Better roads save lives

Better roads save lives

To the editor:
    Highway safety is an important but often neglected issue in Maine. More Mainers lose their lives on the roads than from any other cause of accidental death. 

    In addition to passing good motor vehicle laws and enforcing them, the state can make a real difference in improving state highways that carry the vast majority of traffic. Substandard roads are far more dangerous than those built to contemporary standards. Yet half of Maine’s 8,000-mile state highway system has not been reconstructed in more than 50 years, and up to 2,000 miles is subject to weight limits every spring.
    The $47.8 million bond issue that we will be voting on June 8th is an important contribution to making Maine a safer place to live. It will not only boost the economy, but save the lives of many of our fellow citizens. It is hard to put a price on that.
    Additionally, there are important rail projects that must be completed, including keeping the Aroostook rail line operating so that it can continue to serve the nearly 25 shippers who use that line. It is an important lifeline for Aroostook County.
    Vote “Yes” on Question 3 for jobs and safety.