Feds to hold rail hearing in Presque Isle
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The Surface Transportation Board has agreed to come to Presque Isle to hold the public hearing on the application of Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway for authority to discontinue rail service and abandon rail lines along a roughly 240-mile stretch between Millinocket and Madawaska.
Congressman Mike Michaud praised the decision by the STB to hold the session in a community known as the “hub of Aroostook.” The hearing will take place May 10 at 9 a.m. at Presque Isle District Court — a facility located just feet away from the rail line that runs through the center of the city.
In March, Michaud sent a letter to Daniel R. Elliot, the chairman of the STB, requesting that the field hearing be held in Aroostook County.
“I think it will be good to get these folks out of Washington and up to Presque Isle,” said Michaud. “That way, they can see and hear first-hand how this proposed abandonment would affect the region’s economy. Mainers deserve an opportunity to express their concerns.”
In the letter, Michaud said “while the proposed abandonment would affect the entire state, the counties of Penobscot and Aroostook stand to lose the most from the loss of freight rail service.”
Michaud hoped by bringing board members here would provide them with more of an opportunity to hear directly from local business leaders how the loss of rail would affect their marketplace.
“STB officials should have an opportunity to visit these communities first-hand. More importantly, we must do everything that we can to make sure that this discussion is open and accessible to the businesses, organizations, workers and families that will be most directly impacted by the proposed abandonment,” Michaud continued in his March 16 letter to Elliot.
The hearing will be open to the public. While businesses and organizations looking to participate are encouraged to file with the STB no later than April 15, individual Mainers can sign up for an opportunity to speak at the courthouse on the day of the hearing.
According to an STB spokesperson, it is very rare that these field hearings are held.
It’s estimated upward of 1,700 jobs could be lost if rail service north of Millinocket comes to an end. A draft preliminary study by the STB estimates that over 73,000 truck trips would be required annually to replace freight train service to over 20 businesses that currently use the rail line to ship and receive goods.
Michaud indicated in his letter that the best way to impress upon the board how the discontinuance of rail service will affect the communities in Aroostook will be to have the hearing in the county.
“Upon announcing the hearing, you (Elliot) stated that this ‘proposed abandonment would affect many shippers and the local and regional economy and is important that the board hears from as many voices as possible. The best way to do that is for Washington to go to Maine instead of Maine coming to Washington.’ I could not agree with you more,” Michaud concluded in his letter.
