Public transportation should be extended up north
The article regarding the thriving public transportation services available to those of us in southern Maine comes as no surprise to me ("Bus, train riding high," May 14).
What does come as a surprise is why the naysayers continue to call the service a waste of money.
According to a report commissioned by the Maine Department of Transportation that was prepared by the Economic Development Research Group Inc. of Boston in February 2005:
 More than $15 million in new business sales in Maine and New Hampshire can be attributed to the Downeaster rail service, supporting over 200 jobs and nearly $5 million in wages.
The potential benefit may exceed $100 million per year by 2015.
Total private sector construction in the two states is expected to exceed $37 million by 2015.
Annual state and local tax revenues attributable to the Downeaster are estimated to be $380,000 in Maine, projected to grow to $4.6 million to $5 million by 2015.
Someone tell me why the Legislature and the governor seem to be ignoring their own data and are dragging their feet in support of the service.
More important, tell me why northern Maine legislators are reluctant to jump on the bandwagon to extend the service to northern Maine and bring some of that economic benefit to their constituents.
Randy Perry
Westbrook
Director, Trainriders Northeast
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