8/2/2019 GoMaine Letter to DOT Commissioner

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March7,2012

DavidBernhardt

Commissioner,DepartmentofTransportation

16StateHouseStation

Augusta,Maine04333

DearCommissionerBernhardt:

AsGoMainevanpoolriders,wearewritingyoutorequestanimmediatemeetingtodiscusshowtogetherwemightsavethevanpoolprogram.Webelievethiscanbe

accomplishedwithoutadditionalstatesupport.

Wewereverydismayedandstunnedbyyourletterlastweek,informingusthatyou

plannedtodiscontinuetheprogramintwoshortmonthsduetouncertainfundinginthelongtermtosupportvanreplacement.

Wewerefurtherdismayedthatyourcomprehensiveevaluationfailedtoinclude

inputfromtheusersoftheservice.Wearesureyouregretthisoversightandhope

youagreeitshouldberectified.Further,weareconfident,ourinclusionoffersa

pathtosavingaprogramthathasbeenwellrun,aservicetoMainecitizens,andof

valueasapieceofourstatestransportation,environmental,andenergypolicy.

Sincewereceivedyourletter,vanridershavebeenexploringthecostsofswitching

totheout-of-statevanproviderasyousuggested,aswellasreviewingyour

Departmentsownfiguresastowhatitwouldcosttokeepthevanpoolprogram

sustainable.

Whatwehavediscoveredthusfar:

Thatswitchingtotheout-of-statevanpooloperatorcouldasmuchasdoubleourvancosts;

ThatmaintainingthevanpoolprogramaspartofGoMainewouldbe

considerablylessforriders,evenifwepickedup100%ofthecostsfor

runningtheprogram(includingpayingforreplacementvans).

Consequently,whatwewouldliketodiscusswithyouatourmeetingisthe

following:

1. ThattheGoMaineprogramcontinueasisforthenext12monthswhileweexploretogetherhowthevanpoolprogramcanbecomesustainablewithor

withoutadditionalstatefunding.SinceyourFebruary24thlettersuggests

thatanyissueswithcontinuingtheprogramarelong-termratherthanshort-

term,thecurrenttwo-monthcut-offonMay1seemsunnecessaryand

arbitrary.

8/2/2019 GoMaine Letter to DOT Commissioner

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2. Thatweusethenexttwelvemonthsto:

DevelopandreviewproposalsforkeepingtheGoMaineprogramgoing.Wearealreadydevelopingproposalsonhowwemightdothat.

Surveyridersonpossibleproposalsandcosts,anddeterminewhat

theymightbewillingtopaytokeeptheprogramgoing.

Createataskforcetoexploreotheroptionsincludingprogramsofferedinotherstates,andexternalfundingsourcesthatmightbe

usedtohelpreplacevansandthusunderwritethecostsofcontinuing

theprogram.Suchataskforceshouldincluderepresentativesofthe

DOT,ridersofGoMaine,interestedmembersoftheLegislature's

TransportationCommittee,stafffromMainescongressionaldelegation,theMaineTurnpikeAuthority,theCouncilof

Governments,aswellasotherswhomighthaveaccesstoexternalfundingsourcesorgoodideasonhowtoproceed.

WewouldurgeDOTtogatherinputfromridersandtoexploreallthevarious

options.Thecommuterprogramhasexistedinoneformoranotherformore

than30yearsanditseemslikeridersarebeinglefttofigureouthowtosolve

thisproblemonourown.WeareconfidentthattheGoMainevanpool

programcankeepgoinginasustainablemanner,andweareconvincedthat

itshouldbekeptgoing.

Welookforwardtomeetingwithyouassoonaspossible.Thankyou.