PB recommends Brunswick site for Downeaster Layover Facility

The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority plans to extend the Amtrak-operated Downeaster passenger rail service from Portland to Brunswick, Maine. Parsons Brinkerhoff has evaluated six potential sites located along the rail corridor in Brunswick for the development of a train layover facility. The layover facility currently is located in Portland located near the passenger rail and bus station but is problematic in terms of size and lack of covered facilities. Six potential sites were identified in the beginning of the study by Parsons Brinkerhoff and include: • Brunswick Industrial Park, 1.4 miles west of the station • Brunswick West, 0.5 miles west of the station • Naval Air Station Brunswick, 1.4 miles east of the station • 175 Bath Road, 2.2 miles east of the station • Brunswick East, 3.0 miles east of the station • 393 Bath Road, 4,1 miles east of the station After an initial screening process, 175 Bath Road, 393 Bath Road and the Naval Air Station were found to be insufficient sites and Brunswick Industrial Park, Brunswick West and Brunswick East were considered final candidates. Parsons Brinkerhoff then rated the physical attributes of each site based on the criteria of: • Availability of land • Topography • Hazardous materials • Utility connections • Residence proximity • Land use compatibility • Railroad operations • Road connections • Traffic impacts The Brunswick West site ranked highest and has been recommended by Parsons Brinkerhoff for further development.