Maine rails

The state’s role in railroad service gets particular attention during tourist seasons, when traffic in some parts of the state makes even a simple trip to the grocery store a sizzling test of patience. This year, with the promising development of an East Brunswick-to-Rockland line, the debate of cost vs. use should be more lively than ever.

Right about mid-July, however, when traffic and heat reach a cumulative apex, almost everyone is likely to agree that anything that will get some of the cars and trucks off the road is a brilliant notion.

Please hold that thought.

A rail service in Maine is a good investment and one the state should continue to support. Maine has the chance to improve transportation for both freight and passengers by studying new and renovated railroads, which are proving to be successful throughout the country.

Michael Murray, railroad specialist for the Maine Department of Transportation, said a rail line would not only reduce the burden on the state’s highways, but would attract economic development along the rail line and present an alternative method for shipping goods.

Massachusetts Central Railroad Corp., which plans to operate the short-line rail service in southern Maine, could offer limited service as soon as this summer. Restoring old track is expensive, but laying the groundwork for a mass transportation system, even on a small scale, is a wise investment.

The DOT, Murray said, may someday look to purchase rolling stock and equipment and lease it to operators. More than a half dozen tracks around Maine could be restored for use, he said. That’s good news both for business and for those who wince at the thought of this summer’s traffic jams.