Turn Maine Blue - Recent Comments

In a letter turning down Allen's offer to join him

Gerald — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:18:40 GMT

in these public forums, Susan Collins lists the places she has been:

Since the beginning of 2008 alone, I have been to events in Fort Kent, Eagle Lake, Stockholm, Limestone, Van Buren, Caribou, Washburn, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Millinocket, Dennistown, Moose River, Jackman, Greenville, Lincoln, Howland, Dover-Foxcroft, Calais, Eastport, Old Town, Orono, Brewer, Carmel, Skowhegan, Fairfield, Waterville, Winslow, Frankfurt, Ellsworth, Belfast, Morrill, Lincolnville, Vassalboro, Manchester, Camden, Rockport, Union, St. George, Richmond, Wiscasset, Boothbay, East Boothbay, Oxford, Norway, North Bridgton, Lisbon, Brunswick, Bath, West Bath, Yarmouth, Windham, Falmouth, Gorham, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Westbrook, Biddeford, Kennebunkport, Sanford, Lebanon, North Berwick, Berwick, Wells, York, and Kittery. I have been to many events in Bangor, Augusta, Lewiston, Auburn, Portland, South Portland and other Maine communities this year as well.

Of course, she hasn't actually talked to the public at these events, but she was there.

She's been everywhere, man, cross the deserts bare, man, of travel she's had her share, man: She's been everywhere!

Kids' fares

marisol — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:30:35 GMT

Gerald, this may not be true during the summer high season, but childrens' fares are deeply discounted on Sunday, and there are often coupons & other offers. I know my neighbors took their 2 young kids down to Boston for the day on a Sunday, and they had all kinds of discounts going. The trip cost them about $70 total.

At the federal mileage rate of more than $.50/mile, the 200 mile roundtrip between Portland and Boston costs you over $100, not counting tolls or parking. I know the out-of-pocket gasoline cost is much less, but the wear and tear adds up.

The biggest hurdle for the Downeaster right now is the speedy bus service from Portland. It's much quicker, runs more often, and beats the same-day fare on Amtrak. It's less comfortable but the trip is fairly short, less than 2 hours. I've taken the bus to Logan a couple of times and downtown as well, and it's been an easy and enjoyable trip.

I love trains, but that bus is just too convenient. It would be more expensive for a family than the train, though, since they don't seem to have the bargain specials you can sometimes find on Amtrak.

BTW

jm — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:19:54 GMT

My favorite part is the "gotcha" smile right before he says "You don't know who funds the organization?"

unionfacts: pwned.

Well done, Sean. n/t

jm — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:18:19 GMT

If Chellie was good

Eddie in ME — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:03:11 GMT

this is amazing. This is the "You're full of shit" to Chellie's "I know what you're doing."

I don't think it necessarily means more trains -

Gerald — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:12:59 GMT

just the current ones would have their runs expanded.

Some feel a better plan is to NOT expand AMTRAK service but to start up a commuter rail service, like that that serves the outlying communities around Boston or NYC. The obvious routes from Portland would be up Rte. 22, up thru L/A, Hallowell and on to Augusta, and also to Rockland.

But yes - more people could ride, and it has to be sold properly to the public, comparing the costs associated with driving accurately to passenger rail (and freight) service. And if I could add: children's fares must be highly subsidized. Currently, it would cost our family of five over $130 to ride from Portland to Boston - driving is just so much less expensive.

Pondering this

Eddie in ME — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 17:45:46 GMT

Maybe my head isn't wrapped around this right... but expanding service to more towns would mean more trains running on the track at a time, which would mean more people could ride, right?

RIdership on the DownEaster was up for June, and

Gerald — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:43:03 GMT

revenues are up 33% for the year. The PPH has the take:

Rising gas prices played a role in a 28 percent gain in ridership for Amtrak's Downeaster in the latest fiscal year, and operators of the Portland-to-Boston service are looking at options to accommodate future growth, officials said Monday.
The ridership gain was the biggest for any Amtrak line in the period ending June 30. Revenue for the month of June set an all-time record of more than $590,000, said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

And there are plans to extend service to Brunswick; Rockland can't be far behind, no?

BBC: Building Better Health

Gerald — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:47:07 GMT

The BBC began a four part series last week entitled Building Better Health, and you can find the first episode here.

Good for you!

marisol — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:36:59 GMT

Wow, that's hard to believe. You've really never had an office before? That's got to be a good development for Allen's campaign, helping with his name recognition.

We just got our second office in Androscoggin County, over the river in Auburn. I don't remember the last time we had full offices in both cities.

The national $$ for field ops and staff is really exciting.