Collins: $17.5M in railroad upgrades will give rural Maine a 'competitive advantage'

Courtesy / NNEPRA The Maine Department of Transportation was awarded $17.47 million by the federal government for infrastructure upgrades and rail crossing safety improvements along approximately 75 miles of the Pan Am Railways freight mainline in rural parts of central and southern Maine.

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By Staff

The Maine Department of Transportation was awarded $17.5 million by the federal government for infrastructure upgrades and rail crossing safety improvements along approximately 75 miles of the Pan Am Railways freight mainline in rural parts of central and southern Maine.

This funding has been awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration’s fiscal year 2018 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements program.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairman of the Transportation Subcommittee said in a news release that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao called her personally with the news that funding had been approved for the MDOT rail upgrades.

Through this project, MDOT will address rail safety concerns by replacing equipment that, in some cases, is almost 50 years old. The project will modernize 75 miles of Pan Am Railway mainline track in Maine, including replacing 37 miles of rail, upgrading 25 switches, at-grade rail crossings, extending and upgrading an existing siding, replacing signal systems, and replacing bridge deck timbers on eight rail bridges.

In September 2018, U.S. Sens. Collins and Angus King, I-Maine, sent a letter in support of MDOT’s grant application.

The Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program grant program directs much-needed critical investment to rural America. By directing at least 25% of available funds towards rural communities, the U.S Department of Transportation is able to safely connect and upgrade rural America’s rail infrastructure.

“I am delighted to announce that the state of Maine will receive an investment of more than $17 million to make important improvements to this rail line in central and southern Maine, increasing the corridor’s safety, efficiency, and reliability,” Collins said in a statement. “In my travels throughout Maine, I’ve seen firsthand the positive effects of investing in our railroads to improve safety and boost our economy. Enhancing the rail connection between manufacturers and the forest products industry and their markets can create a competitive advantage for Maine, helping to create jobs in rural parts of our state.”