
Hello, Merrymeeting Trailblazers! It has been a thrilling few years for the trail, from our successful Rail Use Advisory Council recommendation to our vibrant community meetings this fall. And now the 132nd Legislature is in session, and we are onto the next chapter in our journey to making the Merrymeeting Trail a reality.
A new bill — LD 29, Resolve, to Require the Department of Transportation to Implement the Recommendations of the Lower Road Rail Use Advisory Council — has been introduced by the Maine Department of Transportation and referred to the Legislature’s Transportation Committee. LD 29 is sponsored by Senate President Mattie Daughtry of Brunswick and co-sponsored by Rep. Sally Cluchey of Bowdoinham.
This bill is essential to the future of the Merrymeeting Trail. Helping it become law is our top priority this year, and we need all hands on deck to get it done.
Sometime soon, the committee will announce a public hearing on LD 29. At that time, we will put out a call for folks to submit written testimony in support of the bill. We will have a few people delivering testimony in-person in Augusta as well, but will recommend most testimony be submitted via the Legislature’s online portal. We will provide easy guidance on how to do this when the time comes.
In the meantime, we need our legislators — especially those serving on the Transportation Committee — to know that our communities support LD 29. Here’s what you can do today: call or email your legislator, let them know you support LD 29 (the Merrymeeting Trail bill), and ask them to do the same! Explain what the trail would mean to you, to your family, to local businesses, and to your community.
It will take all of us to get LD 29 through the Legislature. Please reach out with any questions, and thank you in advance for your help!