The agency in Maine that runs Amtrak’s Downeaster is facing a looming financial crisis.
For years, millions of dollars in federal money has helped pay for the train’s operation.
But next year the federal money will run out to the tune of millions of dollars a year.
Downeaster managers hope New Hampshire might make up some of the loss.
A possibility that state policy makers say is unlikely.
New Hampshire Public Radio’s David Darman has more.
The federal money that has helped pay for running the Downeaster will disappear in July of 2009.
Patricia Quinn of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority in Maine says
Based on ridership, New Hampshire ought to pony up about 3 million dollars a year for the train.
…we’re showing benefit not just to maine but to the region and if we can partner together on the financing it will enable us to grow the service which will benefit everybody.
Lawmakers in Maine have so far agreed to pay 8 million dollars to address the coming shortfall.
They have also arranged to borrow 31 million dollars to extend the line beyond Portland to Freeport and Brunswick.
But like many states, Maine is running a deficit and Augusta may have reached its limit on train spending.
it’s not maine’s railroad and its not boston’s railroad it’s all of new england’s railroad. .
Maine Governor John Baldacci stops short of demanding New Hampshire come up with the money.
If he did, he’d probably get this answer.
At this point in time, there isn’t any money to take out of the general fund. So if you haven’t got any money, I don’t think it’s wise to go into a deficit.
Manchester senator Lou D’Allesandro is the senate’s lead budget writer.
He, other lawmakers and Governor Lynch are now focused on closing New Hampshire’s budget gap, which could top 200 million dollars next year.
At the Statehouse, they’ve been debating tax increases and spending cuts, not the Downeaster.
But people who ride the train regularly say they ought to be.
It’s time for new Hampshire to step up and fund this thing.
John Flewelling of Exeter rides the Downeaster to Boston every day.
Maine has been paying the vast majority of the operating costs the past few years and new Hampshire has done very little. So I think especially with air pollution issues and the cost of gasoline the downeaster’s an excellent alternative for commuting and just something that the state of new Hampshire needs to get behind.
New Hampshire has not contributed very little to the Downeaster since it began running in 2001.
The state did marshal federal funds to build platforms at its stations in Durham, Dover and Exeter.
Beyond that New Hampshire has done nothing.
In the past, policy makers have looked to use gas tax revenue for train projects.
But the state constitution says such funds can only be used for road repair and construction.
Given that, and the state’s tight budget, there really aren’t any promising ideas on the table.
Some train proponents have said they think it might be necessary to put a surcharge on tickets or charge travelers for parking to help fund the train.
One proposal would even have counties use their taxing power to partially pay for the Downeaster.
But Rockingham County Commissioner Maureen Barrows says that idea is a non starter.
There really is no way for the county to raise any revenue to do that. I would say that the state should reshuffle their cards, should look at them again and see how they can best do this.
Which gives little comfort to riders who fear the train could cut its runs or even shut down entirely.
Sharon Fernald (furr-nold) of Raymond rides the train to and from Boston to get to her job at a law firm.
She says paying for the train ought to be a no brainer.
If new Hampshire keeps this train, new Hampshire will attract more people who make the salaries that they pay in boston who come up here and buy houses and shop in stores and have their kids in schools who can pay these property taxes. Killing this train will kill bringing new people into this state.
Based on the latest numbers, ridership on the Downeaster was up 23 percent last year.
Higher fuel prices could push that even higher.
