Sustainable Transportation Policy for Maine
Transportation is a critically important issue for Maine. Cars and trucks are one of the largest sources of carbon and air pollution, and our current highway and roads only policy has contributed to worsening sprawling development that hurts so many Maine communities.
Over-reliance on highways adversely impacts Maine communities by:
- Polluting our air and water
- Increasing congestion and commute times
- Wasting gas and energy
- Eating up open space, farmland and habitat
- Creating noise pollution
- Causing habitat fragmentation and loss of biodiversity
- Hurting downtown businesses by encouraging sprawl
The Sierra Club strongly advocates for more transportation choices for Mainers. By better balancing transportation spending between roads and less-polluting public transportation, like rail, transit and clean buses, we can reduce the number of miles people have to drive, rejuvenate our town centers, and improve the safety and health of our neighborhoods.
We support:
- Smart growth land use planning to reduce vehicle miles traveled
- Higher fuel efficiency standards through hybrid, electric and other technology improvements
- More public transit infrastructure and choices
- Balanced funding for transit and road maintainence
- Develop regional plans for public transit
- Promote Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)
- "Fix It First" policy rather than expanding roads and highways
In addition, we urge that the state's transportation planning should follow the goals and guidelines of Maine’s Sensible Transportation Act and the New England Governors/Eastern Canadian Premiers resolution on air quality and transportation.