‘Resolve, To Provide Funding to the Department of Transportation To Complete a Service Plan for the Development of Passenger Rail Service to Lewiston and Auburn’
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. Study. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, shall conduct a study and complete a plan for the implementation of passenger rail service between the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Amtrak Downeaster service. The plan must include a process for public review and comment and must incorporate information from completed studies and new information, including, but not limited to:
1. An analysis of market demand and the potential economic benefits associated with the implementation of passenger rail service between the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Amtrak Downeaster service, and potential future expansion to Montreal;
2. The development of a detailed service plan to meet travel demand and identified economic opportunities, including frequency and schedule of service, station locations, equipment types and seating capacity, marketing, management and operator plans and estimated annual operating costs;
3. An inventory of infrastructure needed to support operations, including mechanical facilities, with an estimate of the necessary capital investments;
4. An evaluation of potential financing mechanisms for capital and operating expenses and an implementation approach and schedule; and
5. A review of potential alternatives and environmental impacts associated with the proposed service, including station locations and necessary investments; and be it further
Sec. 2. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.
TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF
Multimodal - Passenger Rail Z139
Initiative: Provides one-time funding to study and plan for the implementation of passenger rail service between the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Amtrak Downeaster service.
| HIGHWAY FUND | 2015-16 | 2016-17 |
|
All Other
|
$500,000 | $0 |
 |
|
|
| HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL | $500,000 | $0 |
summary
This amendment, which replaces the bill with a resolve, directs the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, to conduct a study and complete a plan for the implementation of passenger rail service between the cities of Lewiston and Auburn and the Amtrak Downeaster service. The amendment also decreases the funding to complete the study from a one-time Highway Fund allocation of $1,000,000, as proposed in the bill, to $500,000 in the state fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)