Section 489-A. Legislative declaration

It is hereby found and declared
  that continued operation of railroads in the state  and  improvement  of
  their service and facilities are essential to the commerce, defense, and
  general welfare of the people of the state; that the financial condition
  of railroads in the state has deteriorated in recent years to the extent
  that  it  now  constitutes  a  serious  threat  to continuation of vital
  operations; that this condition is the result, among  other  things,  of
  competition from other forms of transportation, increased costs, and the
  incidence  of taxation; that the consequences of these developments have
  been a loss of commerce, a decrease in employment,  and  a  decrease  in
  service  rendered  by  railroads; that the reversal of these trends is a
  matter of public concern; that it is in the public interest  to  enhance
  the  ability of railroads to continue their operations and improve their
  service under private enterprise; that the real property tax  burden  on
  railroads  in  the  state does not fluctuate in accordance with earnings
  and generally cannot be readily  passed  on  to  users  of  the  service
  because of the industry's economic position; that substantial tax relief
  will  help  strengthen railroads financially so that they can contribute
  their share to the economic well-being of the state; and that  therefore
  it  is  the  policy  of the state to grant to the railroads in the state
  partial tax exemption in a manner which will grant greater relief to the
  railroads that need it more by giving increasingly greater exemptions as
  the rate of earnings of a railroad system declines.