The NNEPRA board heard an exceptional Performance Report from Executive Director Patricia Quinn today.

• March, 2011 Ridership: Up 14.6% from March of 2010! (42,826 vs. 37,358)
• March, 2011 Revenue: Up 16% from March of 2010! ($581,869 vs. $501,679)
• On Time Performance: 84.84%
• Overall Downeaster Customer Satisfaction: 87%  Amtrak: 82%

Ms. Quinn said that the increasing cost of gas has brought more riders to the Downeaster. The first nine months of FY 2011 (July, 2010 through March, 2011) is the strongest ridership period since the Downeaster began service. During that first nine months of FY 2011, the Downeaster transported 373,643 passengers and generated more than $5.2 million. Overall ridership was 7% greater than the same nine-month period of the last fiscal year. April will likely prove to be another strong month due, in part, to school vacation traffic which has already eclipsed the previous April.

NNEPRA petitioned the Brunswick Planning Board for a variance so that it could construct a 40,000 square foot maintenance facility in the town. The zoning had limited structures to 20,000 square feet. The variance was approved.

Construction along the expansion route continues to increase as the weather improves.{jcomments on}