Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Fund or Seek Funding To Complete a Design and Engineering Assessment for the Extension of Passenger Rail Service from Portland North on the State-owned St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway Corridor

Sec. 1. Completion of the existing environmental assessment. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall fund, or seek funding, to complete and update the existing environmental assessment for the project for the extension of passenger rail service from Portland north if an update of this assessment still meets requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 United States Code, Chapter 55 or to conduct a new assessment to determine whether restoration of the rail line for passenger rail service, which is the subject of the existing assessment, with appropriate mitigation measures would have a significant impact on the human and natural environment; and be it further

Sec. 2. Completion of the construction costs and engineering analysis for track and related improvements. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall fund, or seek funding, to complete the cost and feasibility study necessary to fund restoration of the state-owned St. Lawrence and Atlantic railway corridor for passenger rail service, consistent with the department's "Portland North Alternative Modes Transportation Project" study, including calculations of appropriate costs of track, signals and bridge improvements associated with rail; highway improvements at highway-rail grade crossings; and warning system upgrades, control signals, new rail and required sidings; and be it further

Sec. 3. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation by December 15, 2013 regarding the funding of activities under sections 1 and 2. The Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature regarding the report.

summary

This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to fund or seek funding to provide engineering and design work necessary to qualify the state-owned St. Lawrence and Atlantic railway corridor, from Portland to the Auburn city line, for federal capital investment funding consistent with the passenger rail service investments evaluated and proposed in the Department of Transportation's 2011 "Portland North Alternative Modes Transportation Project" study. The department shall report back to the Legislature with information regarding funding on or before December 15, 2013.