Rule for the Maine Sensible Transportation Policy Act
(As Adopted 9/10/2008)

Background

In 2003, the 121st Legislature directed the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) to work in collaboration with the State Planning Office (SPO) to draft a rule to link the transportation planning processes of the Sensible Transportation Policy Act (STPA) with those of the Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act. This change was based on the belief that land use and transportation planning must work hand-in-hand to protect highway safety and mobility and also enhance economic opportunity, community livability, and environmental quality. The Law also directs MaineDOT to develop incentives for communities that adopt plans that reduce reliance on the state highway system.

MaineDOT, the Maine Turnpike Authority and the State Planning Office collaborated on the Transportation Chapter of both the STPA rule and the Growth Management Act; the goal being for the Transportation Chapters of these Rules to be the same.

MaineDOT also developed a Municipal Handbook to guide local planning efforts in meeting the STPA policy objectives. Municipalities or groups of municipalities that develop plans using the new STPA rule will be eligible for transportation planning assistance and other investment incentives including:

• Bonus prioritization points that increase access to funding in MaineDOT’s competitive programs - MaineDOT is to publish a list of these annually;
• Incremental reductions in any local match requirements; and
• Bonus prioritization points for MaineDOT funded highway reconstruction and transportation mobility projects.
• MaineDOT, in consultation with the State Planning Office, reserves the right to determine whether transportation chapters of land-use plans, policies or ordinances adopted by municipalities will meet the STPA policy objectives.

Following are the full text of the Adopted STPA Rule, an accompanying guide, entitled “Sensible Transportation – A Handbook for Local and Inter-Community Transportation Planning in Maine”, the background and purpose, and a summary of the resulting changes made to the original Rule:

• Final Adopted STPA Rule (Adobe PDF Format) (MS Word Format)
  (About rules on this website)

  Pleaes Note: Copies of Rules are posted on this website as a convenience to visitors. While every effort is made to insure the accuracy and timeliness of documents posted here, the "official" text of Rules adopted by State agencies under the Administrative Procedures Act are maintained by the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions.

  For more information, or to download electronic copies of Rules, please visit their website at http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/index.html.

  Newly adopted or amended rules are posted there as time permits. If you need a copy of a Rule that was recently adopted or amended and has not yet been added to their website, or if you need a certified copy of a Rule, contact APA Coordinator/Webmaster Don Wismer at (207) 624-7650.

• Sensible Transportation Handbook (Working draft through 12/2008)
• STPA Rule Summary (Adobe PDF Format) (MS Word Format)

Please note: The above documents are in both Adobe PDF format, and Microsoft Word format. To download a reader for either document format, please click on the links below.

download the free MS Word (2003) viewer

download the free Adobe PDF viewer

If your web browser or screen reader cannot view either of these two formats, please contact the Bureau of Planning at (207) 624-3300.

 

This page last updated on 10/7/08