PPH Finally Reports on Last Tuesday's S&T Meeitng About the Amtrak Siting Location

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Scsmedia

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Oct 14, 2025, 10:13:13 PMOct 14
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Can you say a week late on the news.  Why would some one pay $2.50 per week for this rag when they cannot even cover local issues in a timely manner.  I found an accidental work around to reading them on line so I am good.

I have moved to the no build camp.  The article say $25 to $30 million to build a station, but the documents presented for the meeting said $50 million (I also think one of the participants said $50 million).  At $50 million, it is not worth the expense for a potential increase of 21,000 passengers per year (also laid out in the documentation).

As to the arguement of site 2 over site 3 as to the distance, that is bogus.  1,200 feet is not a deal breaker in the walkability, etc. of the sites.  The fact that it is still on St John Street is a bigger draw back than the distance either site presents.

Steven Scharf


PS: I pissed off half the State of North Carolina on Facebook tonight by suggesting we need to stop spending government money to hold the ocean back from the Outer Banks.  They are literally just dumping sand into the ocean this week.




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Tony Donovan

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Oct 15, 2025, 10:50:06 AMOct 15
to PB...@googlegroups.com, cou...@portlandmaine.gov, transpo...@gpcog.org, Lookner, Grayson, Peter T. Cole, F. Bruce Sleeper
Our organization has been saying No build to this station for over a decade - the time someone paying attention would.  NNEPRA wants this to "save 15 minutes" and so we can get to Lewiston and Bangor.  Note, if you live in Portland there is no delay.  And NNEPRA, MEDOT and the current Governor lobbied hard against expansion to Bangor.

The cost of $50 million is not only ridiculous, but the improvements will primarily be to CSX.  Once again, the state using federal and state tax dollars to improve a private transportation company asset.  The last owner walked away with $700 million after we invested about $200 million for him

The current location is prime for Transit Oriented Development (check it out), ideal for intermodal connectivity.  Plenty of parking.  And look close - it is also the location where the mountain division state owned railroad connects with Amtrak - west to the  highest commuter/congestion areas of the state.  Right at a time when a private transportation company is seeking to lease that railroad for passenger use.  (yes Alex, the railroad should not be torn up for trail).  Right at a time when we need to address congestion causing Climate Change.

Just like the Franklin arterial, $50 million boondoggle.  Once the city gets something in their head, and some state bureaucrat wants it to happen, no one reconsiders.

Please continue to speak up.  The Train Station should not be moved.
Franklin Arterial should not be rebuilt
and stop wasting money on roundabouts ($6.5 million at USM)

More housing.  Less wasted money on asphalt.  
Support Sensible, sustainable transit.

--
Anthony J. Donovan, Director
 Maine Rail Transit Coalition
84 Middle St.  Portland, Me. 04101
 
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Anthony J. Donovan, Director
 Maine Rail Transit Coalition
84 Middle St.  Portland, Me. 04101
 
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Zack Barowitz

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Oct 15, 2025, 7:05:36 PMOct 15
to PB...@googlegroups.com, cou...@portlandmaine.gov, transpo...@gpcog.org, Lookner, Grayson, Peter T. Cole, F. Bruce Sleeper
Thanks for that overview Tony. I think the city is pretty open to the No- Build option. I was kinda shocked that MDoT strongly suggested that NEPRA is considering not having a Portland station at all. Seems pretty preposterous. 
Zack 

917-696-5649
ZacharyBarowitz.com

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