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4 posts3 participants0 posts today
Public
DoomsdaysCW

population increases 116 times over in 'remarkable' project

"‘The sound of traffic and a uniform sea of barley have been replaced by the most beautiful , full of , young saplings and the buzz of ’"

by Katharine Hay, 26 Nov 2024

"The bumblebee population has made an impressive comeback in a developed area by increasing to 116 times what it was two years ago thanks to a nature restoration group.

", a 90-acre project based just north of Perth, has been working to restore nature to green spaces in an increasingly built up area for the past two years."

Read more:
scotsman.com/hays-way/bumblebe


Public
DoomsdaysCW

from linked to

"There are practical solutions that don't compromise public safety, they say, including dimming streetlights in the early hours, fitting motion sensors or using colour filters to cut out the most harmful wavelengths."

25 August 2021
By Helen Briggs

"Scientists say light pollution may be contributing to 'worrying' declines in insects seen in recent decades.

"In a UK study, artificial street lights were found to disrupt the behaviour of nocturnal , reducing numbers by half.

"Modern appeared to have the biggest impact.

"There is growing evidence that populations are shrinking due to the likes of climate change, habitat loss and pesticides.

"Factors are complex and varied, including the steady loss of , , and , overuse of , and of rivers and lakes.

"The use of artificial lights at night-time has been proposed as another driver of insect decline, although the scale remains unclear.

"The researchers say their study, published in Science Advances, is the strongest evidence yet that light pollution can have detrimental impacts on local insect populations, with consequences for the birds and other wildlife that rely on caterpillars for food.

"'In a local setting we can now be quite confident that light pollution is important, but what's less clear is if we're looking at a whole landscape,' said lead researcher Douglas Boyes of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

"'If insects are in trouble - as we believe they are, and have evidence to support that - perhaps we should be doing all we can to reduce these negative influences.'"

Read more:
bbc.com/news/science-environme

www.bbc.comLight pollution from street lamps linked to insect lossScientists say light pollution is a factor driving "worrying" declines in local insect populations.
#DarkSkies#LEDs#Extinction
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

How from humans is wreaking havoc on U.S.

Nation Jul 18, 2017 2:20 PM EDT

"As transportation networks expand and urban areas grow, noise from sources such as vehicle engines is spreading into remote places. Human-caused noise has consequences for wildlife, entire and people. It reduces the ability to hear natural sounds, which can mean the difference between life and death for many animals, and degrade the calming effect that we feel when we spend time in wild places."

pbs.org/newshour/nation/noise-


PBS NewsHour · How noise pollution from humans is wreaking havoc on U.S. wildlifeHuman-caused noise has consequences for wildlife, entire ecosystems and people. It reduces the ability to hear natural sounds, which can mean the difference between life and death for many animals.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Understanding Wildlife Behavioral Responses to Traffic Noise and Light to Improve Mitigation Planning

Product Type: Policy Brief
Publication Date: June 09, 2020

"As roads and other developed land uses proliferate, the resulting habitat fragmentation and loss of wildlife connectivity hinder animals’ ability to forage, establish new territories, and maintain genetic diversity. Wildlife crossing structures such as culverts and bridges theoretically can reduce these impacts by allowing species to effectively cross highways. However, previous research has shown that traffic presence and density can disrupt wildlife use of highway crossing structures, and that noise and light from human activities can affect animal behavior. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, Road Ecology Center measured traffic noise and light levels and placed motion- and heat-triggered cameras at 26 bridges and culverts along four interstate highways, 11 state highways and one major county road across California. The presence and behavior of animals at these highway crossing structures were compared to those detected at sites unaffected by roads to understand the effects of noise and light from a highway on wildlife behavior. This policy brief summarizes findings from that research and provides policy implications.

