Transportation challenges are a reality across Maine, affecting everything from healthcare access to ensuring kids can get to after-school activities. The problem often feels vast, but across the state, advocates are connecting local issues with statewide legislative solutions to build a more equitable and efficient system.
The Struggle for Local Access
In communities like Waterville, local advocacy groups, such as the PTA, are finding that transportation is a critical barrier. Teachers and educators have highlighted the lack of safe, reliable transportation for school events and after-school programs. Staffing shortages force local school districts to cut bus routes, and there is often a deep concern about liability when using non-school transportation providers to move students. To move forward, local advocates are reaching out with empathy, working to understand the pressures facing school transportation departments and build genuine partnerships with directors. It’s about listening first, then finding shared solutions that support students, families, and staff alike.
Nonprofit providers who traditionally served these areas have also faced immense pressure. In the Waterville region, for example, the nonprofit provider shifted from a traditional fixed-route bus service to an on-demand model. This change, coupled with uncertainty surrounding the statewide MaineCare contract award, caused confusion for clients, who must currently call for a ride as there is no application available yet. The loss of MaineCare revenue, which historically made up around 90% of the revenue for these services, also triggered a mass exodus of drivers who feared losing their jobs.
The MaineCare Crisis
The most visible sign of Maine’s fragmented transportation system is the ongoing crisis in non-emergency MaineCare transportation. MaineCare recipients are entitled to transportation to medical appointments, a program that costs the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) over $70 million annually.
However, since the state awarded a 10-year, $750 million contract to the for-profit vendor Modivcare in 2023, complaints have mounted. Patients and advocacy groups report requests being denied, delays, language barriers, and people being stranded far from home. State legislators are currently asking DHHS to cancel this massive contract altogether, recognizing that the current system is failing the public.
Legislative Action for Accountability and Coordination
Advocacy groups like Moving Maine are pushing for systemic improvements through legislative change.
1. Demanding Oversight with LD 1835
Moving Maine championed LD 1835: An Act to Improve Non-Emergency MaineCare Transportation, which was carried over and will be addressed when the legislative session resumes in 2026. This bill aims to bring much-needed oversight, accountability, and transparency to the MaineCare system. Key provisions include:
- Requiring DHHS to create a publicly accessible performance dashboard.
- Establishing an independent ombudsman to investigate complaints and protect clients.
While DHHS has opposed the bill, claiming they already collect performance metrics, advocates maintain that years of issues necessitate this strong, independent intervention.
2. Building a Coordinated System with LD 1451
The second major effort is LD 1451: An Act to Strengthen Coordination of Community Transportation, which successfully passed as a Resolve. This resolution directs the Department of Transportation to establish the Maine Coordinating Working Group on Access and Mobility.
The vision behind this Resolve is to establish a unified mobility management approach across state agencies. Mobility management focuses on coordinating transportation services specifically for non-drivers, including older adults, persons with disabilities, and persons with low incomes. This approach includes creating regional mobility management hubs and establishing a statewide director to support these efforts. The working group is due to deliver its implementation plan by February 1, 2026.
Empowering Community Champions
Change requires more than just legislation; it requires people dedicated to civic engagement. Local advocates are working to integrate these concepts into existing community networks.
For instance, the Maine State Parent Ambassadors program is a network designed to give parents training in advocacy, allowing them to formulate bills and testify with lived experience. This kind of personal testimony has proven incredibly powerful in moving the needle on policy. Moving Maine is working on developing a training module focused on mobility management that can be integrated into programs like Parent Ambassadors, ensuring that future community leaders understand how to solve transportation issues and advocate for the coordinated approach Maine desperately needs.
This has been an ongoing issue and big problem for my disabled son and myself and I am disabled too! I have missed several apts to specialist which has played a big roll in my health plumitting and the lack in my sons social in evolvement we have had to resort to zoom meetings which has increased anxiety when out in community, we have had decrease in it alts for my son and dropped it time due to schedualing! I have a vehicle sitting At a garage waiting for me that I own ! I can’t not afford to pay the bill due to my income I am only receiving my disability at the time ! And barely making it ! I have reached out with help from both my Casemanger and my sons and there is no funding help in the area…….. churches do not have the funds due to cuts and low offerings ! And my credit is too low to get. Loan! As a single mom over a year I have been reaching out for help the biggest thing is I don’t qualify for a lot of programs because I am on disability due to my age at 44 yrs old I would have to be younger or older to get the help! I am a Maine state parent ambassador was active up until I could go to trainings , and my depression set in and I have been one more focused on my health and I was also an active member at Communitg concepts as a policy council member , parent group, wiring committee, went to trainings , clothing closets, part of finding our. Voices domestic survivor program but without a vehicle I am unable to go to group functions to help and be in group meetings and advocate and help others and help myself grow and help others heal it was helping me mentally and physically! I also have not been able to be the mom as much and as good as I could be with a vehicle we have to walk everywhere to the bus stop to the store to get food , to get our meds, or have them delivered which takes more out of what little money we have , my son have missed community functions because we could not get there all because I could not get the help due to my age! Even if there was some kind of a pay back program or something to help I mean I do give back to the community I am an ad o are I help others heal, a single mom disabled, have. Some with autism we have come so from homelessness to a home to begin g a vehicle to be owing a Maine state parent ambassador and having so many opportunities and the. To have it just siting there and to just keep getting told no when I just need that one thing to keep us going is such a let down not only to myself but a little boy how has already been and see to much negative and all I want to do is give him the best I can and prove to him that you can do anything I you keep the FAITH and are STRONG , and even when everyone else leaves and when u feel like you can’t make it just keep going use your VOICE 🦋💕✨🙌 things will get better !
Please know that your voice is heard, and your strength is clear. You are modeling resilience for your son and inspiring every person who reads your story to use their own voice.
In regards to the transportation for Mainecare clients it is so hard to rely on and to be dependable when. Apts are with specialist and not knowing how long and when doctors take longer and. Clash in timing riders get very rude and don’t consider the big picture ! They get very pushy and with children make situation uncomfortable and sometimes their driving is not the best and different drivers which for some children causes more behavior , when they don’t show up it causes issues not only with the doctors office but with child! There’s just a lot with the hole program to be looked at as far as setting up and the consistency of balance and professionalism and how the program should work protocol! And communication with doctors offices and transportation company’s there’s got to be some kind of agreement due to cancellations and misunderstandings !