Resolve, To Expand Commuter and Passenger Rail Transportation in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1330
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: CHIPMAN, CRAVEN, CAIN, CEBRA, CUSHING, MAZUREK, PEOPLES, SHAW, WILLETTE, DIAMOND

Legislative Document 
No. 1330 
H.P. 976 
House of Representatives, March 29, 2011 
Resolve, To Expand Commuter and Passenger Rail Transportation 
in Maine 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative CHIPMAN of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator CRAVEN of Androscoggin and 
Representatives: CAIN of Orono, CEBRA of Naples, CUSHING of Hampden, MAZUREK of 
Rockland, PEOPLES of Westbrook, SHAW of Standish, WILLETTE of Mapleton, Senator: 
DIAMOND of Cumberland. 
Sec. 1.  Task force established.  Resolved:  That the Northern New England 
Passenger Rail Authority, as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 
12004-F, subsection 16, shall establish and convene the Maine Commuter and Passenger 
Rail Advisory Task Force, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," to evaluate and 
prioritize investments in commuter and passenger rail service between communities in 
this State in order to expedite development of efficient commuter rail service as 
appropriate in the major economic and population centers in this State to reduce costs to 
the State, its municipalities and its citizens of travel to and from work, business activities 
and entertainment and recreation activities; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Task force membership.  Resolved:  That the Northern New England 
Passenger Rail Authority shall invite the participation of the following persons on the 
task force: 
1.  Three regional transportation planners, one each from greater Portland, Lewiston-
Auburn and Bangor; 
2.  Three representatives of major private employers, one each from greater Portland, 
Lewiston-Auburn and Bangor, each representing a different employer; 
3.  Two representatives of groups that have expertise in rail transit in this State; 
4.  One representative of the Department of Transportation who has experience in rail 
planning; 
5.  One representative who has experience in transit services that are complementary 
to rail service; 
6.  Two representatives of statewide environmental organizations; 
7.  A representative of a contracting company in this State with expertise and 
experience in the construction of rail line facilities; and 
8.  Three interested citizens of this State who are informed with respect to rail service 
issues. 
A representative of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority shall serve 
on the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the Northern New England Passenger Rail 
Authority shall convene the task force to meet at least once a month to develop a Maine 
commuter and passenger rail plan, referred to in this resolve as "the plan."  The task force 
shall research and identify investment priorities for the establishment of commuter and 
passenger rail service between communities in this State.  The plan must be based on 
existing studies and analyses.  The plan must identify the markets and infrastructure and 
the potential to remove automobile traffic from excessively used roadways.  The plan 
must also provide for the reduction of highway construction and maintenance costs and 
ways to limit the need for parking facilities, as well as reducing road congestion and 
lessening transportation costs for citizens living in cities in this State.  The commuter rail 
investment priorities identified by the task force must be included in the plan.  The task 
force shall recommend and include in the plan routes for passenger and commuter rail 
development; projected operational and capital investment costs; logistical issues; 
requirements for equipment, operators and track upgrades; and proposed sources of 
funding.  The task force shall make recommendations regarding connections at rail 
terminal sites linking to bus transit and bicycle, trail and pedestrian access points and 
routes to destinations from terminals.  The task force shall include in the plan total cost 
estimates and environmental and service quality comparisons to other transportation 
investments for achieving similar results.  These comparisons must include a comparison 
of rail service to the continued reliance on private motor vehicles and bus service, 
including the costs of road and bridge construction and maintenance; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That the Northern New England Passenger 
Rail Authority shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force;  and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Compensation.  Resolved:  That the members of the task force serve 
without compensation or reimbursement of expenses; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Report. Resolved:  That the Northern New England Passenger Rail 
Authority shall report the findings and the plan of the task force to the Department of 
Transportation and the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than 
December 31, 2011.  The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may submit a bill 
to the Second Regular Session of the 125th Legislature on the subject matter of the report. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority to establish 
and convene the Maine Commuter and Passenger Rail Advisory Task Force to evaluate 
and prioritize investments in commuter and passenger rail service between communities 
in this State in order to expedite development of efficient commuter rail service as 
appropriate in the major economic and population centers in this State to reduce costs to 
the State, its municipalities and its citizens of travel to and from work, business activities 
and entertainment and recreation activities.  The task force must develop a Maine 
commuter and passenger rail plan, which must include investment priorities for the 
establishment of commuter and passenger rail service between communities in this State.  
The plan must be based on existing studies and analyses that explore the markets and 
infrastructure and the potential to remove automobile traffic from excessively used 
roadways.  The plan must also provide for the reduction of highway construction and 
maintenance costs and ways to limit the need for parking facilities as well as reducing 
road congestion and lessening transportation costs for citizens living in cities in this State.  
The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority must report the findings and the 
plan of the task force to the Department of Transportation and the Joint Standing 
Committee on Transportation no later than December 31, 2011.  The Joint Standing 
Committee on Transportation may submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
125th Legislature on the subject matter of the report.