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MDOT Bike-Ped Transportation Bond Not Passed: Date of Special Session Undecided - more information

Hopes of a special session to deal with tax reform and bonding were dashed last month as legislative leadership failed to reach agreement on key issues dealing with tax reform.  All sides agree that more time is needed.  As such, no decision has been made on a bonding package to be sent to voters.  In order to get a bond package on the ballot, the Legislature will have to act by mid-August. Presently, legislators on both sides don t appear to be close to an agreement on the size or the scope of the bond package, including the transportation bond. Both parties are key to passage since a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate is required before a bond can be sent out to voters.

Governor Baldacci has said he will not call a special session unless leadership of both parties is close to an agreement. While a bipartisan agreement might be attainable for the transportation bond alone, the real obstacle seems to be reaching agreement on an overall funding level for all bonds, which will likely include environmental and educational projects.  The Republicans, at present, favor additional borrowing not to exceed an amount in the low $80 million range.  The Democrats may want to go as high as $109 million or as low as $93 million. The Maine Better Transportation Association hopes the transportation piece will be at approximately $65 million.

Contact your Legislators to tell them how important it is to send a transportation bond to voters in November! Projects in every corner of the state will be at risk if there is no bond.  The ramifications of having no bond are dramatic, and are listed below. Having no transportation bond would:

  * Result in the elimination of the entire highway reconstruction program, which according to the BTIP, requires $35.6 million in state funds. 

  * Result in cuts to bridge and paving projects.

  * Result in the loss of over $200 million in federal funds that Maine taxpayers have already sent to Washington and will not be able to retrieve -  a $200 million tax hit for Maine citizens.

  * Stop plans for extending passenger rail from Portland to Brunswick and Auburn;

  *  and much much more.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP:

Contact your legislators!

Legislators are back in their home districts and want and need to hear from constituents.  To find your legislator by the town you live in or you do your business in, go to  http://janus.state.me.us/house/reps.htm  and  
http://www.state.me.us/legis/senate/
You may also e-mail legislators, but personal contact or telephone contact is most effective; that way you can hear their concerns and get feedback from them.

Talking points are:

1. It is critical that we have a transportation bond go to voters in November.  A $65 million bond would cover many critical transportation needs in this biennium.

2. A transportation bond is the most effective jobs bond, generating at least as many jobs as the recently passed June bond.

3. If the bond fails, Maine will give up over $200 million in federal funds (taxes Maine citizens have already paid to the federal government)

4. Recent transportation bond issues have passed with over 70% of the vote in amounts exceeding $60 million. Voters want work done on their roads!

5. Maine should take advantage of low interest rates and send out a strong package.

And of course, ask your legislator to not cut any of the $2 million proposed for Biking and Walking.  A significant loss of State Bond funding would mean re-shuffling the whole list of biking and walking specific projects, and thus every project is potentially at risk of being eliminated. Listed alphabetically by Southern MaineTown:
 
Brunswick/Topsham - Rehabilitation of historic pedestrian bridge
Farmingdale/Hallowell - Kennebec River Rail Trail, Phase III
Gorham/Windham  - Mountain Division Trail, Phase II
Kennebunk/Biddeford/Arundel - Eastern Trail including bridge across Maine Turnpike   
North Yarmouth - Rt. 9 shoulder/sidewalk, Safe Routes
Portland - Bayside Trail
Saco/Old Orchard Beach - Rt. 9 shoulders    
Wells - Rt. 1 sidewalks
Statewide Safe Routes
Statewide ECG signs
Statewide Share the Road PSAs
Statewide Healthy Maine Bikes
Statewide School Bicycle Safety Education        

Call us (207.284.9260) or e-mail the ETA office