Trails Bond: Draft Language

An Act to Create a Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond

In every corner of the State of Maine there are shared-use trails that are proposed or under development. We know from the portions of shared-use trails that do exist in Maine that they:

• Promote physical activity and a healthier lifestyle
• Support sustainable tourism and a healthier economy
• Provide transportation choice and healthier air
• Make our communities a more attractive place in which to live

The Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond will be for $10,000,000 to develop trails across Maine. Funds will not purchase land or right-of-way but will be used to supplement inadequate state and federal funding for design & construction of shared-use trails. Specifically the Trails for a Healthy Maine Bond will be:

• Administered through existing Department of Transportation and the Department of Conservation programs
• Available to any Maine municipality or trail organization to apply for funding
• Usable for shared-use trail design and construction only, not land acquisition or right of way acquisition
• Awarded by a competitive application process
• Matched by a minimum of 10% in matching funds

In addition to improving the health and wellbeing of Mainers and the economy, many of these trails will connect to or serve as the East Coast Greenway (through Maine to Florida) and help encourage local trail connections and networks.