Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram
State's two-year road plan focuses on paving, bridges
By GARY REMAL, Blethen Maine News Service Portland Press Herald Saturday, May 5, 2007

AUGUSTA - A $50,000 study of a possible new road to link Interstate 95 at Exit 113 to Route 27 in Augusta.
A $1 million expansion of the runway safety zones at Augusta State Airport.
A $500,000 rehabilitation of the Second Street Bridge in Hallowell.
Those are a few on a long list of projects to be funded under the Maine Department of Transportation's $815 million, two-year work plan released this week. The plan covers the fiscal years 2007-08 and 2008-09.
"This is truly a work plan, what we intend to produce in the next two years," said Dale Forest Doughty, acting director of the Department of Transportation's Bureau of Planning.
The $815 million proposal counts on money from two borrowing packages being sent to voters for approval over the next year: $113 million in June and an additional $23 million in June 2008.
Much of the money for state transportation projects comes from federal funds. Both state and federal highway funds come largely from fuel taxes and vehicle fees.
Transportation Commissioner David Cole said in releasing the spending package, "Unfortunately, with construction costs skyrocketing and revenues flat or declining, we're putting out what's basically a custodial work plan, with the focus on bridges and paving so we can take care of what we have."
Overall, the plan calls for more than $623 million to be dedicated to highway and bridge repair and construction. Nearly $178 million would be allocated for passenger transportation projects, including $26.8 million for engineering and regulatory work toward extending passenger rail service to Brunswick. An additional $14 million is earmarked for improved freight transportation.
Doughty said the buying power of the department's dollars has declined significantly in recent years, largely because of rising costs for fuel and construction products derived from oil, especially asphalt.
The 2006-07 proposal called for $648 million in spending, but an increase of 35 percent in construction costs forced state officials to defer more than $200 million worth of work.


Reader comments

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j t of Raymond, ME
May 5, 2007 1:17 PM
Actually, Chris, the rails from Portland to Brunswick are NOT owned by the state, but by a
regoinal railroad. The same sitiaution exists in this corridor that existed with the Downeaster.
The work would include upgrading the track and substructure to the standards required for high speed passneger service, and upgraded signalization at crossings for public safety.report abuse
Chris of Harpswell, ME
May 5, 2007 1:08 PM
$27 million for engineering and "regulatory work" toward extending passenger rail service to Brunswick seems a lot of money to simply "throw" at a project with a vague hope it might be financially feasible at some point in the future. We understand that's standard operating practice for Democrats in the legislature, but that doesn't mean it's right!

Also since the track between Portland and Brunswick is I'm fairly sure owned by the state, exactly what "regulatory work" does the Baldacci administration propose to do? We can of course depend on Blethen Maine Newspapers not to ask any embarrassing questions.report abuse
ft828 of Pittsfield, ME
May 5, 2007 10:07 AM
A $1 million expansion of the runway safety zones at Augusta State Airport.

We wouldn't want any of the lobbyists to get hurt flying in and out of Augusta each day.report abuse
Thomas of Deering Center, ME
May 5, 2007 8:00 AM
Borrowing packages? I though roads were free. This is clearly communism at work here. Stop taking my taxes and wasting them on government spending.

Runway safety zones at the Augusta airport? I though planes were free, and trains were the only form of transport that was subsidized. What's all this then? I'm confused!report abuse

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