LEWISTON — While rail may be the dream for central Maine’s communities, buses just may make more sense, state transportation officials told Lewiston councilors Tuesday night.
The Maine Department of Transportation has kicked off a new study to figure out if passenger rail service between Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Montreal makes sense.
The state is also wrapping up a two-year look at commuter trends north of Portland, said Susan Moreau, manager of multimodal planning for the state.
Moreau told councilors the Portland North study, meant to pick a path for mass transit commuter service, will favor Brunswick when it’s released in a few weeks.
It probably won’t be rail, however. Moreau said the Portland North study will likely recommend establishing a commuter bus service between Portland and Brunswick.
“What we found is that Maine just does not have the ridership for rail, at this point,” Moreau told councilors.
The new Lewiston/Auburn/Montreal Passenger Feasibility Study continues the work started with the Portland North study, but focuses on Lewiston-Auburn west.
Buses may be best choice there, as well.
“If nothing else, we need to build ridership,” she said. “We need to demonstrate that there is a need and actual demand for this kind of commuter service. If there is, we can build on it.”
The new study is looking at ridership potential, costs, options for possible station stops and necessary upgrades. It’s expected to be completed by January.
The study is looking at three different options for passenger service through L-A: rail service between Portland and L-A; rail service between L-A and Montreal, through Bethel; and bus service between Portland and L-A.
Moreau and her team have been making the rounds along the proposed route, meeting with residents and officials in Lewiston-Auburn and Bethel in September. They’ve also planned to meet with planning and chamber of commerce groups along the way.
If costs and opportunities make sense, the next steps would include environmental studies, getting state and local permits and designing the railway. Proponents would also apply for state and federal grants to pay for the designs and construction.
Moreau said the most important question now is where communities along the way want stops.
Lewiston councilors said they were fine having the train stop at the Auburn Intermodal Facility. Moreau said that’s what she heard from members of the community last month.
“Once we have that down, we can begin to look at the routes and the costs,” she said.
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