STATE — The Moving Maine Network – a statewide coalition working to improve transportation access for every person in Maine – is convening Virtual Community Forums & Listening Sessions in mid-October to hear people’s experiences, stories, and concerns about transportation access across our state. The goals of these sessions are to share information about what is working well in Maine and other states and to invite people to share their challenges and ideas.

“Mainers deserve reliable and affordable rides. Too often, lack of transportation is the primary barrier to good health, steady work, and time with family and friends. We need to be making it easier for people to get where they need and want to go. These forums will allow us to hear ideas from people in every corner of Maine.” said Zoe Miller, Executive Director of the Moving Maine Network.

“Given the diverse transportation barriers and challenges we hear from our community every single day, we are excited and thankful that these forums will provide an opportunity for the public to bring their voice to the table, share their ideas, real-life experiences, and identify solutions,” said Kara Hay, CEO of Penquis.

“We’re living longer than ever before, which means we must build communities that support people living into their 90s and 100s,” said Jess Maurer, Executive Director of the Maine Council on Aging. “People can’t stay in their communities if they can’t drive and don’t have access to reliable and affordable transportation. These forums will build support for transportation services that work for everyone.”

Forum hosts want to hear from people who have lived experience with transportation barriers – especially people who cannot drive, struggle to afford transportation, and/or who use public and community transportation services, advocates for transportation access, and organizations that have a role in advancing transportation access and equity – including those focused on health care, public health, housing, aging, disability, education, and workforce development.

“Providing a forum for the users of our transportation systems is critical in understanding what is working and what needs improvement. Implementing policies that can provide sustainable transit programs is critical for a broad cross-section of Maine. I look forward to hearing the lived experience of our constituents and developing recommendations from their perspectives,” said Chad Heid, Executive Director, BSOOB Transit; Chair, Maine Public Transit Advisory Council (PTAC).

The Forums will be held virtually on Zoom with a call-in-by-phone option and closed captioning for all sessions. Interpreter services are also available. Sessions are scheduled as follows:

● Southern Maine – Androscoggin, Cumberland, Oxford, Sagadahoc, York Counties –
Thursday, October 17 from 9 a.m. -10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

● Any Maine Region – Tuesday, October 15 from 12 p.m. -1:30 p.m. and Thursday, October 17 from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Registration for these events is available now at https://www.movingmaine.org/virtualforums

The Moving Maine Network would like to thank the following partner organizations: Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit, Maine Equal Justice, Maine Council on Aging, Maine Mobile Health Program, Maine Public Health Association, Disability Rights Maine, Community Care Partnership of Maine, Maine Community Action Partners (MeCAP), and AARP Maine.