WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) announced that the State of Maine and the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway have agreed to confidential mediation conducted by the STB. As part of the terms of the mediation, all official proceedings in the abandonment case, including the field hearing that had been scheduled for May 10 in Presque Isle, will be postponed.

Congressman Mike Michaud, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, extended an invitation to STB Chairman Daniel R. Elliott III to make the trip to Presque Isle, regardless of the outcome of the mediation, to discuss the importance of freight rail service to the Maine economy and the challenges of establishing reliable freight rail service throughout northern Maine.

“It’s encouraging to see that both parties are willing to work with the STB to find a workable solution,” said Michaud. “However, even if mediation is successful, there will still be a great deal that needs to be done to ensure the future viability of reliable rail service throughout much of northern Maine. I am pleased that Chairman Elliott accepted my invitation to visit Presque Isle, and I look forward to working with him on these issues that directly affect our state’s economic development.”

During a meeting last fall, Chairman Elliott discussed the possibility of formal mediation with Michaud, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar and representatives from the Maine Department of Transportation. Earlier this year, Michaud worked with the STB to secure a rare field hearing in the State of Maine on the application of the Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Railway for authority to discontinue rail service and abandon rail lines. At the request of Michaud, the STB agreed to hold the hearing in Presque Isle.