Sens. Baldacci and Chipman introduce bills to expand passenger rail service in Maine

AUGUSTA — On April 12, Senator Joe Baldacci, D-Bangor and Sen. Ben Chipman, D-Portland introduced a series of bills to establish passenger rail services to connect major cities in Maine. The bills were the subject of public hearings before the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.

“Connecting the major cities of Maine with passenger rail service has been a dream of mine for many years, and to have the opportunity to introduce legislation to address this is incredible,” said Baldacci. “While these plans don’t need to happen all at once, we need to have a vision to make this plan happen. Mainers deserve to have reliable transportation throughout the state, especially if they do not have a vehicle of their own. I see this legislation benefitting countless people, and it will better support the transportation infrastructure of Maine.”

Baldacci introduced three bills to committee, LD 860, LD 861 and LD 862. The bills together establish an independent rail authority that would oversee the railroad lines instead of the Department of Transportation, identify the Canadian Pacific Railway Railroad Lines from Hermon Station through Brownville and Jackman to Quebec and Montreal as a major corridor, and identify the railroad lines from Portland to Bangor as a major corridor.

“We need to ensure that rail remains a priority when considering ways to innovate Maine’s infrastructure,” Chipman said. “Rail has the potential to connect Mainers all over the state. Rail also helps reduce carbon emissions and increases accessibility for disadvantaged populations. As a rural state, rail would be transformative for many communities and our economy. Now is the time that we ensure the future of Maine by investing in rail.”

Chipman’s bill LD 406, “An Act to Expand Passenger Rail Service,” would establish an advisory committee to develop a plan for constructing railways throughout the state. This advisory committee would develop a Rail Corridor Use Vision Plan to proactively find ways to update and use existing tracks. This plan would prioritize renovating existing rail lines to further connect Maine communities.

These bills await further action in committee.