City HallTuesday, November 10
Portland city staff and the rail authority still disagree on where the Downeaster station should go
The Daily Portland team
If you ride the Downeaster, your station could move. The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority was awarded $48 million in federal funding, in August, to relocate it to St. John Street, near Northern Light Mercy Hospital. The project is estimated at roughly $60 million, with a proposed $12 million match in state funding.
City leaders aren't sold. Staff and elected officials were caught off-guard by the announcement, and staff recommended against the move before Monday evening's council workshop. They prefer Union Station Plaza, farther down St. John Street, and say the authority's site goes against nearly every zoning and long-term planning document in place.
The rail authority and city staff each favor a different site
| Site | Who backs it | The case for it |
|---|---|---|
| Outer St. John Street | Rail authority | Less travel time, more rail service |
| Union Station Plaza | City staff | Better bike, pedestrian and transit access |
| Thompson's Point (today) | Regional council memo | Keeps rail and buses together |
Source: The Portland Press Herald
- Current station: Portland Transportation Center, Thompson's Point
- Time saved: 15 minutes a trip, the rail authority says
- Next: more council meetings; city must agree on the site
The Greater Portland Council of Governments is backing the city. Its memo argues moving the station would split rail from buses. City officials will have to agree with the rail authority's preferred location, WMTW reports.
Sources: WMTW, The Portland Press Herald