ALL MAINE CITIZENS WHO BELIEVE IN RAIL SERVICE ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THEIR MAINE STATE SENATORS AND MAINE STATE REPRESENTATIVES
As this is being written, the Maine Legislature is meeting on various issues - with decisions being made possibly as early as this Friday the 4th of April. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn no later than April 15th but they have much left to do. Your participation is needed right now.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR MAINE STATE SENATOR AND YOUR MAINE STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN AUGUSTA AND ASK THAT THEY PLEASE SUPPORT LD 2019 AS AMENDED. "AN ACT TO MAKE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO RAIL THROUGH THE RURAL RAIL INVESTMENT FUND FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES".
The original bill, which dealt with funding of Downeaster operations is gone. The amendment deals with funding for capital improvements to the line from Portland to Brunswick and transfers 50% of the auto rental tax to the STAR (State Transit, Aviation & Rail) account starting not this year, but in July of 2009.
The improvements link and tie together at least 4 state owned lines - Rockland Branch, the line to Augusta, the line to Lisbon and the line formerly owned by the St. Lawrence & Atlantic RR from Portland to Lewiston/Auburn.
These improvements will result in faster and better freight service not just between Portland and Brunswick, but also on through service to Northern Maine, over to Lewiston/Auburn and up the coast to Rockland.
Just now, conditions are right to do this since the owner of the line has made a proposal for the improvements and the cost will do nothing but increase as time goes on.
The recent report authorized by the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority - "Overview of Projected Economic Impacts - Amtrak Downeaster" shows that money spent on passenger rail is NOT a subsidy - but "an investment with a vengeance", since by 2030, support of service through to Brunswick will result in construction investments of over $7Billion, creation of over 17,000 jobs, transportation savings of more than $240Million per year for resident households, over $2Billion per year in increased resident and visitor purchasing power, and the generation of over $75Million per year in State and Local tax revenues. [Not bad for a train that critics said would never work...]
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