Governor Celebrates Rail Station Re-Dedication

Press Release

Governor John E. Baldacci today joined officials at a re-dedication ceremony of the historic Bath Railroad Station. The Governor praised the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), the City of Bath and the Bath Transportation Committee for their efforts in bringing passenger rail service back to the mid-coast region.

"Expanding rail is important to Maine's future and to growing our economy" said Governor Baldacci. "For this region and the state, we have much to look forward to regarding the promise of rail. We're in the midst of the excursion season, with trains running from Brunswick to Rockland five days a week, and the signs are positive for continued growth in interest in passenger rail in the mid-coast."

Economic promise tied to the Bath facility and the railroad includes plans to establish a multi-model center. The close proximity of the rail to Route 1 and the Kennebec River present a wonderful opportunity to move people and goods by car, bus and ship. Governor Baldacci said area businesses will also benefit from the increased ridership.

The Bath station was originally dedicated to Arthur Sewall 65 years ago. The new facility is already operational. The Maine Department of Transportation partnered with the city and others to achieve the funding to refurbish the facility. In all, the project required $1.2 million. The State was able to assist in passing through about $1 million in federal funds. The Department of Transportation also agreed to move the visitors center that had been located on Route 1 to the railroad station.

The Governor said that improving our transportation services is critical to Maine's future. The Maine Department of Transportation's FY 2008/2009 Biennial Work Plan includes more than $500,000 to be invested in improvements in the state owned Rockland Branch rail line infrastructure, which serves the new Bath Station. Another $500,000 is dedicated to station improvements, parking facilities and passenger amenities in Bath and Rockland to grow the passenger rail potential of the Rockland Branch in the future.

Statewide, DOT capital investments in rail include:

A new maintenance facility to support growth of the Downeaster service;

Preliminary engineering work and regulatory work on the future passenger rail corridors from Portland to Brunswick;

Connecting the Rockland Branch to the regional system; and

Connecting Portland to Auburn, facilitating future commuter service between the state's two largest metropolitan areas.

The Governor said that the transportation bond passed this year will result in greatly needed improvements system-wide. "I am pleased that earlier this year we passed the largest bonding package for transportation in Maine's history," said Governor Baldacci.

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