The Maine Department of Transportation has decided to change from the metric system back to the English system. A decade ago, the MDOT went ahead and spent millions of dollars to place Maine as one of the first states to change to the metric system. Federal agencies had no plans to change to the metric system and many states chose not to change due to the high cost.

With the change to metrics, consultants were hired to rewrite all MDOT specification standards. Metrics classes were held statewide to educate state employees to metrics. New metric equipment and instruments had to be purchased. Contractors bidding on state projects had to make the change to metrics. When dealing with the public, conversion to English system had to be done.

The MDOT now wants to return to the English system using feet and tenths of a foot, which has been used for years before the metric changeover. There is no modification changing back to the old system.

This is a good example of your tax dollars at work.

Richard A. McInnis,

Rumford

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