After holding out, Cumberland votes to start design of Casco Bay Trail
Cumberland Town Council Approves $12,000 for Casco Bay Trail, Ending Holdout
CUMBERLAND, Maine – In a decisive move that brings the town in line with its neighbors, the Cumberland Town Council voted 5‑1 on Monday to allocate $12,000 toward the initial phase of the Casco Bay Trail. The decision marks the end of a month‑long debate and the town’s last holdout among the four municipalities slated to cover the federal match required for the project.
The Casco Bay Trail is a planned 72‑mile loop that will run from Portland to Auburn, then onward to Brunswick, tracing the path of the state‑owned St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway corridor. The state approved the conversion of a 26‑mile segment between Portland and Auburn into an interim multi‑use trail last year, and the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) has earmarked $600,000 in federal funds for preliminary engineering of the first 9.4 miles that stretch between Portland and Yarmouth.
“Each town must provide 10 % of the project cost,” explained a councilor. “That means $12,000 per town and the Casco Bay Trail Alliance. The other three towns—Portland, Yarmouth and Falmouth—each put the money on the books between April and July.” Cumberland had been the only community that had not yet met the requirement.
The town’s reluctance dated back to a July 13 vote that rejected the funding. Residents cited concerns raised by abutters, the cost of future trail maintenance, and a perception that state officials and the Trail Alliance had not offered enough opportunity to discuss the project. A workshop held between Cumberland officials and MDOT in September helped allay some worries, and the council said a forthcoming preliminary design would show how the trail would actually appear within town limits.
Councilor Andrew Magoun said, “A lot of the questions that people have can only be answered by doing the work.” He added that the $12,000 commitment does not obligate the town to any additional spending beyond the match; future steps would remain at a later date. Cumberland also still has to decide whether to join the regional Casco Bay Board of Supervisors, an interlocal body that coordinates trail planning among towns from Portland to Auburn.
Public comment at the meeting was largely supportive. “It makes total sense to work with our neighbors to get a peek at this and see what it’s gonna be,” said resident David Brink. “I think it’s a very small price to pay for what the potential of this could be.” Participants emphasized that the trail would provide a transportation option for residents who do not own cars, help cut emissions, and link the community more closely to its neighbors.
The lone dissent came from council chair Michael Edes, who voted no. “I wouldn’t turn my back on the abutters who were against the project, but I could change my mind if the state and the Casco Bay Trail Alliance listen to their concerns,” he said.
The council’s decision brings Cumberland into full compliance with the federal funding plan, setting the stage for the trail’s first segment to be built along the dormant tracks near the Tuttle Road overpass. The project’s completion will offer a new recreational corridor and a low‑impact transportation alternative for the region’s residents.
