We need more public transportation before we even think about expanding roads.

No shit the world doesn't revolve around me. What does that have to do with what I said? What a weird response, dear.

Wait..you think I'm "picky" because I don't like clicking a link that requires a pdf download to read the content? That's an outdated and rude way to deliver content. Is this your first day on the internet? Yeah, I'm "cranky" from having to sift through the repeated and some inane posts about cold weather. It's two days of cold for fucks sake. Get a grip. Plus that pdf and your silly replies really sent me.

Just remove the damn bollard

It's the same reason successful tradespeople often hire someone to perform estimates. They're delegating low hanging tasks so that they can focus on money making activities. A VA allows you to take more jobs because you're spending less time chasing clients for scheduling, payment, fielding questions, etc.

The nice thing about the trades is it offers an opportunity to work for yourself and run your own business but for, again, I'll say, most tradespeople, they really could use some classes on how to run their business optimally.

I don't know if I'd agree that's true of most tradespeople, but it's definitely true of some. That said, if you have all of the work that you want/can handle already, what would be the point of hiring a virtual assistant just so they can call a bunch of people back and say "no"? I guess it creates a slightly better "customer experience", but then, that person isn't actually going to be a customer so I understand why a tradesperson wouldn't want to invest in improving their experience.

Then the comments defending the driver like they weren't either incompetent or distracted

Careful what you ask for I already see a line forming.

I think if you're young and ambitious, you could bypass college or tech school. If you're willing to knock on the doors of some tradesman business owners, I bet you would not be long finding someone willing to pay you and give you on the job training. I turn wrenches and operate equipment on a farm and make $50k/yr and get offhand job offers all the time. I started doing general labor at a different farm (a big farm where I could learn things other than pulling weeds and scrubbing carrots) right out of high school and jut made it known that I craved knowledge and experience. 10 years later, I'm pretty happy with my gig.

Also, consider your interest in living in a rural community. I know all kinds of folks from rural Maine that ran downtown Portland or Boston after college to get high paying jobs as insurance salesman or whatever and have painted themselves into a suburban corner because they can't get an equivalent salary in the country.

Tell me you don't know what is involved in a highway infrastructure project without telling me you don't know what is involved in a highway infrastructure project...

Did you see how much people complained about the Maine mall traffic plaza redesign? You'd think someone stole their childhood binky the way people acted. I can't wait until the Gorham connector is added and everyone goes "Oooooh that's why they did it like this!"

What's the point spread on this? We all know it's going to happen. Just a matter of when

Virtual assistants are really pretty cheap tbh and it must be either ignorance of their existence or the good ole boy resistance to change mentality. To u/GratefulHead420 's point, most tradespeople have incredibly lackluster customer service skills and would be able to do more and charge more with someone handling the phones!

Yeah it is... Minimum wage is 29k a year now.... Requiring a college degree to make only 30% more then minimum wage?

Except the Maine turnpike actually pays for itself.

Part of it uses the same ramps.

My god you're picky and cranky. The whole world doesn't revolve around you, dear. Other people exist.

Thelma and Louise at your service

If it’s in auburn I give it a week tops

I don't get why people complain about this stuff. They're not just going to build an exit on a whim, I'm pretty sure if they're building it's needed. Other states do this all the time as needed. And saying that the money should be invested into rail is asinine.

Marsh Island has a great brewpub on Main Street in Orono.

It legally does though. They would share responsibility because Walmart created the hazard.

That doesn't change the fact that hitting a stationary object is always and solely the responsibility of the driver.

It’s obviously bad design if this many people have hit it.

You'd be lucky to buy the land alone for a rail line of any useful size for $42 million.

Yup. That was changed 20 years ago for this reason. Remember two Exit 2s? Mile marker is the general standard