NEW NEWS NEWS …For release 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 2, 2004

Contact: Ken Olson, President, or Stephanie Clement, Conservation Director, Friends of Acadia (207-288-3340); Sheridan Steele, Superintendent (207-288-8700), or Len Bobinchock, Deputy Superintendent (207-288-8701), Acadia National Park; Ron Roy, Director, Office of Passenger Transportation (207-624-3250), or Dave Nelson, Office Engineer (207-624-3249), Maine DOT.

Friends of Acadia Buys Option to
Purchase Trenton Land
For Island Explorer Transit Hub

BAR HARBOR, Me. The nonprofit philanthropy Friends of Acadia has secured the legal right to purchase 369 acres in Trenton, Maine, as a possible site for a transit center for an expanded Island Explorer propane bus fleet, officials said today.

"If the land is judged suitable upon completion of studies now underway, an Acadia gateway complex could be built that includes a multi-modal transportation hub, bus maintenance facility, public parking areas, a park visitor center, and possibly retail operations and space for local and Downeast chambers of commerce if they are interested," said Ken Olson, president of Bar Harbor-based Friends of Acadia.

"We intend to ask the Town of Trenton whether portions of the property might also serve municipal needs, such as for a post office, a town park, and part of an interior road system for the community," he said. "With the proper mix of civic and appropriate commercial development, and with its key natural features protected in a park-like setting, the land could provide an economic boost and enhance the community character of Trenton, which has no village center."

The optioned 369 acres lie on the west side of Route 3, two miles north of the entrance to Bar Harbor-Hancock County Airport, and comprise forests and commercially zoned land including 1,400 feet of road frontage. Crippens Creek, a tributary of the Jordan River, crosses the parcel. The landowner is Nacoochee Corporation, of Atlanta, Georgia. Friends' exclusive purchase right ends on January 1, 2007.

"Friends of Acadia's objective in holding the option is to protect the land from development while the Bangor-to-Trenton Corridor Project investigates locations for a multi-modal transit hub to be constructed by the Maine Department of Transportation in conjunction with an Acadia National Park gateway center," Olson said.

"We have literally purchased the time for thorough evaluations of this large piece by all possible partners," said MDI resident Dianna Emory, chairman of Friends of Acadia. "To provide this public service, the Friends board of directors is willing to forfeit the option money if the Crippens Creek property is determined to be unsuitable for the Acadia gateway complex."

The three-year option was funded by charitable donations to Friends of Acadia's Project Tranquility. "Civic-minded people are concerned about seasonal traffic congestion in and near Acadia National Park," Emory said.

"Friends of Acadia's timely action gives the National Park Service the opportunity to evaluate the Crippens Creek site and to determine its suitability for new visitor center and transportation hub," said Sheridan Steele, superintendent of Acadia National Park. "Whatever property is ultimately selected, it will be important for the Park Service to consider ways to encourage day visitors and commuters to board the fare-free Island Explorer to access Mount Desert Island. These might include market-based incentives such as free gateway parking and tiered park entry fees or other creative approaches."

"The Bangor-to-Trenton Corridor Study, scheduled for completion this year, looks at a range of possible sites for the multi-modal center," said David Cole, MDOT Commissioner. "The department is part way through a review required by the National Environmental Policy Act. Crippens Creek is among five properties on the short list. That any high priority tract might be available from a willing seller is a positive factor in our review. We thank Friends of Acadia and its donors for securing the land so all proper assessments can be completed."

Since 1999, Island Explorer propane buses have carried 1,195,437 passengers, eliminated 424,000 vehicles from MDI and park roads, and prevented 25 tons of smog and thousands of tons of Earth-warming gases. Fall bus service was begun in 2003 thanks to a $1-million grant from L.L. Bean to Friends of Acadia. The current system is designed to serve overnight visitors, while the proposed transit hub would serve mostly day visitors and commuters. The bus funding partnership consists of Acadia National Park, MDOT, U.S.DOT, Friends of Acadia, L.L. Bean, Downeast Transportation, and local towns and businesses.