NNEPRA Board Meetings
Summaries of NNEPRA's monthly board meetings
NNEPRA Board Meeting in Saco - A Growing Community
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- Created: 02 August 2017 02 August 2017
The NNEPRA Board of Directors boarded the Downeaster in Portland for the short ride to Saco for their July meeting.
The FY2017 numbers were confirmed: 511,422 riders (9% above forecast) and $8,620,119 in Revenue (7% above target). Executive Director Patricia Quinn noted that June ridership numbers (45,889) were a record for that month. FY2018 started out with a record-breaking July (firm numbers to come). As Ms. Quinn summarized it, ridership has been "phenomenal!"
The Downeaster's Overall Customer Satisfaction numbers exceeded the Amtrak figures by six points in May (90 vs. 84).
The fly in the ointment continues to be On Time Performance with June showing only 70%. Continuing projects on the MBTA line is the main culprit.
Saco City Manager, Kevin Sutherland, briefed the board and public about the city's recent economic growth, which is attributed in large part to the Downeaster service. Following the board meeting, he conducted a tour of Mill Building #4 (opposite the train station) and other areas of the city's growth.
TrainRiders/NE produced a video on the tour with the support of Maine HDTV.
NNEPRA May Board Meeting - FY2017 Continues Growth
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- Created: 22 May 2017 22 May 2017
Ridership Report:
Executive Director Patricia Quinn briefed the NNEPRA Board on the Downeaster's Performance. With one more quarter to go, FY2017 has already eclipsed FY2016 in ridership and revenue. Only two months, October and November, saw a decrease in ridership.
FY2017 is well ahead of FY2016 by 33,954 riders or 9%.
Revenue:
Revenue in FY2017 to date was $6,425,859 compared to $5,990,533 - an increase of 7%
Brunswick Layover Facility:
From the Performance Report: "During the first full season in the BLF, the Downeaster posted strong ridership gains and our best on-time-performance in five years." Trains did not have to spend the winter months outdoors but were inside the new facility, where 50-degree temperature made ice and snow removal far easier for the appreciative maintenance crews.
Read more: NNEPRA May Board Meeting - FY2017 Continues Growth
NNEPRA February Board Meeting Hears Good News
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- Created: 27 March 2017 27 March 2017
NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn was pleased to share the strong ridership and revenue numbers
First, ridership set a new February record of 37,275 which is 1,321 riders above February of last year. Ridership YTD is 27,816 above the similar period of last year.
Second, revenue set a new February record of $675,094 which is $56,280 above February of last year. Revenue YTD is $381,670 above the similar period of last year.
Third, the Joint Government Oversight Committee of the Maine State Legislature voted 7-3 to discontinue any further investigation of NNEPRA. Last year's investigation had given NNEPRA high marks for its management of the Downeaster service. The investigation had been a pet project of former senator Stan Gerzovski of Brunswick. He tried to bind the new incoming committee to conduct another investigation - the committee voted "no."
Fourth, the very popular Dome car will be back this year from mid-August to late September. You can remember last year's success by going here.