I am writing in response to the article written by Kelly Bouchard about a $53 million grant that was secured by Sen. Susan Collins to improve 140 miles of track going to the former Millinocket Paper Mill site, now known as One North Industrial Park (“Maine gets $53 million to improve freight rail safety, reconnect former Millinocket mill site,” Oct. 25).

They claim it will take trucks off the road and they have secured one company that will move 10,000 metric tons annually. I think it would be a better investment if we spent the tax dollars improving the 16-mile set of tracks from Waterville to Augusta. This line has been shut down for nearly a year now. We are moving 1,600 tons monthly because that’s all the rail can currently provide manpower to handle. This line being shut down for supposed safety has added nearly 75 truck loads per month so far — this isn’t counting the extra truckloads we are purchasing to ensure we have product every day.

Maine farmers are struggling with this economy and grain prices. It seems to me we should be focusing tax dollars on businesses we already have rather than hoping we’ll attract new businesses to Millinocket. The word on the street is paperwork has already been filed to shut down this critical line to Augusta. If $53 million is needed to fix 140 miles, can’t we repair 16 miles first and have an immediate impact on farmers throughout the entire state of Maine?

I’m disappointed in the lack of research that went into this decision to spend this much money on a project with such little return. Collins could have done better. Maybe in the future, when Collins brings the transportation secretary to Maine, she could avoid the Maine Turnpike photo opportunities and actually visit rail customers in Maine and see what’s really happening here.

Joe Fisher

Winslow