"Traffic moving on transportation corridors affects wildlife connectivity. Many wildlife species move across road surfaces, or through culverts and bridges, with varying levels of success depending on species, infrastructure and traffic levels. As roads and other developed land uses proliferate, the resulting habitat fragmentation and loss of wildlife connectivity hinder animals’ ability to forage, establish new territories, and maintain genetic diversity. Wildlife crossing structures such as culverts and bridges theoretically can reduce these impacts by allowing species to effectively cross highways. However, the physical roadway barrier may not be the only deterrent. Previous research has shown that traffic presence and density can disrupt wildlife use of highway crossing structures, and that noise and light from human activities can affect animal behavior."

ncst.ucdavis.edu/research-prod


ncst.ucdavis.eduUnderstanding Wildlife Behavioral Responses to Traffic Noise and Light to Improve Mitigation Planning | National Center for Sustainable TransportationThis policy brief summarizes findings from research that examined the presence and behavior of animals at highway crossing structures to understand the effects of noise and light from a highway on wildlife behavior.
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

I'm planning on submitting a summary of these studies as part of my arguments against the . I grew up near a 4-lane highway, and the vibrations and noise pollution were constant -- I hadn't realized how bad it was until I went back home a few years ago and camped in my old backyard -- and felt every speeding tractor trailer truck going by.

Evidence of the impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map

By Romain Sordello, Ophélie Ratel, Frédérique Flamerie De Lachapelle, Clément Leger, Alexis Dambry & Sylvie Vanpeene

Environmental Evidence volume 9, Article number: 20 (2020)

"Ecological research now deals increasingly with the effects of on . Indeed, many studies have shown the impacts of and concluded that it is potentially a threat to the persistence of many species. The present work is a systematic map of the evidence of the impacts of all anthropogenic noises (industrial, urban, transportation, etc.) on biodiversity. This report describes the mapping process and the evidence base with summary figures and tables presenting the characteristics of the selected articles."

environmentalevidencejournal.b



BioMed CentralEvidence of the impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map - Environmental EvidenceBackground Ecological research now deals increasingly with the effects of noise pollution on biodiversity. Indeed, many studies have shown the impacts of anthropogenic noise and concluded that it is potentially a threat to the persistence of many species. The present work is a systematic map of the evidence of the impacts of all anthropogenic noises (industrial, urban, transportation, etc.) on biodiversity. This report describes the mapping process and the evidence base with summary figures and tables presenting the characteristics of the selected articles. Methods The method used was published in an a priori protocol. Searches included peer-reviewed and grey literature published in English and French. Two online databases were searched using English terms and search consistency was assessed with a test list. Supplementary searches were also performed (using search engines, a call for literature and searching relevant reviews). Articles were screened through three stages (titles, abstracts, full-texts). No geographical restrictions were applied. The subject population included all wild species (plants and animals excluding humans) and ecosystems. Exposures comprised all types of man-made sounds in terrestrial and aquatic media, including all contexts and sound origins (spontaneous or recorded sounds, in situ or laboratory studies, etc.). All relevant outcomes were considered (space use, reproduction, communication, etc.). Then, for each article selected after full-text screening, metadata were extracted on key variables of interest (species, types of sound, outcomes, etc.). Review findings Our main result is a database that includes all retrieved literature on the impacts of anthropogenic noise on species and ecosystems, coded with several markers (sources of noise, species concerned, types of impacts, etc.). Our search produced more than 29,000 articles and 1794 were selected after the three screening stages (1340 studies (i.e. primary research), 379 reviews, 16 meta-analyses). Some articles (n = 19) are written in French and all others are in English. This database is available as an additional file of this report. It provides an overview of the current state of knowledge. It can be used for primary research by identifying knowledge gaps or in view of further analysis, such as systematic reviews. It can also be helpful for scientists and researchers as well as for practitioners, such as managers of transportation infrastructure. Conclusion The systematic map reveals that the impacts of anthropogenic noises on species and ecosystems have been researched for many years. In particular, some taxonomic groups (mammals, birds, fishes), types of noise (transportation, industrial, abstract) and outcomes (behavioural, biophysiological, communication) have been studied more than others. Conversely, less knowledge is available on certain species (amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates), noises (recreational, military, urban) and impacts (space use, reproduction, ecosystems). The map does not assess the impacts of anthropogenic noise, but it can be the starting point for more thorough synthesis of evidence. After a critical appraisal, the included reviews and meta-analyses could be exploited, if reliable, to transfer the already synthesized knowledge into operational decisions to reduce noise pollution and protect biodiversity.
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

So, what's going on with the seems a lot like what happened with the (which voted against). Despite public opposition, will say, "Oh, well we already bought most of the land, so we have to keep going!" The same tactic was used with the CMP corridor through the North Woods, when CMP said, "Well, we already started the project -- we plan on completing if, even if the public opposes it!"



