PRESS RELEASE
Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority
May 6, 2002
Media Contact: Jonathan Carter 207-646-5113
Patricia Douglas, 207-780-1000
NNEPRA's EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO RETIRE
PORTLAND - Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) Board Chairman Jonathan Carter announced today that NNEPRA Executive Director, Michael J. Murray will retire this summer and will not be extending his contract beyond its July 2002 expiration date.
Under Murray's leadership, NNEPRA oversaw the rehabilitation of 78 miles of railroad track between Plaistow, NH and Portland, ME and the negotiation of all contract agreements necessary for the restoration of passenger rail service between Portland and Boston. NNEPRA now manages the Downeaster service that began on December 15, 2001 and has since gone on to exceed ridership and revenue projections. "Mike Murray is the reason the Downeaster has been a success." Carter said. "He has been a mentor to all of us for the last dozen years and will be missed. Mike has set the standard for passenger rail service in Maine."
Carter said that the NNEPRA Board and management team will work together to ensure the continued quality and success of the Downeaster service and will proceed with plans to work cooperatively with the Maine Department of Transportation to develop rail service to points beyond Portland. The board has not yet announced plans regarding the search for a successor.
Murray's commitment to public service began with his enlistment in the U.S. Navy as a teenager. His 30-year career with the Maine Department of Transportation began in 1965 during which time Michael earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Maine. In the early 1990's Mike began working on Maine's passenger rail initiative and has served as NNEPRA's Executive Director since its inception in 1995.
"It has been an honor to serve the people of Maine these many years", says Murray. "I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Governor King, the NNEPRA Board and the Maine Department of Transportation for the role I have been allowed to play in restoring passenger rail travel between Portland and Boston. This achievement is truly spectacular and one of which we can all be proud."
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