At 6 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, the Lincolnville Select Board will convene in workshops at the Town Office for the following agenda:

1. Community Resilience – Meg Rasmussen and Reed Silvers, Midcoast Council of Governments

2. (7:30 p.m. +/-) with the Harbor Committee – Lincolnville/Islesboro Ferry Terminal Project. 

3. Adjourn

In anticipation of replacing the ferry Margaret Chase Smith with a new longer double-ended vessel powered by a hybrid diesel electric engine, the Maine Dept. of Transportation needs to revamp its ferry wharves on Islesboro and at Lincolnville Beach (see the designs here).

The DOT introduced its ferry terminal project to Lincolnville last August. It calls for constructing at Lincolnville Beach:

Two new berthing dolphins at Lincolnville Beach and one new berthing dolphin on Islesboro at Grindle Point;

An additional dolphin to support a rapid charging arm;

Upgrading electrical service support a rapid charging system;

Constructing underground electrical and communications services; and,

Building an E-house for all electrical equipment.

On Islesboro, the work calls for:

Constructing a new berthing dolphin and wave screen;

Repairing the outermost berthing dolphin;

Upgrading electrical service from 240 V to 480 V (3-phase power); and,

Constructing underground electrical services.

On Oct. 7, the DOT responded to a list of Lincolnville questions, adding: "We are finishing the preliminary design now and plan to start final design soon after, with these comments and concerns in mind. The Department and FTA are very excited to see this project progress and begin construction in 2025."

In early January, Lincolnville noted: "Mackenzie Kersbergen, the MaineDOT Project Manager, reports that the plans are about 60% complete.  The current timeline, which is subject to change, has MaineDOT advertising the project for bids in September of this year with construction completed by no later than 2027 to accommodate the arrival of the new ferry."

The plans can be viewed here.