PORTLAND, Maine — Maine voters will decide on five referendum questions this November, including one that would make a multimillion-dollar investment into sustaining and growing the state’s vast network of trails.
The bond question has broad support from environmentalists, hikers, and snowmobilers, but several advocates for pushing for the expansion of Maine’s passenger railroad service say they plan to vote "no."
Here’s everything you need to know about referendum Question 4.
THE QUESTION
“Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to invest in the design, development and maintenance for nonmotorized, motorized and multiuse trails statewide, to be matched by at least $3,000,000 in private and public contributions?”
WHAT IT MEANS
The question, if passed would put $30 million toward building and improving Maine’s trails. This would leverage at least $3 million in contributions from private and public sources.
The Bureau of Parks and Lands would distribute the money through competitive grants over four years.
Twenty-five percent of the funding would support non-motorized trails, and 25 percent would go to motorized trails. The remaining half would support multi-use trails “for recreation or active transportation.”
WHO SUPPORTS IT?
Hikers, trail groups, and snowmobilers have all signaled strong support.
Al Swett, who heads the Maine Snowmobile Association, said he hopes the money would help repair the trail infrastructure and boost snowmobile tourism after several disappointing winters.
“There are a lot of small businesses … that count on snowmobiling,” Swett said. “This ballot question is a once in a lifetime thing that we need.”
WHO OPPOSES IT?
Some passenger rail advocates see the referendum question as threatening the future of rail infrastructure in Maine. The law to authorize the bond says funding may not be used to dismantle state-owned tracks and ties for non-rail use, but it leaves an exception if the state deems removal “will not have a negative impact on a region or on future economic development for that region.”
Tony Donovan, who heads the Maine Rail Transit Coalition, said he believes this will allow the bond to destroy any future plans for expansion of passenger rail lines in Maine.
“The funding can be used and will be used to remove valuable railroad infrastructure,” Donovan said. “We’re talking environmental benefits and economic strengths.”