Ask and ye shall...
At the start of each year, this paper dreams up something we consider reasonable, practical, and desirable for Portland. Last year's dream, for a connection between the Old Port and Bayside, is in the process of coming true. Sort of. Former Portland Phoenix managing editor Sam Pfeifle explored the idea of connecting the two parts of the city with a two-mile trolley line running from Marginal Way to Monument Square, down to Exchange and Fore streets, and then out to Commercial Street, possibly linking with the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad (see "Get on the Train," January 7, 2005). At its core, the idea had the trolley stopping at several high-traffic locations along the way, such as the post office, city hall, and the Portland Public Market.
Last month, a city committee recommended the council designate a commuter-rail route from Tukey's Bridge along Marginal Way and I-295 toward Hadlock Field. The Narrow Gauge Railroad ends near Tukey's Bridge, so it could connect the Old Port and Bayside, admittedly taking a less-desirable route past the sewage-treatment plant, and not passing any of those nice stops Pfeifle imagined.
But it would potentially meet with one of Pfeifle's parts of the idea, bringing a connection between the Downeaster and the actual city of Portland.
_JI
