Portland delegation approves support for LD 511 to advance Portland–Auburn trail; city staff to consider testimony

The delegation discussed LD 511, described in the meeting as a resolve directing the Maine Department of Transportation to implement recommendations of the Portland-to-Auburn Rail Use Advisory Council, and voted to support the measure and consider providing testimony.

Senator Jill Dusan (Senate District 27), who identified herself as a sponsor of the item, said the bill “would support both that work and also provide an instruction to the Department of Transportation to take action to support continuing the trail all the way up through Lewiston, Auburn.” Dusan said Lewiston’s council recently approved a resolution in support, and that trail coalition organizations in Portland plan to testify.

Nut graf: The item matters because it attempts to advance a shared-use trail while the city and state weigh competing corridor priorities for future rail service. Greg Jordan, the city’s assistant city manager, told the delegation that MaineDOT has studied the corridor trade-offs and concluded “the CSX corridor ... is the better candidate for future rail,” while the St. Lawrence Atlantic corridor that the trail would use is a less favorable candidate for rail — a technical judgment that led city staff to say they can support the trail testimony.

The mayor moved to support the bill and authorize the city to provide testimony; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Councilors recorded support during the roll call exchange in the meeting (several members said “aye”). After the vote Senator Dusan said the city’s testimony and coalition participation would be helpful and that she would look for city staff “in the hall” to coordinate next steps.

Ending: The delegation’s formal support and city staff’s offer to provide testimony set up a near-term step: city staff and coalition partners will coordinate who will submit testimony at the public hearing and finalize any city statement to MaineDOT.