The downeaster corridor would improve the existing amtrak downeaster corridor, connecting boston, MA, to brunswick, me, via portland, me, southwestern coastal maine and southeastern new hampshire,…

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $250,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (CFDA 20.326) program to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA). This funding will support the development of a Service Development Plan (SDP) for the Downeaster rail corridor, which connects Boston, MA to Brunswick, ME via Portland, ME.

The SDP project will involve completing key planning and development activities, including creating a project performance plan, compiling existing planning materials, developing a detailed statement of work, finalizing the project schedule and budget. The outcome of this project will be the necessary documentation to proceed with the Corridor Identification (CID) Step 2 process and perform additional work to fully define the Downeaster corridor improvements. Key objectives include adding frequencies, reducing travel times, improving reliability, constructing a new infill station, and enhancing passenger connections to other Amtrak services in Boston. This project will help advance critical infrastructure upgrades and operational enhancements to the Downeaster intercity passenger rail service.

The downeaster corridor would improve the existing amtrak downeaster corridor, connecting boston, MA, to brunswick, me, via portland, me, southwestern coastal maine and southeastern new hampshire, with an extension east to rockland, me. The proposed corridor would also include added frequencies, reduced travel times, improved reliability, a new infill station at west falmouth, me, and technology improvements to make IT easier for passengers to connect between the downeaster and other amtrak services in boston (where the downeaster serves a different station from all other amtrak routes). Using the service development plan (SDP) SOW framework, the corridor sponsor will develop a project performance plan (task 1.1), existing planning and development materials (task 2.1), statement of work (task 2.2), approved project schedule (task 2.3), approved project budget (task 2.4). The outcome of this project will be the project description for CID step 2, to perform the necessary work to complete an SDP. The proposed corridor will provide improved travel options for communities along the coast of maine and more reliable connections to boston.