The Legislature not only supported roads and bridges in a big way this session it also voted to cover a $30 million federal loan that will extend Downeaster commuter rail service to Brunswick - an investment train enthusiasts say will pay off in more tourism, business development and fewer cars on the highway.

That's in addition to the state paying the Downeaster's $8 million annual operating deficit starting next fiscal year.

The Downeaster currently runs five round-trip trains daily from Portland to Boston and ridership is up 23 percent over last year - an increase transit officials say is tied to the unprecedented rise in gas prices. The $30 million loan, paid back over 25 years, would allow the train authority to run at least two of those round trips up to Brunswick, with a stop in Freeport along the way, by upgrading existing tracks to support higher speeds. The goal is to have the Brunswick service running by 2010.

An added bonus is the extended Downeaster line would then hook into an existing excursion rail service that currently runs in-season from Brunswick to Rockland, with stops along the way in Bath and Wiscasset.

"My hope is that it will be year-round service and in addition to excursion service that we'll be running some efficient transport back and forth between Brunswick and Rockland," said Patricia Quinn, director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

"Given a choice, people will choose to ride," Quinn said, particularly with gas prices being what they are today.

Senate President Beth Edmonds of Freeport says it will take marketing to make the service grow, but she already envisions the pitch.

"You can get on the train in Boston and go all the way to Rockland or spend the day in Freeport and go home," said Edmonds, who helped push the train bills through the Legislature.

The money to pay back the $30 million, low-interest federal loan will come from taking 50 percent of the tax currently collected on rental cars, for a $3 million annual loss to the general fund. An estimated $2.5 million a year will pay back the loan and the other half-million will go toward other transit projects.

Maine's share of the Downeaster's operating deficit, currently around $8 million a year, also will be paid out of the general fund under a law passed by the Legislature at the end of session last year. A section of that law reads: "It is the intent of the Legislature that by July 1, 2009, the state pay a state operating subsidy from the general fund for the Downeaster commuter rail service."

That same law set up a special account that allows the state to float revenue bonds without statewide voter approval to repair roads and bridges. In the final days of this session the Legislature approved $210 million of those revenue bonds -- $160 million over four years for bridge repair and $50 million for highways. That's in addition to the $113 million transportation bond package that went through the constitutionally prescribed route and was approved by voters on a statewide ballot last June.

Edmonds said she believes legislators supported money for rail service, even in these tight budget times, because the Downeaster has become an important asset to Maine.

"You've got to take a long view and figure out how were going to increase tourism and, eventually, the commuter piece," Edmonds said.

Asked about the double-whammy of the $30 million grant and the $8 million subsidy to cover operating losses, Edmonds said there is a possibility the federal government will come up with some new money next year. But right now that subsidy, which helped cover the operating losses since the Downeaster started in 2001, is due to run out.

"It was one of those deals where federal funding is drying up. If you don't do this, you lose it," she said of the train service. "Everybody realizes what an important asset the Downeaster is and frankly I pushed it hard."

While some question and criticize subsidies for commuter rail, Edmonds said people don't understand that all forms of transportation, particularly roads and bridges, are subsidized by the federal government.

"You've got to remember that every form of transportation is federally subsidized," she said. "Trust me roads are federally subsidized."