Public
DoomsdaysCW

Voices: Nobody would benefit from the building of the

Transit-oriented urban design boosts economies, reduces emissions and provides public space; the only long-term result of the Gorham Connector will be .

Posted September 29, 2023
By Jasper Curtis

"If the Gorham Connector is constructed and put to use, everyone in the state will lose out in more ways than one.
First, there is the cost, up to $237 million. That’s a lot of money, and it’s on top of the $140 million already being spent on lane widening on Interstate 95. Spoiler alert, none of that money will relieve congestion. In fact, it will likely do the opposite, as proven time and time again in countless U.S. cities. On top of the $340 million total, there is the price of owning a car, which costs the average American $11,000 per year. New car prices are nearing $50,000. None of this is affordable to everyday Mainers. It’s time the state takes these costs seriously, instead of burdening taxpayers with more.

"Increased road capacity simply leads to more cars on the roads and does not reduce the time spent in traffic. It is a case of , where wider roads encourage more driving, more vehicles then fill the roads and the public is asked to fund another road- widening project. The cycle repeats itself to extremes, such as the 26-lane outside Houston, Texas, which did not solve traffic. St. Louis, Missouri, home to the most highway square mileage per capita in the country, has yet to cease traffic. Here we are again, however, being asked to fork over our tax dollars to an inefficient, ineffective solution to a problem that the state created with poor and shortsighted projects.

"Light from to would cost an estimated $75 million. That’s about $19 million per mile. If a similar cost-per-mile ratio were to be applied to the , the project would total $115 million. (Even if the cost-per-mile ratio were double the estimated cost of the Westbrook-to-Portland connection, building rail along the proposed Gorham Connector route would still save $7 million.) From Gorham to Portland, the cost of rail would be almost $30 million cheaper than the Gorham Connector, which reaches only to the Maine Mall in South Portland.

"Rail helps not only commuters and students, but also those who require vehicles for work, because, unlike road widening, public transit reduces the number of vehicles on the road. Driving a work truck on public roads can be infuriating during peak traffic; I know because I have done so. The same goes for driving in an emergency. Rail would help these alleviate these problems; the Gorham Connector would not.
While less quantitative than the previous points, must still be conscious of its and social goals. The Maine Department of Transportation () should keep these in mind before it decides its best solution to traffic is to encourage more internal combustion engines. Part of what makes Maine so special to residents is the nature around us. Let’s not wreck it for the sake of one more lane. Maine’s population is the oldest in the nation, and seniors deserve to have safe travel options.

"Transit-oriented urban design boosts economies, reduces emissions and provides public space. There will be no long-term benefit from the Gorham Connector, only sprawl. It’s that simple. Honest Maine people work hard for their paychecks – they deserve infrastructure that uses their tax dollars with vision and purpose, not another wasteful, -filled project."

pressherald.com/2023/09/29/mai than-one


Public *
DoomsdaysCW

Until is established, at least the will keep running....

Gorham joins Metro, keeps public bus stops open

The Town Council votes to become a member of Greater Portland Metro at a cost of $170,000 this year.

Posted March 13 Updated March 13
Robert Lowell

"The bus line runs from the USM Gorham campus through Westbrook into Portland to the campus there and to the Old Port area. USM students and staff ride with passes and Gorham passengers paying fares can board at a stop on Main Street in the village, Libby Avenue at Main Street and campus. The public fare is $2 and $1 for the disabled, veterans and riders over age 65. All Husky Line passengers can transfer to other Metro routes."

pressherald.com/2024/03/13/gor






Press Herald · Gorham joins Metro, keeps Husky Line public bus stops openThe Town Council votes to become a member of Greater Portland Metro at a cost of $170,000 this year.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Rapid transit plan calls for 10-20 minute service through , and

Maine Public | By Nicole Ogrysko

Published July 28, 2023

"Local officials in are considering a system of bus routes for the region.

"Under a draft proposal from the Greater Portland Council of Governments, dedicated bus lanes would provide express service through Portland, Westbrook and Gorham more quickly than traditional bus service, with stops along the way.

