A statewide coalition is calling on lawmakers to pass a $30 million bond to support motorized, non-motorized and multi-use trails.
The trails bond — which would need voter approval — would provide grants to groups and towns to improve and maintain trails, particularly those damaged by severe storms that led to the closure of many snowmobile and ATV trails.
“Maine’s trails and trail clubs bring people together and help them access some of Maine’s most spectacular places,” Al Swett, president of the Maine Snowmobile Association said in a statement. “Trails also create a lot of economic activity.”
While snowmobiling generates $600 million a year in Maine, outdoor recreation in Maine adds $3 billion, supporting 31,000 jobs, according to a press release from a coalition of more than 500 bond supporters.
Those supporters include Maine State Chamber of Commerce, Maine Youth Camping Association, Maine Municipal Association, sporting camps and several cities and towns.
If approved by lawmakers, the Maine Trails Bond would go before voters in November for approval. While voters often consider bonds to support highway work, this would be the first trails bond.
“Maine has some of the most amazing trail experiences in the country, and the potential for the future is incredible,” John Raymond, president of ATV Maine and Northern Maine Timber Cruisers said. “But to achieve that future, we need to recognize that trails do not maintain themselves. It takes hard work and money to build and maintain our trails, but Maine is not investing in our trails, even as they are battered by storms and experiencing record use.”
The bond bill, LD 1156, is pending in the Appropriations Committee.