Working together to get things done
Congressional reps weigh in on Aroostook rail decision
By U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud
When it comes to the big issues of the day, little can get done without some level of give and take and cooperation. That is true in Congress as well as right here in Maine.
On Oct. 19th, the governor’s office announced that the state had reached an agreement with the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway to preserve access to freight rail service in northern Maine. But what many might not know is how much work was put into this positive outcome behind the scenes by so many people.
Back in October of 2009, I worked to get the ball rolling on a solution by setting up a meeting with House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), representatives from the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and a group of Maine businesses and organizations that rely on the rail line. We discussed the effects that a rail abandonment would have on the region and recognized that it would take everyone working together to keep rail service operational in northern Maine.
As we moved forward, the cooperation and determination that resulted was impressive. Local economic development leaders, state representatives and senators, the governor’s office, MDOT and Senators Snowe and Collins all worked together to arrive at a solution.
Since the initial meeting in 2009, I worked closely with the STB and FRA to ensure that there was a fair, transparent process in place so that all parties would have an opportunity to be heard. As a result, I was able to convince STB officials to hold a hearing in Presque Isle. While it is not common for the STB to hold these hearing outside of Washington, I knew how important it was that they see and hear firsthand how this abandonment would affect the region’s economy.
And when needed, I pushed this issue at the highest levels of our government. When the President and his family vacationed in Bar Harbor this summer, I met him at the airport to press our case and ask for his support. I also got on the phone with U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood to support the funding application that was submitted by the state to help improve the conditions of the existing track.
And as a result of the good work done by many in Maine, the Administration recently responded to our request to provide a $10.5 million federal investment to rehabilitate the track. This investment will complement the deal that was reached by the State of Maine by helping to improve the long-term viability and reliability of freight rail service in northern Maine.
Throughout the process, local, state and federal stakeholders worked hand in hand toward a common goal. While it took almost a year, we are now closer than ever to crossing the finish line. And although there remains work to be done, such as finding an operator for the line, we are in a much better position today to make sure our businesses retain freight rail service than we’ve been in the last year.
Combined with the federal investment to improve the track, the agreement announced by the governor will help ensure that our businesses have the infrastructure in place to grow and sustain jobs. It will also make northern Maine an even more attractive place to do business, which will help create more jobs in the region moving forward.
Ultimately, the hard work that went into saving the rail line paid off due to an “all hands on deck” approach. In Congress, people tend to get caught up in claiming credit, grabbing headlines and making the other side look bad. That’s just not the case in our state and that’s not what Mainers expect.
The work done to preserve freight rail in Maine was truly collaborative. I think duplicating this cooperation could help us move other important initiatives forward that will help our state. Congress could certainly use a dose of teamwork too.
