Planning | Maine Department of Transportation

The Bureau of Planning is MaineDOT’s primary point of contact for Maine’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs), municipalities, other stakeholders, and members of the public for all modes of transportation. It is also home to MaineDOT’s Tribal Liaison. The Bureau of Planning carries out long-range planning efforts and helps develop MaineDOT policies. For municipal support, the MaineDOT Community Services Division and the Maine Local Roads Center are located in Planning. The Bureau of Planning also leads MaineDOT’s efforts for several modes of transportation, including Active Transportation, Aviation, Freight, many elements of Passenger Services, Ports and Marine, and Scenic Byways.

For more information about the following activities, please see the pages linked below:

Active Transportation
Aviation
Freight
Passenger Services (including public transit, ferries, GO Maine, park and rides, and passenger rail)
Ports and Marine
Scenic Byways
MaineDOT Department Policies
Safer Roads (including Complete Streets)
Grant Opportunities
- Active Transportation
- Freight
- Ports and Marine
- Special Federal Funding

Family of Plans

Community-Based Initiatives

Let us help you reimagine and transform your community.

MaineDOT has a long history of partnering with local communities to develop programs and deliver projects that bring out a shared vision and accentuate shared priorities. While we will continue to invest in core infrastructure needs, we are now also allocating resources toward revitalizing the places that make Maine special: our iconic village centers and downtown areas.

While MaineDOT has traditionally worked to make sure “you can get there from here,” the goal of our new Village Partnership Initiative is to make sure that once you get there, the there is a place you want to be.

Village Partnership Initiative

The Village Partnership Initiative is designed to be available to all willing communities that have or can agree upon a local vision. Village projects can vary from small, spot improvements to large, once-in-a-lifetime investments if we can successfully partner to access federal discretionary funds. Working with other agencies, these communities should have access to broadband, as good internet connections are as important as physical connections are today.

Village Centers and Downtowns are mixed-use areas that serve the surrounding community(ies)with goods, services, and housing; and have at least one civic or religious facility. Village Centers and Downtowns when built will be at least a half mile in length, have characteristics supporting speed limits of 30 mph or less and be built on a human scale making them walkable and bikeable for patrons and residents and have broadband available. Villages should be the focal point of a community and should reflect the personality, character, and history of that community. Some Maine municipalities may have more than one village center that serve distinct communities within the municipality.

MaineDOT’s Village Partnership Initiative may be used in partnership with local officials to reinvest and revitalize Village Centers or Downtowns reflecting the community’s future vision. This Initiative may be used to enhance existing or create new Village Centers that meet the criteria listed above. Investments must be made in a way that balances the use and safety of all village patrons, whether in automobile, walking or bicycling. To that end, improvements should result in speed limits and actual average speeds of 30 miles per hour or less and provide for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists in a balanced approach. Most investments will be made where provisions for broadband internet are or will be available.

Large Transformative

Focus

This program is new for 2022. MaineDOT has set aside $4 million in state seed monies in the first year and $4 million in each of the subsequent years as matching funds for investment in Maine village and downtown centers. MaineDOT will work in partnership with local officials to reinvest and revitalize one of the distinguishing features of New England: our iconic village centers. Depending upon the vision of each individual municipality, we can look to make once-in-a-lifetime investments in the lower-speed areas where people meet, shop, and do business. These village areas need to be built on a human scale: walkable, bicycle-friendly, and business-friendly. In sum, this can be bigger than just transportation; it is potentially place-making. These investments, when coupled with broadband if currently unavailable, will create an incentive for businesses to want to locate, people to live, and others to visit and possibly relocate. We believe these projects will improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety and have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by allowing people to do more business locally.

Types of Projects

MaineDOT has had success with projects like this in the past. A look at Naples, Bridgton, and now Fryeburg on the Route 302 corridor provides examples in western Maine. Woodford’s Corner in Portland and the downtown in Ogunquit show our vision in more urban areas. The downtowns and villages of Hallowell and Belgrade also show realized potential. To build on these successes, MaineDOT has been designing and standing up a Village Partnership Initiative on a modest scale, using state and local funds. The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), through various grant opportunities, has the potential to expand that vision many times by allowing the state and local funds to be used as match to federal grant funding. We believe we will be able to truly partner with communities to envision, plan, and revitalize their villages.

Due to their complexity, it is anticipated that most of these projects will be designed and constructed by MaineDOT and its contractors.

Eligibility

Opportunities are available for any Maine village or downtown on a state or state aid highway where a community has a vision for significant improvements to lower-speed areas that are or could become a community center inviting businesses and community facilities and are walkable and bicycle friendly. These projects and anticipated to cost $10 million or more and would likely be contingent on securing special federal allocations such as earmarks or grants. The BIL offers a unique set of opportunities for this program that were not viable in the past.

Funding

The initial scoping and preliminary design for these projects can be funded through a cooperative agreement between MaineDOT and a community. This would be done under or in a similar manner to the Planning Partnership Initiative program below. Some of the seed monies from this program in 2022 may be used to augment the Planning Partnership Initiative program for initial village incentive program scope development. The initial planning will require an agreement between MaineDOT and the community. The agreement will require a municipal match generally based on the following:

Municipal Property Valuation less than $150M, 70% State, 30% Municipal
Municipal Property Valuation $150M to $350M, 60% State, 40% Municipal
Municipal Property Valuation >$350M, 50% State, 50% Municipal

The maximum amount of the agreement will be dependent on the complexity of the project and the amount of design needed to be competitive on the federal level.

