Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Review the Fiscal Impact on the·State of the Closure of the Railroad Track between Madawaska and Millinocket
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1678
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: SHERMAN, THERIAULT, COURTNEY, JACKSON, RA YE, CLARK, EDGECOMB, JOY, SHAW, SUTHERLAND

Legislative Document 
No. 1678 
S.P.650 
In Senate, January 6, 2010 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Review the 
Fiscal Impact on the·State of the Closure of the Railroad Track 
between Madawaska and Millinocket 
(EMERGENCy) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook. 
9r8(J~ 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative THERIAULT of Madawaska and 
Senators: COURTNEY of York, JACKSON of Aroostook, RA YE of Washington, 
Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, EDGECOMB of Caribou, JOY of Crystal, SHAW of 
Standish, SUTHERLAND of Chapman. 
Printed on recycled paper 
1. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the owners of the Montreal,Maine and Atlantic Railway have filed notice 
with the federal Surface TransportatioriBoard that it may seek to abandon more than 240 
, 5 
miles of track serving Penobscot County and Aroostook County, from the Town of 
Millinocket to the Town of Madawaska' and several eastward branches, including one 
toward the Town of Houlton; and, 
Whereas, these tracks are part of the historic line fonnerly known as the Bangor and 
Aroostook,and the loss of this rail line would, be a major blow to the economy of not just 
northern Maine, but the entire State; and 
Whereas, the Department of Transportation needs to immediately study and review 
the options and impact of a possible closing in time to submit emergency legislation; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-dayperiod expires, in order that, 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to this 
legislative session; and 
. 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency with in 
the meaning of the O;mstitutionof Maine' and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
, 21 
Sec. 1., Northern Maine railway study. Resolved: That the Department of 
Transportation shall review the possible' fiscal impact to the State in the event the 
Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway abandons more than 240 miles of track serving 
Penobscot County and Aroostook County, from the Town 'of Millinocket to the Town ,of 
Madawaska and several eastward branches, including one toward the Town of Houlton. 
In conducting this review, the department shall seek infonnation from all interested 
parties in the matter of a rail closure and incorporate those responses into the report under 
section 2; and be it further 
Sec. 2. 
Study responses reported. 
Resolved: 
That the Department of 
Transportation shall report its findings and recommendations under section 1, including 
suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation by March 1, 
2010. The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may introduce a bill to the 
matters relating to the study. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Transportation. to review the fiscal impact 
upon the State of the proposed closure of railroad tracks between the Town of 
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Madawaska and the Town of Millinocket and report its findings to the Second Regular 
Sess,ion of the 124th Legislature.