January 29, 2024
Important Hearing Tuesday (01/30/24) at 1pm in Augusta
Summary of LD 1750
"Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation to Complete a Service Plan and Determine the Scope of Work for Restoration of Rail Use of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor from Downtown Portland to Auburn"
This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to complete a study that includes a service plan and scope of work plan for the section of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor between downtown Portland and Auburn for restoration of the rail corridor to a minimum of Class 3 interurban light rail operating conditions. The plans must satisfy legal and United States Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration requirements for crossing the CSX Transportation main line corridor and for shared corridor use to downtown Lewiston and through Danville Junction on the Genesee & Wyoming railroad to a station site at or near the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. The study must include proposed community train station locations and appropriate multimodal use of the rail corridor including trail use.
The resolve requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish an advisory committee to advise the department in undertaking its responsibilities regarding the service plan and scope of work plan. Within 9 months of convening its first meeting, the advisory committee is required to submit a report to the department on its findings and recommendations regarding the service plan and scope of work plan. The department is required to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over railroad matters on the actions taken by the department, including the development of the plans and recommendations for suggested legislation. After reviewing the report, the joint standing committee may report out a bill to implement any of the recommendations included in the report.
OUR VIEW
I support LD 1750 “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation to Complete a Service Plan and Determine the Scope of Work for Restoration of Rail Use of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor from Downtown Portland to Auburn”.
This legislation asks only to investigate the rail option along a highly traveled corridor in southern Maine. A report will be completed in nine months or less. Please allow this time to research the value of the existing state rail assets.
From what I understand, virtually all previous studies indicate that passenger rail service can operate on this line. Rail proponents have identified several sources of existing transportation funding that could fund this study and any determined future development.
The Rail Use Advisory Council (RUAC) commissioned by the bike and trail non-profit groups have conducted themselves so as to eliminate any pro-rail input, and input from property owners abutting the rail/trail corridors. The RUAC had absolutely no citizen representation, it was dominated with trail voices and Maine Department of Transportation analysts who used questionable data. These councils were not fair, they were biased. The advisory committee established in LD 1750 would supply an honest appraisal of the highest and best use of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor.
I understand that I speak in the minority opinion based on the testimony that has already been communicated to the committee. But I am also aware that bike and trail groups are using this process as a fund raising vehicle. Those activists typically do not speak for the majority of voters.
This trail is being promoted to reduce vehicle travel greenhouse gases. That is a false premise; people are not going to commute between Portland and Auburn on a bike path and most of the people promoting this trail will have to drive to reach an access point. Retention and development of the rail line through the communities in this rail corridor is the best option to address the affordable housing crisis. Building more homes in Portland is not a viable long-term solution. New transportation linkages will create competition for housing development projects, open up more housing options, and initiate a better transportation system.
Do not rip up Maine's rail lines for recreational trails. The rail network is much too valuable. Once the rail lines are ripped up; history has shown that they will never be replaced. Please take the time to get this right.
May 15, 2023
Important Hearing Thursday (5/18/23) at 1pm in Augusta on Ripping Up Unused Rails for Trails
Thanks to TrainRiders Northeast for this update
We previously warned that the formation of Rail Use Advisory Councils (RUAC) in Maine could lead to the ripping up of State-owned rail lines, whether or not those lines have future rail potential. That danger has now become very, very real.
RUAC has recommended that two unused rail lines be torn up and replaced with trails. MDOT and the Governor's Office have accepted the recommendations and bills were submitted to the legislature this year to permit this removal. In both instances, the rail lines would be replaced by trails. A hearing on these bills is now scheduled in Augusta by the Transportation Committee starting at 1 pm this coming Thursday, 5/18/2023. Passage of these bills, and approval by the Governor, would then permit the removal of the rail on these lines as soon as money became available to do so.
