2019.07.08 Council Agenda Item 06
Summary
Reports from Patricia Quinn, Executive Director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), regarding NNEPRA’s interest in investigating the potential for locating a train station facility adjacent to the West Falmouth Crossing development and Dick Rogers, representative of the West Falmouth Crossing Property Owners Association.
A public comment period will not be included with this item.
ACTION: Council action is not anticipated.
Description
The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) is interested in investigating the potential for locating a train station facility adjacent to the West Falmouth Crossing development on Gray Road/Route 100. This facility would serve as a future Amtrak stop between Brunswick and Boston North Station via Portland. The area along the Pan Am rail line that is subject to the investigation is located near Dunkin Donuts.
This NNEPRA effort coincides with recent interest by the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) to study the potential for a permanent park and ride facility in the Exit 53 area. On August 27, 2018 the Council unanimously accepted a grant from MTA, not to exceed $10K, to conduct a feasibility study that would examine the opportunities and limitations of the West Falmouth Crossing development for such a facility (August 27, 2018 agenda item and minutes). Following Council acceptance of the MTA grant, staff engaged Terrence DeWan & Associates (TJDA) of Yarmouth in January 2019 to be the consultant for this effort. TJDA was the original designer of the West Falmouth Crossing Master Plan.
Over the 14 months Town staff met twice with representatives of the West Falmouth Crossing property owners to discuss park and ride location options and next steps. Town staff attended a May 29, 2019 meeting of the West Falmouth Crossing Property Owners Association to describe the MTA and Town’s interest in a park and ride in this area along with information that there may be a desire to locate a train station in this area.
A representative from the West Falmouth Crossing Owners Association will be present at the meeting to request to the Town Council that if there is to be consideration for a possible train station and park and ride in this area, that the Council also consider at the same time a review of the entire West Falmouth Crossing Master Plan, which was developed in the late 1990s. The MTA grant would allow for a possible process, including early and frequent public involvement, to discuss the West Falmouth Crossing Master Plan.
