AUGUSTA — In a concerted effort to bolster the snowmobile industry in northern Maine, Rep. Robert Saucier has introduced legislation to amend Maine law so snowmobilers can use trails near controlled access highways.
The bill, LD 1567, would amend Maine law so that the commissioner of transportation would be able to permit the construction of all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile trails within the right-of-way limits of controlled access highways in areas of new construction. His bill would also permit the operations of all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles on those trail segments.
“Aroostook County relies on the economic benefits that the snowmobile industry brings to our area,” said Saucier, D-Presque Isle. “Amending this law will ensure that snowmobiling can continue and that all our trails will remain connected and properly functioning.”
Last winter, Saucier learned that construction of a new bypass in Presque Isle was to take place and that the snowmobile trail was going to be disconnected due to language in Maine statute that forbids the operation of an ATV or snowmobile on a controlled access highway.
If the law is amended, a trail would be created that connects the multi-use rail trail from Houlton to Presque Isle with the multi-use rail trail on the north side of Presque Isle proper that continues to Caribou and New Sweden and connects to the trail north to Van Buren and south to Mapleton.
Richard Howlett Jr., president of the Star City ATV Club in Presque Isle, testified in support of the legislation.
“This trail is very important to the recreation community in central Aroostook County,” said Howlett. “This is the main trail running north and south which is used by thousands of ATVers and snowsledders every year. Breaking up this major trail system would be a major blow to the economy in the central Aroostook area.”
The executive director of the Maine Snowmobile Association, the Central Maine vice president of ATV Maine and the deputy commissioner for the Maine Department of Transportation also testified in support of the legislation.
Last winter, Rep. Roland “Danny” Martin, D-Sinclair, authored legislation to authorize a free snowmobile weekend for snowmobilers from Maine and New Brunswick to share their trails.
The Transportation Committee will hold a work session on Saucier’s bill in the coming days.
Saucier, who represents part of Presque Isle, is House chair of the Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission.