TrainRiders Northeast absolutely opposes passage of LD 404, LD 1450 and LD 209. The removal of the rail from these lines is shortsighted and irreversible steps that would eliminate even the possibility of future rail use on these lines. In theory, the lines would be preserved for rail use at some point in the future, but, in fact, removal of the track on those lines would make their reconversion to rail economically impossible.
Mountain Division: LD 404 & LD 1450
The Mountain Division section that would be affected runs from Standish to the NH border at Fryeburg. The line continues through NH, VT to Quebec. The bills for the Mountain Division are LD 404 and LD 1450, the first being filed by MDOT, and the second by Sen. Bennett of Oxford, supported by five other senators and representatives, which provides $18 million for the “replacement” of the tracks with a trail.
St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad - LD 209
LD 209, filed by Representative Bell from Yarmouth, would rip up the line from Portland to Auburn. It's called the Berlin Subdivision. That line ultimately ends up in Montreal.
Testifying at the Thursday (May 18th) 1pm Hearing
Attendance at the hearings can be in person or by Zoom. The Legislative Committee Testimony Instructions tell you how to do this. If you appear at the hearing in person, you must bring 20 hard copies of your written testimony to the hearing for submission to the Committee Clerk.
Testimony from members anywhere would be helpful, but those of Maine residents is most important. Additionally, Maine members should contact their representatives and senators, particularly those who may be members of the Committee, to express their opposition to these bills. We can be assured that a large number of trail supporters will be doing just that in support of these bills.
This is one of the most important set of rail bills that we have had before the Maine legislature for probably about 20 years. TrainRiders is preparing potential talking points which should be available shortly. If you are at all concerned about future passenger or freight rail on these lines, then please take the time to submit written testimony and, even better, to attend the hearing. If you have any questions or comments, or want to coordinate testimony, then please email Bruce Sleeper at TrainRiders NE.
May 9, 2023
The rail corridor can't be used as a rail trail without legislative authorization. A new bill, LD 209, has been introduced that would over-ride the Maine Department of Transportation's view that authorization should not be taken without a feasibility study and better communication to those most affected. We need your help to keep this bill from being passed.
We will publish additional information as soon as the public hearing on LD 209 is scheduled. Let us know if you would like an email alert. We hope all of you will be able to testify in person against this bill.
April 12,2023
A legislative hearing for LD406 Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Develop and Adopt a Rail Corridor Use Vision Plan for State of Maine-Owned Railroads This legislation would enable Maine's Department of Transportation to create and use a non-political vision plan to evaluate reasonable potential uses of current rail corridors including light rail operations and as a prioritization framework for the development of compatible multimodal uses, including passenger train service, freight train service and non-rail multi-modal uses. This legislation could preempt the establishment of the Casco Bay Trail.
If you plan to attend the hearings in person you do not have to sign up but have 20 copies of your testimony available to hand out. Be sure your written testimony starts with your position on the proposed legislation as "I am for LD #" and include your name and town and organization (if any that you represent).
If you a want to submit testimony and/or participate via Zoom use the link below:
https://www.mainelegislature.org/testimony/
Once on the State Legislative page
- Select Public Hearing
- Choose Transportation Committee
- Choose a Bill - LD 406 or LD 860*
- If you have written testimony and/or if you are testifying remotely over ZOOM, fill in the box which says, "you may upload your testimony here".
- Please select your position on the proposed legislation as "I am For"
- Include your name and the organization you represent or the town in which you live, as specified, which will accompany the publishing of your testimony.
Note: Your phone number will only be used to determine who you are if you dial into the hearing.
You can view digitally submitted testimony here.
Please call 207 329 6732 you have questions. There is a lot riding on this!
December 22, 2022
The Rail Use Advisory Council voted 11 to 1 in support of a trail use for the proposed Casco Bay Trail. This is a very discouraging development. The Advisory Council failed to realize that family safety, privacy, and property values are valid and critical issues regarding the proposed trail. They did not perform the due diligence to uncover the facts regarding extensive trail lines.