Train Time for the Twin Cities
by Anthony J. Donovan, Sierra Club Maine Transportation & Energy Committee
Rail transportation corridors in Maine represent viable and attractive transportation options that can contribute to the economic prosperity of the regions served. The Maine Chapter of the Sierra Club is advocating for added passenger rail transit connecting the Lewiston/Auburn twin cities and Portland, Maine's two largest metropolitan areas by passenger rail. This proposal builds on the existing Amtrak passenger service (the “Downeaster”) operating between Brunswick (ME)., Portland and Boston, Massachusetts.
Currently trains bypass Lewiston by just 19 miles. An existing 13-mile rail line owned by the State of Maine between Yarmouth and Auburn, currently out of service but having retained its roadbed and trackage, covers much of that distance. Thus, restoring this line to use can be achieved at minimal cost. The remaining route, six miles owned by the privately operated PanAm railroad, links directly to downtown Lewiston. The State has been successful in working with PanAm for service to Portland and Brunswick.
The City of Lewiston current comprehensive planning (the “Plan”) addresses the potential for a passenger rail by reference “ongoing service plan evaluation by the State Rail Authority (NNEPRA)”. It goes on to state that “Until passenger rail becomes a more immediate possibility, Lewiston should look into other forms of intra-city public transit”. It is our opinion that passenger rail planning at the local level will lead to that immediate possibility. The vision is for a passenger train service that connects seamlessly to all modes of neighborhood transportation, including walking, biking/bike share, taxis, buses, shuttles and automobiles, including electric-vehicle car share.
By stating in the Plan that the City will wait until for more immediate possibilities, the City overlooks the current potential of economic and sustainable benefits offered by this critical railway corridor. The railway serving Lewiston links Lewiston to Portland and Boston to the south, east to Waterville and Bangor, and is the main line to national and international passenger rail service to the City, including connections to Montreal. That the city has it in their power to initiate a passenger rail service should be a strong statement of political will in this Plan.
The following five elements of the Plan are applicable to development strategies in the downtown area near the recently restored Maine Central Railway station:
1.Vision and guiding principles. A comprehensive vision of a future transportation and land use system for the City can be defined by the existing railway corridor and a railway station transit stop in the City. A passenger rail service to the downtown will serve residents’ transportation needs, foster economic development, and preserve the City’s character, while focusing investment and development in a sustainable pattern. An alternative transportation plan for this section of the downtown, integrating all modes of transit; bike, ped, bus, transit, car share and roadways, with a focal point at the downtown Maine Central Railway station can provide a tool for local community planners and developers to help achieve these goals.
2.Analyze existing conditions. Historically the criteria for siting a railway transit station is that the site be located in an area of established economic activity. Walkability to places providing services, housing and business is critical to success. The location of the Maine Central railway building at 1 Bates Street can directly impact and be impacted by the neighborhood out to Main Street, east to the Central Maine Medical Campus and the blocks of underutilized property west toward the riverfront. Existing conditions and demographic analysis of population, businesses, transportation and access at this center of activity can be used to encourage an open exchange of information and ideas on community development and land-use activities.
3.Emerging trends. National market trends indicating traditional walkable urban lifestyles of the sort served by transit are found increasingly appealing to both young urban professionals and Baby Boomers alike. The Lewiston site is ideally poised to cater to the needs of both. The opportunity for economic advancement in the immediate area is apparent and the potential for correspondingly enhanced quality of life unmistakable. Access to healthcare is an important aspect to City lifestyles and the adjacency to the hospital should be considered in light of resident and visitor mobility needs. The Plan might also consider the trend towards local control and local access to resources. The previously referenced comment that Lewiston wait for the State to decide when and if to pursue passenger rail service, should be reconsidered in light of emerging trends toward more local community needs, economical and environmentally beneficial access and the resource offered by the presence of this railway in Lewiston.
4.Illustrate a plan for future development. The draft Plan addresses development in every section. It states that 1/3 of downtown Lewiston “is underutilized land ripe for development or redevelopment.” The Plan goes on to state that the city should prioritize the development of the large numbers of unproductive parcels owned by private individuals. Transit oriented design of this area provides the city with an immediate opportunity to initiate actions, adopt policies to provide incentives to encourage private development interests at this location.
5.Supporting infrastructure. Compact urban center development reduces infrastructure costs and long-term maintenance as the supporting utility system, gas, water sewer, power, are closer in proximity and therefore less material and environmental impacts from the public and private investments. This approach supports local economies and protects the environment. Smart Growth America, a leading national advocacy organization, offers this consideration of infrastructure costs;
Real estate, and the infrastructure that supports it, represents 35% of the United States’ asset base – by far the country’s largest asset class. As a result, depressions in real estate have generally caused recessions in the general economy; two of the last three recessions, including the current one, have convincingly shown this. To get the United States’ economy moving again, resuscitating the real estate industry is key.
Transportation infrastructure is a particularly important part of this achieving this goal. Transportation drives development and the transportation system we select dictates the shape of real estate. For the past three generations, U.S. transportation investment policy focused primarily on building roads, as the market wanted. However, this resulted in an over-supply of “drivable suburban” development. In today’s real estate market, particularly among the Millennial generation, demand is rapidly rising for “walkable urban” development, which is denser and mixes uses within walking distance.
By improving access to rail and developing a convenient transit infrastructure, biking and pedestrian systems will spark an explosion of walkable urban development in towns and cities across the country. A national model for this is the Washington, DC metropolitan area which has seen over $100 billion worth of development around Metro rail transit stations over the past 20 years. Metropolitan Denver is emulating this model and expanding their light rail system to include over 50 new stations; the city expects the bulk of new development in the region to take place around these stations.
6.Strategies for sustainability The Bates Street station site presents meaningful opportunities for profitable and sustainable retrofits. New development of this sort would cater to the needs of regional travelers as well as those making the short (and healthy) walk from nearby business and residences. Re-use of existing sites by appropriate infill will preserve the city’s character, and focus investment and development in a sustainable pattern. Public transportation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing an alternative to driving. On a national scale, transportation accounts for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions. 64% of these transportation emissions come from cars, SUVs and pickups. In addition to providing a clean energy alternative to driving, rail transit will also will help preserve green spaces by facilitating focused development and reduce carbon emissions related to transportation.
A short story: In 1914, one could walk out of Portland, Maine City Hall and board a railcar on the Portland–Lewiston Interurban and travel to Lewiston, Maine City Hall about 45 miles away; in less than one hour – at speeds approaching 100 MPH – on a completely electrified system. Let me say that again – 100 MPH on a 100% electrified system. Over 100 years ago America had the most advanced railway system in the world. Thanks to General Motors and General President Eisenhower for what we have now.
Train Time for L/A!