Maine lawmakers consider a bond issue to save rail line
Written by jrood
The Maine state legislature is now involved in the effort to save 240 miles of railroad tracks in Aroostook and Northern Penobscot Counties from being abandoned, according to local media. Representative Ken Theriault has introduced a bill that would put a $20 million bond issue to voters to buy the rail line owned by Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway.
The company plans to file
an application with the federal government next week to abandon the tracks, which
run from Millinocket to Madawaska and branch to Houlton and Caribou. Company
officials said they can’t afford to keep up the tracks anymore.
But 22 businesses rely on
the line to carry lumber and other products, and Department of Transportation
Commissioner David Cole said losing the tracks would be devastating to the
Maine economy. So the Department of Transportation is working with stakeholders
to come up with a business plan to preserve the line. Representative Theriault
said his bill is a backup plan.
Once the railway applies
to abandon the tracks, the federal government has 110 days to make a decision.
The DOT is hoping to come
up with a financing plan that could include federal grants and private money,
instead of, or in addition to a bond issue, to keep the line.
