trails save the country $20B  a year in health costs — with potential to hit $92B a year.

Freight service on the Berlin Subdivision from Portland to Auburn ended in 2015 when it was no longer economically viable. There has been no rail service on the corridor since. 

The Maine Department of Transportation has studied the feasibility of passenger rail on this corridor, including studies from 2018, 2019, and 2023. These studies show that passenger rail from Portland to Lewiston is not currently feasible or eligible for federal funds. With Maine’s low population density and the high cost of rail, state transportation officials concluded that public buses are a better option for this route. Passenger rail would cost $264 to $349M to construct and $15 to 20M each year to operate and maintain. Bus service, on the other hand, would incur capital costs of $1.6M and annual costs of $0.85 to $1.2M. If passenger rail becomes possible in the future, different corridors in this region make more sense for trains. The goal is to maintain tracks that are actively used by trains and connect to existing infrastructure and repurpose other unused corridors that have great potential for public commuting and recreation. Learn more and view map. 

Unfortunately, side-by-side rail and trail is prohibitively expensive. Because of the low population density in Maine, passenger rail service requires tremendous up-front investment and ongoing subsidies to operate – investments that are too expensive for the State and won’t be provided by the Federal government, because too few people would be served.

Consider the following cost assessments made by the Rail Use Advisory Council for the Casco Bay Trail:

* Tearing up rails and adding a paved multi-use trail: $55 million. 

* Establishing working passenger service: $274 million. 

* Establishing passenger service with an adjacent trail: $368.3 million.  

As you can see, even the possibility of passenger service boosts the cost of this trail by about $40 million. Note, too, that the State retains control of all rail corridors in perpetuity. So, if the funding landscape changes dramatically, the State can turn a trail back into a rail line. For this reason, we refer to this proposed plan as “trail until rail.” With passenger rail out of reach for the foreseeable future, we’re pushing for a trail that can be enjoyed in the present.

The Maine Department of Transportation has indicated willingness to pay for construction of comparable projects, possibly with help from federal grants. Once the trail is constructed, individual towns are generally responsible for maintenance such as snow plowing, mowing, and repainting crossings. Maintenance costs typically run $1,000 to $3,000 per mile, per year. We expect a new policy from the Maine DOT this spring, which should address the possibility of matching grants to help with these costs. (We’ll update this information as soon as details are available.) Private fundraising can also help with these costs.

This can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be. Because many communities don’t allow motorized vehicles on rail trails, e-bikes are sometimes banned. But many argue certain e-bikes – particularly the type that requires pedaling to engage the motor – are a great way to get people who wouldn’t or couldn’t otherwise bike to do so. A solution we like is to set a trail speed limit of 15 mph. This keeps trail users safe and expands access to more riders, without requiring potentially complicated and costly licensing.

One of the most important steps you can take is to call or send an email to your town/city council members and your town/city planner, stating your support for a resolution supporting the Casco Bay Trail. You can also make a donation to support the work we do to make the trail a reality.

The surface of the trail has not been determined. This will be decided by the Maine Department of Transportation, following feasibility, engineering studies, and discussion with local communities. It may make sense for some sections to be paved – particularly higher traffic areas closer to Portland and Auburn – with a gravel surface on lower-density areas. This is common on many rail trails, including the Eastern Trail.

Berlin Subdivision: The Portland to Auburn rail corridor that forms the backbone of the proposed Casco Bay Trail.

Interim trail. Train tracks have been removed and replaced with a paved or gravel path.

Rail banking. A practice of reserving a railway corridor for another use, with the understanding it could be converted back to rail if necessary at a later date.

Rail to trail. Train tracks have been removed and replaced with a paved or gravel path. 

Rail with trail. A trail built alongside train tracks; designed to coexist. RUAC. Rail Corridor Use Advisory Council, a body established by the Maine Department of Transportation to research and advise the DOT Commissioner on future uses of Maine rail corridors.