To the Editor:
An interesting chain of events has been occurring in Wiscasset.
On Feb. 3 the Wiscasset Waterfront Committee was presented with a Maine Department of Transportation Alternative Waterfront Concept group of drawings, apparently their first public appearance.
The ideas in picture form were nothing less than staggeringly awesome involving additional parking (desperately needed in the village), convenient public restrooms (yay); a finished waterfront accessible for all. Truly a gem of an idea, and because it would take into account restructuring traffic patterns, available for grant funding.
It could be a beautiful solution to our perplexing traffic problem, beautifying the downtown and creating a destination for guests whose dollars many of us count on. Wow.
Now, what has happened to the plan? I haven’t seen or heard anything more about it. Will it be presented formally to the public? If so, when? Will we have a chance to discuss it with the DOT and the selectmen?
We as a community have come a long way since the bypass. This plan represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (financed mostly with grant money) to reclaim our riverfront for our citizens and visitors to Wiscasset, as well as alleviate the traffic headache that affects our neighbors. We need to have an open and constructive discussion of what we want our town to be like and look like in the future.
If we are ever to rescue our beautiful village from the din of summertime congestion and make it a downtown where we can walk to stores and restaurants and get up close to and enjoy our river, now is our big chance.
I fully empathize how risky change can seem, so many unknowns… Well, what about possibilities? What if a Plan C comes out of the proposed workshop? What if we could move forward and remodel, in whatever fashion, the downtown for generations to come?
Here is our opportunity Wiscasset, to be part of the process while DOT is still listening. This potential project not only affects Wiscasset, but the Route 1 corridor communities as a whole.
I strongly implore you to keep a weather eye out for the future workshop which will be scheduled soon. Please, please, please attend, learn more, speak up.
Not moving forward publicly with this project looks like one small faction is deciding the future for the entire village and waterfront. Totally inaccurate I hope, and unacceptable.
