Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §13058, sub-§19 is enacted to read:

19.__Coordinate assessment of transportation needs related to economic development projects. The commissioner shall coordinate the activities of the department, the State Planning Office within the Executive Department, the Department of Transportation and regional planning and economic development organizations to ensure that the location of rail lines, potential use of passenger and freight rail and costs of transportation improvements related to development are considered during initial planning and locating of projects reviewed by the commissioner in administering economic development programs under this chapter.

Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §74 is enacted to read:

§74.__Freight transportation advisory council

1. Purpose; membership. The Commissioner of Transportation shall establish a freight transportation advisory council to facilitate discussion and provide insight into issues pertaining to freight transportation in the State.__The commissioner shall invite no fewer than 20 people from the private sector to participate as members of the council.__ Membership must include representatives of various geographic areas of the State. Membership must include at least one person with experience in each of the following:

A.__Commercial trucking;

B.__Rail freight;

C.__Waterborne freight;

D.__Manufacturing forest products;

E.__Shipping forest products;

F.__Shipping agricultural products; and

G.__Distributing petroleum products.

2.__Meetings; chair.__The Commissioner of Transportation or the commissioner's designee shall serve as chair of the council established in subsection 1.__The Department of Transportation shall provide staff support to the council.__ The council shall meet at the call of the chair but not less than 4