Maine Legislators Kill Proposal Seeking Study of Portland-Orono Passenger Service

Maine legislators kill proposal seeking study of Portland-Orono passenger service

The Maine state seal AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s House of Representatives has killed a proposal to study passenger service between Portland and Orono, Maine, the second straight year that the legislature has opted not to study a potential expansion. LD 487 — presented in both houses by a mix of Democratic and Republican sponsors — called for the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, operator of the Downeaster, to apply for funding to study…

Maine House defeats effort to study Portland-Orono passenger rail

The Maine House of Representatives defeated Tuesday a proposal to study expanding passenger rail service from the state’s biggest city to the home of its flagship university. It was the latest setback for rail advocates and a mix of Democratic and Republican lawmakers who have argued the state should at least start the process of only asking for federal funding to identify a potential route from Portland to Orono via Auburn, Lewiston, Waterville…