Three percent. That is how much of Smiling Hill Farm’s 500-acre property is needed to build the Gorham Connector. A 12-acre strip of land on the farm’s west boundary, more than a quarter of a mile from its buildings.

To have any impact on reducing traffic in the corridor, what would the infrastructure be to bus 250 daily commuters from west of Route 114 in Gorham to 200 locations in five towns, or even one town? How many buses, operating at what capacity? Where would people embark, from their home, parking lots? What happens when they disembark, more buses, taxis?

Same questions regarding the evening commute: How long would this commute take from door to door? What would be the route to build an overland commuter rail service from Portland to Gorham? Should the network of abandoned railroads in Cumberland County be redeveloped for the transport of people, food, fuel and supplies? How many streets would this rail cross, 30, 40? Like with buses, how would people get to work and home from the depots? Trains stop traffic. Route 114 intersects with the Payne Road, still miles from the Turnpike. What would be the cost to build on/off Turnpike ramps and to purchase the property needed to reconstruct 3.5 miles of routes 114 to 22 by O’Donal’s Nursery?

Does anyone really believe there will be fewer vehicles traveling to and from routes 95 and 295 to the region west of Gorham in the future? Connect the bypass.

Gary Dube
Gorham