FRA clears the way for Maine to purchase Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway

Written by jrood

The FRA has cleared all legal hurdles for the State of Maine to take ownership of 233 miles of the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway in Aroostook and Penobscot counties, preserving rail service for that part of the State. The U.S. Department of Transportation provided a $10.5 million grant in October 2010 to the Maine DOT for repairs and upgrades for that section of the railroad. "As an Aroostook County native, I understand how important the continued operation of this rail line is to Maine's economy,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Approptiations Subcommittee on Transportation. “[The] news allows the State of Maine to take clear ownership of this portion of track, rehabilitate it, and improve it in order to preserve rail service for nearly two dozen employers in Aroostook and Penobscot counties. This will help prevent the loss of nearly 2,000 jobs which are dependent upon rail service." According to a press release from the Governor’s office in October 2010, funding includes $7 million from a June 2010 bond, $4 million from a November 2009 bond that is being repurposed, $7 million from state reserve accounts, $1.1 million from rail balances from canceled projects and $1 million from a major shipper on the line. Last April, FRA Administrator Joe Szabo traveled to Bangor, at Senator Collins' request, to meet with the Senator, the Governor, local and state officials and businesses to discuss how to preserve rail service in Northern Maine.  "Today's decision by FRA clears the way for the state to take over this rail line, so we can begin the important work of upgrading and rehabilitating the tracks to preserve and improve rail service for northern Maine" said Senator Collins. This purchase will preserve a vital economic corridor and transportation asset in Northern Maine. More than 25 businesses in the area rely on this rail link and an estimated 750-1,000 jobs would have been threatened or at risk if the tracks were abandoned.

Tags: