Lincoln County Planner Elswyth Strassberger resigned as of May 13. Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission hired her last August following the resignation of Megan McLaughlin, who replaced longtime planner Bob Faunce in March 2019.

With the climate crisis accelerating as it has been in the past months, Strassberger said she has been increasingly feeling that her part means honing in on sustainable transportation. Unfortunately, that means means living and working in a place with robust public transportation services.

“Of course, we can't forget that there are people living in Lincoln County without access to a car or the ability to drive who don't have the privilege and choices I do.”

Strassberger said she looks forward to a day she can come back on the train and visit as a “car-free” tourist, a reality she does not believe is too far off.

“Lincoln County is a beautiful place and I’ve greatly enjoyed exploring the trails and shoreline … I know my colleagues here will continue their work to bring public transportation to the county and improve conditions for walking and biking.”

Strassberger said her main passion and focus has always been working toward necessary changes to transportation and land use systems which address the roots of environmental, social and economic problems. She decided to come to Lincoln County after Maine’s coast left an impression on her during a summer visit to Bar Harbor in her college years. Before coming to Maine, she worked for the Philadelphia City Planning Commission and, before that, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board.

“Maine has tremendous natural assets and community capital that are very much worth protecting and we each have to do our part in a way that makes efficient use of our own skills,” said Strassberger.