Important action alert: Support railroad investments in Maine

The Legislature's transportation committee endorsed LD 2019, an act to invest in Maine's passenger and freight railways, with an "ought to pass" vote yesterday. This bill would dedicate 1/2 of the car rental tax in Maine to investments in our passenger railways, and make it possible for the successful Downeaster service to expand north to Freeport and Brunswick.

PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND URGE THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL.
You can find out your legislators' contact information by using this lookup tool.
Consider calling the Governor and asking for his support as well.


TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR PHONE CALL:

-By passing this bill, Maine could have passenger train service to Brunswick by July 2010. From Brunswick, other state-owned rail lines make passenger service to Lewiston/Auburn and Rockland possible

-This funding wouldn't kick in until next year, so it doesn't affect the current budget shortfall. It would dedicate $2.5 million a year to paying back a low-interest loan for the Brunswick railroad expansion. To put that number into context, the state spends about $1 million on our roads every time there's a snowstorm.

-At the same time, transit-oriented economic development along the Downeaster route - including a new Maine Street station mixed-use project being planned in Brunswick - will more than repay the state's investment with future income and property tax revenue.

-Investing in rail service will be an important strategy for the region to avoid Clean Air Act violations and penalties, and to help the state reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals.

-With the rising costs of fuel, Maine's people and industries need more - and more efficient - transportation options.

-Rail moves people and goods more cheaply than highways. This is critical to bolstering our state's economy and protecting our citizens' pocketbooks in these lean times.