Governor John E. Baldacci today announced the members of the Aroostook Rail Advisory Task Force, which he established by Executive Order on April 13. The Task Force will ensure a public and transparent process and input as issues regarding abandonment and potential acquisition of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway.

In addition, the Governor announced that State of Maine and the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway have agreed to confidential mediation, which postpones action on proposed abandonment of the rail lines by the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB). The STB will conduct the mediation.

“I am pleased that we have begun mediation which gives us the ability to review the very important issues regarding preservation of this vital rail line,” said Governor Baldacci. “The Congressional Delegation, Maine Legislature and my Administration have been working together to ensure the viability of the rail, which is an economic lifeline to Northern Maine workers and businesses.”

The Aroostook Rail Advisory Task Force was mandated in LD 1826, “An Act To Authorize Bond Issues for Ratification by the Voters for the June 2010 Election and November 2010 Election,” which was signed into law by the Governor on April 12.

The law asks voters to approve $7 million to purchase and preserve approximately 240 miles of railroad track in Aroostook County currently owned and operated by the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway, which in February filed with the Surface Transportation Board to abandon the line.

The original Executive Order to create the Task Force was amended to expand membership and add to the purpose of the Task Force.

The Task Force members:
Chair: Transportation Commissioner David Cole
Vice-Chair: Representative Josh Tardy

Commissioner of Transportation, or designee
David Cole, Commissioner, Maine Department of Transportation

Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, or designee
Thaxter Trafton, Commissioner of Economic Development

Legislators – Senators appointed by Senate President; Representatives appointed by Speaker of the House
Senator Troy Jackson (Aroostook County)
Senator Walter Gooley (Franklin County)
Representative John Martin (Eagle Lake)
Representative Ken Theriault (Madawaska)
Representative Josh Tardy (Newport)
Representative Bernard Ayotte (Caswell)
(Alternates: Representatives Richard Cleary of Houlton and Peter Edgecomb of Caribou)

[NOTE: All State Legislators representing affected areas of the State are invited to participate as stakeholders (non-voting)]

Representatives of Businesses that Use the Rail Line Subject to Abandonment
Jeff Dutton, President and CEO, Twin Rivers (formerly Fraser Papers)
John Cashwell III, Managing Director, Portage Wood Products.
Travis Turner, Plant Manager, Louisiana-Pacific New Limerick Mill

Representatives of Economic Development or Business in Aroostook County
Robert P. Clark, Executive Director, Northern Maine Development Commission
Virginia “Ginny” Joles, President, LEAD (Leaders Encouraging Aroostook Development)
Chris Anderson, Treasurer, Aroostook Partnership for Progress

Representative of a Statewide Business Organization
Dana Connors, President, Maine State Chamber of Commerce

Invited to participate as ex-officio, non-voting members:
A representative of Senator Snowe, Senator Collins and 2nd Congressional District Representative Michael Michaud

Invited to participate as stakeholders (non-voting)
Economic development, civic and community organizations and affected businesses
Other interested individuals and organizations