"The preferred route would start at the University of Southern Maine campus in Gorham, travel through downtown Westbrook and stop at the USM campus in Portland before heading down Congress Street and ending near the Eastern Promenade.

"The proposal envisions service every 10 minutes between Portland and Westbrook, and 20 minutes between Westbrook and Gorham.

"'That's frequent enough that you're not relying on a schedule anymore,' said Andrew Clark, transit program manager for . 'You're no longer planning your day around the bus schedule. You just know you can go out to the station, and the bus will be there in 10 minutes or something like that.'

"Clark said service every 10-20 minutes should also lure riders who wouldn't normally consider taking .

"'I think people understand the role that transit can play in making our cities better, its role in reducing congestion, its role in better climate outcomes, better social equity outcomes,' he said.

"Greater Portland Metro would operate the proposed route, but the vehicles and stops would have a different look than the service's existing buses, Clark added.

"The proposed routes are still a long way away, Clark said. The cities of Portland, Westbrook and Gorham will need to decide how much road space can be freed up for dedicated bus lanes. The project will also need to secure federal funds for the new bus lanes and some new battery-powered vehicles.

"Local officials also eventually envision rapid transit routes to South Portland, Biddeford and Saco, Brunswick and Windham."

mainepublic.org/business-and-e









WMEH · Rapid transit plan calls for 10-20 minute service through Portland, Westbrook and GorhamBy Nicole Ogrysko
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

There are alternatives to the ... This is one of them! A much better use for the funds received!!!

Gorham-Westbrook-Portland Study

The Gorham-Westbrook-Portland Rapid Transit Study examined the need for and benefits of a rapid transit line connecting Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland. Based on estimated ridership, travel times, operating costs, and social equity, the study concluded that the most direct and fastest route alignment is via Main Street, Brighton Ave, and Congress Street. From west to east, this alignment connects USM Gorham, Gorham Village, downtown Westbrook, Rock Row, USM Portland, Maine Medical Center, downtown Portland, and the Eastern Waterfront. See project document below:

"The Bigger Picture. The purpose of this project is to provide fast, reliable, and frequent transit service that connects Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland's major transportation and/or activity centers. This project stems from our region's long-range transit plan Transit Tomorrow. That plan identifies five corridors where rapid transit is feasible. The Gorham-Westbrook-Portland corridor is the first corridor we studied. The bigger goal is to create a rapid transit network that allows us to meet the growing demand placed on our transportation network without building new roads or inducing more vehicle travel. "

gpcog.org/557/Gorham-Westbrook










Map of rapid transit that could ease congestion in the Greater Portland area.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Have thoughts about the proposed ? How you can make your voice heard

A public meeting is scheduled for March 25

GORHAM, Maine —"The wants to build a new toll road connecting the Turnpike to Gorham. The plan has sparked strong opinions both for and against since the route was announced in February.

"The first public meeting about the Gorham connector is scheduled for March 25 in the Shaw Gym at the Gorham Municipal Center on South Street. An open house is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., where people can look at displays and ask questions about the project. It will be hosted by area municipalities in partnership with the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Maine Department of Transportation.

"At 6 p.m., a brief presentation will provide an overview of the project, after which attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can watch online starting at 6 p.m."

wmtw.com/article/have-thoughts

youtube.com/embed/aTKSuVJ1iAg?

WMTW · Have thoughts about the proposed Gorham bypass? How you can make your voice heardA public meeting is scheduled for March 25
#SaveSmilingHillFarm#Sprawl#SaveTheForest
Public *
DoomsdaysCW

Opinion: plan threatens river ,

Building a new road along the banks of will render barren a unique stretch of riparian – with all the adverse consequences you might expect.

by C. Ian Stevenson
February 27, 2024

"While proponents tout the toll-road Gorham Connector as promising to shorten commutes and relieve traffic pressure in , there has already been substantial pushback to the concept. Regardless of how much (or for how long) travel-based advantage the new roadway might bring, as proposed it will have pronounced, unambiguously negative effects to the area.

"Maine is known for its sense of place. Many components contribute to what makes the state unique and desirable. Among these is the built environment, such as the 13th-generation Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, which the proposed route threatens to erode, if not entirely extinguish, as an economically viable vestige of Maine’s once robust agricultural heritage. Others have amply sounded the alarm about this issue.

