TRANSPORTATION BOND AT A GLANCE
Following are the specific projects included in the state transportation bond voted on Tuesday:
• Highways and bridges: $55 million, with a federal match of $110 million. The money will be major part of the Maine Department of Transportation's proposed $637 million, two-year highway and bridge program, calling for 133 bridge projects, 200 miles of paving and 17 miles of highway reconstruction.
• Rail investments: $4 million, with a private match of $3 million. Some money would go to a statewide study required for future federal passenger and freight rail funding, and to a program to encourage public-private partnerships. The rest would be used for matching grants to business for freight rail infrastructure upgrades, and for upgrades to state-owned rail lines.
• Port and ferry improvements: $8.25 million. Federal match of $11.75 million. About $4.5 million will go to the Port of Eastport, for improvements at its bulk cargo handling facility. About $1.25 million would go toward a state match needed for a channel dredging project at Searsport Harbor to enable the state to market the port to larger freight vessels. Other funds would be used to maintain Maine State Ferry Service vessels and facilities, and to rebuild the bulkhead at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland.
• Aviation: $3.6 million, with a federal match of $57 million, local funds of $1.5 million and a LifeFlight match of $500,000. Money for infrastructure improvements to public airports, including runway and taxiway reconstruction, safety improvements and other enhancements to improve airport access and safety. About $500,000 would be for transportation infrastructure at the Brunswick Naval Air Station, and $600,000 for capital improvements at the Augusta State Airport and the Island Airport Program. One million dollars is earmarked to improve access and safety of LifeFlight's emergency medical services in rural and island communities with automated weather stations and helicopter approaches.
• Intermodal transportation: $400,000, with a federal match of $800,000. At the Trenton intermodal facility, near Bar Harbor, $400,000 for the design of Phase II of the Acadia Gateway Intermodal Center, including National Park Service and large restroom facilities, bus berths and visitor parking.
– Source: Maine Better Transportation Association
With 84 percent of precincts reporting statewide late Tuesday, there was heavy support for a $71.25 million transportation bond which supporters said would help generate $219 million for various projects – from highway and bridge repair to upgrading rail lines and port facilities – and save or create about 4,600 jobs.
With 509 of 605 precincts reporting, 311,588 votes (65.4 percent) were cast in favor, and 165,022 (34.6 percent) opposed.
“I think people in Maine understand we have to invest in infrastructure and create jobs, and this transportation bond is a sure way to do that,” said Maria Fuentes, executive director of the Maine Better Roads Association, a transportation advocacy group. “The vote certainly seems to be trending in the right direction.”
The bond proposal might have included other nontransportation state projects, such as higher education and waste water system improvements.
But because of the economic and political climate, bond backers decided to include only transportation projects, which usually have widespread support.
Mainers have approved all 13 transportation bonds put on the ballot since 1987. Fuentes said there was a feeling among state leaders and legislators that a transportation bond would be “safer” to put before voters this year than some other spending projects.
“And I think people got the sense this was a good deal because it will leverage so much federal money and create so many jobs,” Fuentes said.
The bulk of the bond – $55 million, with a federal match of $110 million – is devoted to the Maine Department of Transportation’s proposed $637 million, two-year highway and bridge program.
“There was some reluctance on the other side to have this bond include so much for highways, but we thought that should be the priority, and we prevailed,” said State. Rep. Sawin Millett (R-Waterford), who worked on the bond proposal.
The DOT highway and bridge program calls for 133 bridge projects, 200 miles of paving and 17 miles of highway reconstruction. The bond also devotes $4 million to rail investment, $8.5 million to port and ferry improvements, and $3.6 million to airport and aviation improvements.
Staff Writer Ray Routhier can be contacted at 791-6454 or at: rrouthier@pressherald.com
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