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Maine Gov. John Baldacci recently released details of a $79 million job creation/investment package that includes $62 million for rail, port and highway projects.

The state’s unemployment rate reached 8.2 percent in January, up from 8.1 percent in December and 7.3 percent in January 2009. The number of unemployed workers increased by 6,500 year over year to 57,900.

The rail projects Baldacci’s package/grants target to create jobs include:
• $17 million to help the Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway Inc. (MMA) preserve 240 miles of track in Aroostook County; and
• $5 million for various rail improvements in Lewiston-Auburn, enabling the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad to purchase a line from Yarmouth to Auburn to improve freight-rail service and prepare for future passenger-rail service.

The St. Lawrence & Atlantic project would create 75 jobs and the MMA line preservation would protect between 750 and 1,000 jobs, which could be lost if the line is abandoned, Baldacci said in a prepared statement. MMA has filed for Surface Transportation Board approval to abandon the line.

“Without these resources, 22 major employers and the largest county in the state would be cut off from rail service,” said Baldacci. “Jobs are at stake, and we must act.”