Issue Position: Build Connections By Rail

Issue Position

Rail travel is not a thing of the past. For many countries around the world, high-speed rail is the obvious choice due to its low environmental impact, its ease of access for travelers, and its superior speed (bullet trains typically travel 125 to 205 mph). In the United States, as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, over eight billion federal dollars, have been allocated for high-speed rail development. Without the right leadership in place, Maine will lose its opportunity to access these federal dollars.

If high-speed rail were brought to our communities, not only would more people be able to commute further and faster to work, but it would open up western Maine for increased tourism and jobs opportunities. Auburn could become the half-way point of a high speed rail system connecting the greater Boston area and metropolitan Montreal; instead of three hours to Boston, it would take a mere hour. It would revitalize our community and tap into an existing job market. Maine would become a model of success, setting the standard for high-speed rail travel in the United States. It's time to get to work.

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