Another heated round of back and forth on the future of an Amtrak train stop in Kennebunk unfolded at Tuesday’s Board of Selectmen meeting with a mix of impassioned support and opposition from both board members and residents.
A three member ad-hoc work group tasked by the Board of Selectmen has been studying two sites along the tracks off of Summer Street and brought its findings back to the board Tuesday. One site is located at the former train depot now owned by Tim Dietz, and the second site is on the other side of Summer Street, commonly known as the granary, owned by David Gould.
Board Chairman Dick Morin and Selectman Ed Karytko spoke out vocally against the train stop. They were the two dissenting votes in a motion that passed 5-2 to task the committee with exploring more specific plans and costs associated with the granary site.
Work group members are Economic Development Committee Chair Bob Georgitis, Town Engineer Chris Osterrieder and Interim Economic Development Director Jim Black. Town Manager Mike Pardue said all members of the EDC will be added to the work group.
Georgitis represented the group and brought financial figures to the board saying Amtrak has changed the design requirements for a seasonal platform, reducing the size and cost of construction.
Georgitis said Gould has indicated that he would lease his property to the town in a five or 10 year agreement for $1 a year, with options for growing the seasonal stop if the need arises.
He said a simple seasonal platform would not require public restrooms and construction could cost the town as little as $2,000.
At the train depot property, Dietz has asked that public restrooms be constructed, which would add an estimated $6,000 to the cost, according to Georgitis. Dietz has not set a lease figure for the town, he said.
“I have to go back and ask what the purpose of this train station would be,” Karykto said. “A lot of people are saying ‘the economic value.’ No one has been able to show me any data that indicates there’s going to be a positive economic impact. I have to tell you right off I am totally against the whole project.”
Morin is concerned about ongoing operational costs to the town.
“I am going to oppose it because I don’t want to spend more money until we have clear instructions from all of the interested parties,” Morin said.
Selectman Blake Baldwin voted in favor of sending the work group forward for additional information, but noted that the needs in town have changed since residents voted in favor of funding a stop in 2013.
“It’s not clear to me that the money that’s been allocated can make the grain station a viable train stop. We don’t have any plans or any information to base a decision on. That’s up in the air,” Baldwin said.
Several residents spoke in favor of the train stop, citing both economic and environmental reasons.
“I don’t think this should be a debate because of one selectman’s opinion. Public transportation is an enormous driver of economic development. We need to be promoting public transportation,” Rachel Phipps said. “There is enormous potential for a transportation hub that will reduce our carbon footprint. We are so lucky to have this opportunity. Let’s build this train platform.”
Jay Kilbourn lives in town and said he and many citizens support the idea.
“The concept is one with room to grow, and it doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg. We have some good numbers that tell us that it will be between $2,000 to $12,000. This will create a town with a future in real integrated transportation. It will reduce traffic congestion and fossil fuel use. Tourists could get away to the Kennebunk beaches, and use our lodging, and outdoor and cultural activities. I honestly believe this is a starting point. There are going to be a lot of changes in rail over the coming years,” Kilbourn said.
Pardue said Patricia Quinn, executive director of Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, has spoken with him about co-branding the Wells Regional Transportation Center to include the town of Kennebunk, without adding a stop in town.
“This might include adding Kennebunk to their advertising, and making it truly a more regional center,” Pardue said. He said he has had preliminary discussions with Wells Town Manager Jon Carter.
The $800,000 in grant funds from the Maine Department of Transportation is available in Kennebunk with the expectation that the train stop would be fully constructed by December of 2019.
“We are still within an achievable range for that,” Pardue said. “But they have indicated that they have competing needs for those dollars. We’ve identified that we have competing needs for town funds as well.”
Following two weeks of budget discussions, the board is faced with a long list of infrastructure needs, including costly and unexpected repairs to the middle beach sea wall, and miles of roads that are in terrible shape, Pardue said.
He said the $300,000 earmarked for the train station in the June 2014 referendum passed by voters could be used for road repairs if it isn’t used for the train.
“I think the struggle the board is having is there are so many competing infrastructure needs. The seawall reared its head, and the roads speak for themselves. We have to look at those needs,” Pardue said.
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