What's New

The day after Earth Day, Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill to direct $3 million dollars a year from existing rental car tax revenues towards upgrading the train tracks from Portland to Brunswick. This is a crucial first step, but the state still  needs to find money for the Downeaster's operation before it runs out in 2009.

By investing in these track improvements, the Downeaster train could start running from Boston to Brunswick in 2010, connecting to existing seasonal rail service from Brunswick to Rockland, and planned routes to Augusta and Lewiston-Auburn. Particularly with global warming's effects worsening and gasoline nearing $3.50 a gallon, Maine’s leaders need to find more funding like this for transportation alternatives.

How you can help

Please thank your state senator and let them know you want to see the Downeaster to continue operating and expanding its service.

Brief summary

Vehicle traffic pollutes the air we breathe
Transportation, especially cars and trucks, is the state’s leading source of air pollution and contributes to a statewide health epidemic. This pollution has led to the highest asthma rates in the country for adults and among the highest for children. It worsens other kinds of respiratory diseases like bronchitis and affects the young and elderly most severely. The EPA recently determined that 108 towns and cities fail to meet air quality standards and, in 2002, Maine had 17 bad air days. In addition, tailpipe emissions are the largest source of airborne carcinogens like benzene.

Traffic congestion frustrates commuters and tourists
Congestion is also a problem in places like Portland, Old Orchard Beach and Freeport, especially in the summer, where too many cars and trucks bottleneck our highways, cause traffic delays and cause commuters and vacation travelers to spend more and more time in traffic.

A threat to our environment
Air pollution from cars, light trucks and SUVs creates smog and acid rain, obscuring views and eroding the health of ecosystems from Kittery to Bar Harbor. Autos are also the largest single source of the emissions that cause global warming, which has the potential to totally change the face of our state. An over-reliance on autos for transportation also worsens our dependence on oil and makes our economy vulnerable to unpredictable price swings.