Effective laws and regulations can help support transportation options which make it easier for older adults to Age in Place. At Spectrum Generations, we believe that advocacy at a state and federal level is imperative to achieving laws and regulations that support our community’s seniors and their desires for aging well. To that end, we support local governments and regions to:
- Incentivize new business and residential development by increasing sustainable multimodal transportation choices.
- Provide residents greater access to jobs, education, and resources that contribute to the economic growth of the region.
- Adapt to local transportation needs with variety of transportation options.
- Develop new infrastructure to support transit oriented development through a new loan program.
- For some individuals with very low income, Medicaid pays for specialized transportation, but only to qualifying Medicaid services, leaving all other needs to be met by other systems and funded by other community programs.
- Increased funding for DOT public transportation funding to fulfill 20% service goal (approx. $14M), including for volunteer networks, a voucher program for seniors and those with disabilities, and for regional transportation providers to expand current routes.
Maine DOT’s own Transit Strategic Plan 2025 made clear the need for additional service, concluding that it would cost $14 million a year just to reach the modest goal of providing 20% of the unmet transportation need in Maine.