The Maine Development Foundation announces the release of its newest report titled: "The Difference is Night and Day - Why Investing in Highways and Bridges is an Investment in Prosperity." The report is a compilation of research gathered by the Maine Development Foundation that demonstrates the positive and negative consequences associated with varying levels of investment in Maine's transportation system.

Laurie Lachance, Maine Development Foundation President and CEO comments, "Maine's transportation infrastructure has fallen into disrepair, and with every failing bridge and posted state highway, the state's economy and quality of life are at risk. The MaineDOT estimates that the state will need to invest an additional $280 million - $300 million a year over the next 10 years to address the problem of our aging transportation infrastructure. These bridges and highways serve as critical links for Maine communities and every day that we let them fall into further disrepair costs us in lost lives, lost income and lost economic potential. If Maine's economy is going to thrive in the coming century, we must recognize the benefits of a safe and efficient transportation infrastructure and invest to protect those benefits."

This report lists data and a number of facts regarding the social and economic benefits of investment as well as the costs of deferring that investment. This analysis complements another transportation report that the Foundation published jointly with the Maine Department of Transportation earlier this year titled - "Connecting Maine Through Transportation: What Maine Businesses Have to Say" - a compilation of mini case studies that focuses on how 22 of Maine's businesses across several sectors depend on Maine's transportation infrastructure for their survival and growth.