A consulting engineer says a proposed commuter rail service connecting Lewiston and Auburn to Portland could cost up to $300 million.
Natasha Velickovic of the engineering firm VHB says trains would cost between $75 and $95 million, and annual operating and maintenance costs would fall between $15 million and $20 million. The Sun Journal reports Velickovic presented her findings to the Lewiston/Auburn Passenger Rail Service Plan Committee at a Wednesday meeting.
The process for pursuing passenger rail service in the Lewiston area began in 2015, when the state Legislature approved $400,000 to conduct a study on the implementation of passenger rail service.
The study estimates that between 700 and 1,900 people would ride the rail daily.