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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2023
Legislative Document No. 1750S.P. 695 In Senate, April 20, 2023
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation to Complete a
Service Plan and Determine the Scope of Work for Restoration of
Rail Use of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor from Downtown
Portland to Auburn
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator CHIPMAN of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Representative WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor and
Senators: BALDACCI of Penobscot, NANGLE of Cumberland, ROTUNDO of Androscoggin,
Representatives: ALBERT of Madawaska, ANKELES of Brunswick, O'CONNELL of Brewer,
THERIAULT of Fort Kent, WHITE of Guilford. Page 1 - 131LR1755(01)1
2 That the Department of Transportation shall
3 conduct a study that includes a service plan and scope of work plan for the section of the
4 Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor between downtown Portland and Auburn for restoration
5 of the rail corridor to a minimum of Class 3 interurban light rail operating conditions. The
6 service plan and scope of work plan must satisfy legal and United States Department of
7 Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration requirements for crossing the CSX
8 Transportation main line corridor and for shared corridor use to downtown Lewiston and
9 through Danville Junction on the Genesee & Wyoming railroad to a station site at or near
10 the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. The study must include proposed community train station
11 locations and appropriate multimodal use of the rail corridor including trail use. The service
12 plan must include an examination of the feasibility of applying for federal capital
13 improvements grants to restore the rail corridor.
14
15 Commissioner of Transportation shall establish an advisory committee to advise the
16 Department of Transportation in undertaking its responsibilities under section 1.
17 1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall appoint at least 9 but no more than 15
18 members to the advisory committee, including from among the following:
19 A. A person representing the Transit Oriented Development Institute;
20 B. A person representing the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce;
21 C. A person representing the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce;
22 D. A person representing the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce;
23 E. The Commissioner of Economic and Community Development;
24 F. A person representing the Greater Portland Council of Governments or the Portland
25 Area Comprehensive Transportation System;
26 G. A person representing the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments or the
27 Androscoggin Transportation Resource Center;
28 H. A person representing a state agency other than the Department of Transportation;
29 I. A person representing an organization advocating for rail use;
30 J. A person representing an organization advocating for nonrail or recreational trail
31 interests; and
32 K. Persons with expertise in rail logistics or infrastructure.
33 2. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate the chair of the advisory
34 committee. The Department of Transportation shall provide staff support to the advisory
35 committee. The advisory committee may adopt policies to effectively govern its
36 proceedings. The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the chair and hold a minimum
37 of one public hearing located in the geographic area along the rail corridor between
38 Portland and Auburn.
39 3. Within 9 months of convening its first meeting, the advisory committee shall submit
40 a report to the Department of Transportation on its findings and recommendations Page 2 - 131LR1755(01)
41 regarding the service plan and scope of work plan developed pursuant to section 1. The
42 advisory committee terminates upon the submission of its report to the department.
3 Within 30 days of receiving the report under section 2, subsection
4 3, the Department of Transportation shall submit a report to the joint standing committee
5 of the Legislature having jurisdiction over railroad matters on the actions of the department
6 taken under section 1, including the development of the service plan and scope of work
7 plan under section 1 and any recommendations for suggested legislation. After reviewing
8 the report, the joint standing committee may report out a bill to implement any of the
9 recommendations included in the report.
10
11 This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to complete a study that includes
12 a service plan and scope of work plan for the section of the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor
13 between downtown Portland and Auburn for restoration of the rail corridor to a minimum
14 of Class 3 interurban light rail operating conditions. The plans must satisfy legal and
15 United States Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration requirements
16 for crossing the CSX Transportation main line corridor and for shared corridor use to
17 downtown Lewiston and through Danville Junction on the Genesee & Wyoming railroad
18 to a station site at or near the Auburn-Lewiston Airport. The study must include proposed
19 community train station locations and appropriate multimodal use of the rail corridor
20 including trail use.
21 The resolve requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish an advisory
22 committee to advise the department in undertaking its responsibilities regarding the service
23 plan and scope of work plan. Within 9 months of convening its first meeting, the advisory
24 committee is required to submit a report to the department on its findings and
25 recommendations regarding the service plan and scope of work plan. The department is
26 required to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
27 jurisdiction over railroad matters on the actions taken by the department, including the
28 development of the plans and recommendations for suggested legislation. After reviewing
29 the report, the joint standing committee may report out a bill to implement any of the
30 recommendations included in the report.
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