"But the route introduces other threats to the more naturalistic landscape. Starting at and running south-southeasterly to I-295 is a five-mile section of Red Brook that mostly nestles in . Between County Road and Running Hill Road, in particular, Red Brook occupies one of the few contiguous stretches in . While unassuming in scale, Red Brook is nevertheless remarkable for supporting one of the last remaining native populations of in this part of the state.

"The proposed road will immediately abut the river, sitting nearly on its banks, for as much as a mile south of the County Road Interchange. This will degrade habitat, destroying the trees whose overhanging foliage provides shade and cooling effects for these temperature-sensitive fish and creates shelter from predators. It will make barren riparian shoreline that supports the aquatic and terrestrial insects that provide the primary trout food sources. The road itself will also contribute oil, salt and other to the river, the water. As a result of these factors, this connector will likely this population of brook trout.

"Why should we care about a small river and its brook trout? Although this is not the official state fish, the fishing community widely considers it the prize species to catch, with so-called wild populations assuming even more cherished status. Brook trout provide a link across generations and cultural traditions and belong to everyone. Human inhabitants of Maine – from the original to European colonists to modern Americans – have been catching these 'native' fish for millennia. Other parts of Maine, especially further north and west, have healthy native brook trout fisheries, making Maine highly regarded nationally as a destination to catch them.

"The fact that Red Brook, in the heart of , belongs to this orbit is no small feat. Most of the area’s waterways have already succumbed to habitat loss, development, predatory introduced species, warming temperatures and increased flooding due to . Red Brook provides an opportunity for future who might not have access to brook trout streams further afield to enjoy this natural amenity. Even if you do not care about fishing, this road promises to annihilate a population of one of our state’s heritage species, as well as its scenic habitat that also contributes to ’s sense of place.

", the executive director of the , claims his organization has 'gone to great lengths to minimize impacts to Red Brook,' but clearly it hasn’t gone far enough under the current proposal. There are yet solutions.

"Citizens can express concerns at a hearing planned for March or via the Maine Turnpike Authority’s online portal. If the connector is to be built, planners need to re-route to establish a buffer zone between the connector and river – even a few hundred feet would have a positive impact. While less ideal than a complete reworking of the route, this would at least retain the primary shoreline flora and fauna and allow for run-off infrastructure. And we could re-route the road to save Smiling Hill Farm at the same time. Or better yet, we could re-consider the whole project’s merit entirely."

Source:
pressherald.com/2024/02/27/opi

MTA website (make your opinion known!):
maineturnpike.com/Projects/Pla






Press Herald · Opinion: Gorham Connector plan threatens river ecosystem, heritage troutBuilding a new road along the banks of Red Brook will render barren a unique stretch of riparian shoreline – with all the adverse consequences you might expect.
Public
DoomsdaysCW

Smiling Hill Farms lets their dairy cows graze in pastures and sells milk in GLASS bottles, which they clean and ! Don't let this gem get destroyed!!!

: A Legacy Threatened by Progress

Smiling Hill Farm, a 500-acre Maine institution, faces an existential crisis as the proposed Gorham Connector threatens to disrupt its 13-generation legacy. The Knight family, who have nurtured this land for over three centuries, are now locked in a battle between progress and preservation.

by Shivani Chauhan
10 Feb 2024 04:06 EST

A Legacy at the Crossroads

"For thirteen generations, the Knight family has cultivated a bond with the land that transcends mere ownership. Smiling Hill Farm, their 500-acre expanse, is more than just a dairy farm. It's a testament to the enduring spirit of Maine's farming community, a sanctuary where lumber and maple syrup production thrive alongside trails.

"The farm's rich heritage is evident in its bountiful harvests, the laughter echoing from the ski trails, and the contentment of the dairy cows grazing in the fields. Yet, this harmonious coexistence now hangs in the balance as the Maine Turnpike Authority moves forward with plans for the Gorham Connector."

bnnbreaking.com/world/smiling-

BNNSmiling Hill Farm: A Legacy Threatened by ProgressSmiling Hill Farm, a 500-acre Maine landmark, faces the threat of the Gorham Connector, a highway that could uproot its 13-generation legacy.
#WorkingFarms#MaineTurnpikeAuthority#Sprawl
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