Sen. Bellows votes to send transportation infrastructure investments to Maine voters for approval

Sen. Bellows: “Up-to-date, safe, reliable transportation infrastructure is essential to all Mainers.”

Sen. Shenna Bellows, D-Manchester, joined colleagues in the Legislature to send a bond proposal to Maine voters for their approval this November. This proposal includes critical investments in Maine’s roads and bridges. The vote was 32-0 in the Senate and 127-8 in the House of Representatives.

“Roads and bridges are fundamental to our local economic development, so I was proud to vote for today’s transportation bond,” said Sen. Shenna Bellows. “While it’s wonderful that we were able to pass highway funding with bipartisan and unanimous support, it’s disappointing that we couldn’t find bipartisan support for broadband infrastructure that would move Maine’s economy forward.”

Unfortunately, Republican lawmakers prevented Maine voters from getting a chance to decide on investments in state parks and working waterfronts, career and technical education and National Guard facilities, and low-interest loans to curb energy costs and promote efficiency.

“Ideally, now was the time to pass bonds for broadband and land for Maine’s future out to the voters,” said Sen. Bellows. “Our constituents expect us to make the investments in Maine’s future that will advance and protect the next generation.”

The only bond that Maine voters will consider invests $105 million in transportation projects. These funds will support repairs, upgrades and routine maintenance for Maine highways, bridges, culverts and working waterfronts. It also will contribute to good-paying jobs in the construction industry. Several reports indicate that construction workers are standing by and ready to do this work so Mainers can safely go to school, work, and about their daily lives.

The bond will now appear before all Maine voters on the ballot in November.