Action Alert: Submit Testimony in Support of LD 209, LD 404 & LD 1450

Your Public Comment in support of trails is needed now! Submit your written comment by Thursday, May 18th at 12 pm. There will be a Public Hearing on Thursday, May 18th at 1pm on LD 209, LD 404, and LD 1450. Please take a few minutes to submit your what matters most to you about the benefits of trails and how you may use these trails.

All three bills are related to transforming unused rail corridors into trails. These trails would utilize these unused corridors and transform them into vibrant spaces that more connect our communities through walking, rolling, and bicycling by people of all ages and abilities.

These corridors are an integral part of our Maine Active Transportation Arterials vision, are are also a component of the newly released, first-ever Maine State Active Transportation Plan. In addition, this use of the corridors is also exactly what the legislatively directed Rail Use Advisory Councils found as well, and recommended.

Please Take Action by doing one of the following:

1) Submit Written Testimony by Thurs, 5/18 at Noon. (Instructions/template below)

2) Testify via Zoom and Submit Written Testimony by Thur, 5/18 at Noon. (Instructions/template below)

3) Testify in person. If you plan to attend in-person in Augusta and need more information, please email us.

Bill Information

LD 209: An Act to Authorize an Interim Use Trail on the Berlin Subdivision Rail Corridor. A Rail Use Advisory Council (RUAC), made up of representatives from a range of sectors, met over 6 months and voted on what to do with the unused rail line. The RUAC voted to authorize a rail trail on the unused corridor connecting Portland, Falmouth, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, New Gloucester, and Auburn. Read the proposed LD209 amendment text here from the Casco Bay Trail Alliance.

More than 700 people testified in support of the Casco Bay Trail during the advisory council process last year. If we can get the same support at the Maine Legislature, we have a real shot at getting key authorization for an off-road trail connecting Portland to Auburn.

LD 404: Resolve, to Direct the Department of Transportation to Implement the Recommendations of the Mountain Division Rail Use Advisory Council.

This bill will help transition the Mountain Division Corridor from Standish to Fryeburg to become a trail. This is the next important step towards making this trail a reality. The Rail Use Advisory Council (RUAC) for this corridor was the first to complete and recommended a near unanimous opinion (11-1) to authorize a trail on this unused rail corridor  In addition, all the communities along the corridor also support the trail expansion. The Dept. of Transportation studied this corridor and supports the transition from rail to trail.

LD 1450: An Act to Fund the Recommendations of the Mountain Division Rail Use Advisory Council. This bill will help to fund the building of the Mountain Division Trail from Standish to Fryeburg. The bill proposes using surplus general funds to begin funding the trail. 

How to Submit Written Testimony

Please submit written testimony between now and Thursday 5/18 at noon for all three bills (you can still submit testimony after the hearing, but act now).  You can provide similar testimony for each bill.

Share your enthusiasm for these bills and the benefits these trails offer you and your community.  A simple template is provided at the bottom. Let your representatives in Augusta hear from you!

1. Click Here to Submit Testimony

2. Click “Public Hearing”

3. Click Choose a committee: “Transportation”

4. Click Choose date: “May 18 2023 1:00PM

5. Click Choose a bill: “LD 209”, “LD 404”, and “LD 1450”

6. Click “I would like to testify electronically over Zoom” (OPTIONAL)

7. Upload your written testimony or paste it into the box

8. Fill out your name, city/town, etc.

9. Click “I’m not a robot.”

10. Click “Submit/Register”

This moment is critical to advancing both trail corridors, which are part of the MTC’s Maine Active Transportation Arterials Vision, connecting all of Maine’s 25 largest municipalities and over 2/3rds of Maine’s population. Both the Casco Bay Trail vision (Berlin Subdivision) and the Mountain Division corridor cannot be used as a trail without legislative approval.

>> SUBMIT TESTIMONY HERE <<

Thanks so much for your engagement and support!  We hope to see you on the trail!