ELLSWORTH—The state’s transportation commissioner has thrown his support behind a $74 million plan to reopen the Brewer-to-Calais rail line.

Commissioner John Melrose said Tuesday he has recommended that Governor Angus King include the first phase of that plan in a capital projects package he is now developing.

Last fall, a commission impaneled to study the rail line recommended reopening the 127-mile, state-owned line and constructing a spur to Eastport. Melrose met with the commission earlier this month to review its recommendation before the report went to the Legislature Jan. 15.

"The commission did a good job, particularly in demonstrating the traffic projected for the line," Melrose said. "Considering the amount of money we’re going to need to spend to renovate the line, we’re going to need to know if the business is out there to justify it."

He said he was pleased to see that the report indicated that there would be sufficient business on the line to cover all the operation costs.

Melrose added that the commission also had recognized the magnitude of the project, and said he appreciated the effort to develop a phased approach to restoring rail service. Although the commission recommended an "aggressive" approach, it called for a three-phase project that would reopen the entire line and provide rail service to Eastport by 2010.

Melrose said he has discussed the project with Governor King and has asked that the first phase—a $21 million investment to reopen the line from Brewer to Ellsworth and on to Cherryfield—be included in the Governor’s capital plan.

"The Governor has been briefed on this and is sympathetic to the needs," Melrose said. "He seems particularly interested in the benefits of bringing rail service to Eastport."

Melrose cautioned that no decision has been made yet on the capital plan and that there will be significant competition for funds in that plan.

Melrose acknowledged that the project was expensive, adding that the department already is seeking federal funding for the project, and particularly for the first phase. Restoring the rail line, however, will require significant financial commitment

"That’s going to be a key issue for the Legislature," he said. "If they’re going to raise even a dime, they better be in it for the long haul."

Melrose’s support did not come without some concern, particularly with the schedule for implementing the plan. The second phase calls for restoring service to Eastport and connecting to Calais. That plan, he said, leaves a gap between Cherryfield and Ayers Junction in Perry where the spur would head east to Eastport.

The commissioner said he would rather see the main line—the full stretch from Brewer to Ellsworth to Cherryfield and on to Ayers Junction and Calais—back in service before building the Eastport spur.

About 4,000 freight cars annually—half the projected freight usage on the line—are going to Canada from Calais in order to reach markets in the U.S. Melrose suggested that those freight cars should travel on Maine rail lines.

"We can’t do that unless we have one line all the way through," he said. "I have some reservations when the only way out of state is via New Brunswick. We’d rather open the line up through Brewer instead."

Melrose said his views did not appear to be a major concern for the commission.

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