More than three years ago, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine joined leading trails advocates to start promoting the idea of increased funding for trails in Maine. Considering the significant number of trails planned in communities across the state and the limited funding available, we were looking at close to 60 years to completely build the trails planned at that time. Rather than struggle and fight against each other for such a small sliver of pie, we realized we would all benefit - and so would Maine - with a bigger pie.

In the 2005 session of the Maine Legislature, we made a valiant effort and some great progress. But we were swept aside by forces much larger than anything we could battle-a political firestorm between Republicans and Democrats that resulted in some of the smallest bonds in recent years.

Later in 2005, the increase in oil prices boosted construction costs to build roads and trails by more than 30 percent. Added to that was the high cost of fighting wars overseas and congressional rescissions that caused the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to cut funding of trails disproportionately higher than other transportation programs (50% cut from enhancements vs. 20% from the rest of the department).

Suddenly, 60 years was an optimistic timeline. We recalculated it might be as long as 100 years until Maine would have enough money under current funding to build trails currently planned. Never mind any other great ideas and trail proposals that communities or advocates might come up with in that time frame!

The Trails for a Healthy Maine Coalition bravely marched forward again with the new legislative session. Transportation Committee Chairman Senator Dennis Damon of Hancock County was the sponsor of the Trails Bond. (He had been one of our best advocates last time around.) Damon knew from firsthand experience how trails not only promote healthy lifestyles but promote a healthy economy and can be a boon to smaller communities.

Seems the lack of bonding two years caught up with Maine. More than $1 billion in bonds was proposed in the 123rd Legislature. While clearly Maine has plenty of capacity for bonding (we are well below the informal, self-imposed 5% rule), no legislature would possibly bond even half a billion dollars. We realized very early in the session that we would need to work even harder than before and get serious about lobbying for the Trails Bond.

Last time around, and again this time, we had many dedicated volunteers and citizen advocates, but we knew we needed more professional help. Enter Lauralee Raymond, our hero-lobbyist with Moose Ridge Associates. Needing to raise significant funding to pay for a lobbying effort in short order, we were exceptionally lucky to garner the support of some generous donors and a grant from Bikes Belong. Deciding to spend $10,000-$18,000 to generate $10 million for trails certainly was a wise investment.

Working with Lauralee and Moose Ridge, the Trails for a Healthy Maine Coalition was energized. We worked feverishly with MDOT and the Department of Conservation, met with House and Senate leadership and had a long meeting with Governor John Baldacci. Within a few weeks of that meeting, we also coordinated our first major press event at the Statehouse that garnered some great media attention and raised awareness of the trails bond like never before.

With weeks of planning, we set out to build a trail in the Maine Statehouse. Volunteers and in-kind donations brought an amazing feat to reality. Chuck Lakin of Waterville built trail signposts of a quality as nice as you'd find in Acadia National Park. Several volunteers pitched in on sign designs that would educate trail users about the numerous benefits of trails. But the key ingredient was a series of green boot prints designed, printed and donated by Minuteman Signs of Augusta (a long-time BCM business member).

On the morning of our press conference, a team of volunteers started sticking green boot prints on the marble floors of the Statehouse. The boots led out of the House of Representatives and the Senate, merging and meandering through the halls, down the stairs, through the Hall of Flags and down another flight of stairs to the Welcome Center. The seven signposts served as great gathering and discussion points about trails.

Our press conference attracted more than 60 supporters and legislators and resulted in coverage on three television stations, seven radio stations, and paper and web reports. We created a great "buzz" in the Statehouse.

But as the weeks went along and the Appropriations Committee began hearings, things sounded much less optimistic. The governor did include $1.25 million for trails in his Transportation Bond (plus $.5 million for Safe Routes to School), but that is an amount on par with recent transportation bonds and was nowhere near the $10 million we were proposing.

We made an impressive showing at the bond hearing, highlighting the significant health, transportation and economic development benefits of trails. But with fiscal conservatives determined to keep bonding well below $300 million, not much else stayed on the table except the Governor's package, and even that was cut back significantly.

We made a strong showing; we did all we could to educate, lobby, raise awareness and garner public support. And yet it seems this was another year when we were squeezed out of contention by forces way beyond our control. In early April, the Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond was dead, and the governor's funding for trails was cut by $300,000 (from Safe Routes to School funding).

Was it worth all the effort? Yes. Successful legislative efforts often take multiple attempts. While there are no guarantees we stand any better chances next time around, legislators are certainly much more aware of the benefits of trails and the underfunding of them.

Given how competitive bond funding got at the end, numerous legislators told us we were very lucky to keep the $1.45 million that remains in the Transportation Bond. (This $1.45 million, by the way, will leverage more than $6 million in federal funding.)

Unfortunately, though, municipalities and individuals will continue to bear the brunt of funding and building trails in communities across Maine. The Trails for a Health Maine Coalition will continue to try to inspire a vision and find those willing to lead the state to do better by trails.

There are so many people to thank that I can't list them all. But there are a few deserving special recognition.

John Andrews, Tony Barrett, Sally Jacobs and Peter Garrett did an inordinate amount of work as volunteer advocates and lobbyists. David Whitney, Arthur Tenan, Richard Veilluex and Dr. Harry Grimmnitz all provided wonderful testimony in hearings and at the press conference. Many fantastic members traveled many miles and dedicated many hours to attend meetings and hearings. Our deepest appreciation to Lisa and Leon Gorman and Bikes Belong for their confidence and investing in our lobbying efforts. Lauralee Raymond and Moose Ridge Associates were pivotal in their creativity, guidance, practicality and hard-fought efforts to support the Trails Bond.

While we wish he could have done more, we do thank Governor Baldacci for having included some trails funding in his bond package. And the legislative leadership of Senator Damon (Tremont), Senator Rotundo (Lewiston), Representative Cain (Orono) and Representative Webster (Freeport) helped keep trails funding alive in the appropriations process.

We urge you to go to the polls in June to vote in support of the Transportation Bond, which contains funding to reconstruct roadways and add paved shoulders as well as some of the trails funds. The remainder of the Transportation Bond is being held back until November 2008 when the rest of the trails funds will be available to voters to approve.