These are complex projects and will take several years to develop. Once the project is scoped and an adequate amount of public outreach and design work is complete, MaineDOT and the community will develop a strategy for applying for special federal allocations such as earmarks or BIL grants. The application may be bundled with other communities across the state to make the package more competitive on the federal level. Once a grant or earmark is secured, MaineDOT and the municipality will enter into a construction agreement. Most federal transportation funding requires a 20-percent non-federal match. The non-federal match may be shared by MaineDOT and the community at a ratio similar to those above. For example, a $10-million construction project could be funded the following way: $8 million federal, $1 million state, and $1 million municipal. MaineDOT may be able to suggest financing opportunities for the municipality.

How to Apply

Applying is as simple as a town official contacting your regional planner in MaineDOT’s Bureau of Planning. The planner will arrange a time to meet with you and begin a conversation about your vision and how it might fit this program. To contact your MaineDOT regional planner, call 207-624-3300.

Small Spot Improvements

Focus

MaineDOT has set aside $1 million in state monies in all three years of this Work Plan for the development of small village improvements. This program is new for 2022 and is designed to make spot improvements to existing villages. This program will be used by communities to better define the limits of their villages and improve safety, using gateway treatments, traffic calming, and pedestrian enhancements. In 2022, this program will invest $1 million in state funds, leveraging another $1 million in local funding. This program is intended to create safer and more inviting villages on state and state aid highways across Maine.

Types of Projects

These projects can range from gateway treatments, marking the beginning of a village area to help slow traffic, to improving pedestrian crossings and ADA compliance. They may also be used to enhance on-street parking, improve sidewalks, etc.

Eligibility

Opportunities are available for any Maine village or downtown on a state or state aid highway, where a community has a identified the need for spot improvements that will improve safety and the viability of the village.

Funding and Delivery

These projects will be funded on a first come/first serve basis through cooperative agreement between MaineDOT and a community. Projects could range from several hundred thousand dollars to $500,000 total project cost. Each year, MaineDOT anticipates funding four or five projects under this program.

Municipal Property Valuation less than $150M, 70% State, 30% Municipal
Municipal Property Valuation a$150M to $350M, 60% State, 40% Municipal
Municipal Property Valuation >$350M, 50% State, 50% Municipal

Procurement and construction are typically administered by the municipality under the direction of a Maine Professional Engineer in a similar manner to the Municipal Partnership Initiative projects.

How to Apply

Municipal Partnership Initiative

Focus

MaineDOT’s Municipal Partnership Initiative is intended to be a streamlined program to address municipal requests that deal with transportation infrastructure issues on state and state aid highways, encourage economic opportunities, and make improvements to infrastructure to increase its life or correct safety deficiencies.

The program is designed to promote partnerships between MaineDOT and municipalities by leveraging additional resources on a voluntary basis to match limited state resources. The goal is to make improvements to state and state aid highways by utilizing more flexible project delivery methods.

This Work Plan has set aside $8 million in state funding, which is anticipated to leverage another $8 million in local funds annually.

Types of Projects

This program is focused on the road core and may include surface treatments, road reconstruction, drainage improvements, intersection improvements, and more.

Eligibility

This program may be applied to any state or state aid highway where specific betterments are needed. The program is popular and very competitive. Funding is limited.

Funding

A three-tiered share approach is used to determine the maximum MaineDOT share based on the current municipal valuation.

Municipal Property Valuation less than $150M – 70% State, 30% Municipal, Maximum MaineDOT contribution $875,000
Municipal Property Valuation $150M to $350M – 60% State, 40% Municipal, Maximum MaineDOT contribution $750,000
Municipal Property Valuation >$350M – 50% State, 50% Municipal, Maximum MaineDOT contribution $625,000

You may contact the regional engineer in your MaineDOT Region Office or your regional planner at 207-624-3300.

For more detailed information on this initiative, please review the 2020 MPI Municipal Guide

How to Apply

Planning Partnership Initiative

Focus

The Planning Partnership Initiative is intended to address time-sensitive, locally initiated planning and feasibility studies. This work plan sets aside $200,000 in state funding to match a like amount in local funding, annually. The approach is to study, evaluate, plan and scope transportation projects on or adjacent to the state and state aid highway system or for FHWA-eligible trail connections that are requested by a community. These are intended to be an administrative and financial partnership between the community requesting the study and MaineDOT. These are also intended to be simple, flexible, and fast-moving for new economic development and other high-priority proposals. These types of studies will be key in preparing projects for special federal funding applications such as grants under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Some of these may be linked to future Village Partnership Initiative grant applications.

Types of Studies

The following is a list of some of the types of studies that can be conducted under this program:

Economic development, land use, and transportation planning
Identification and evaluation of potential transportation alternatives
Transportation resiliency and transportation greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies
Build-out analyses and analysis of transportation impacts of undeveloped or underdeveloped land
Multimodal planning efforts to identify transportation deficiencies and strategies to address those deficiencies
Conceptual renderings of transportation alternatives
Cost estimating for potential future transportation improvements

Other state and/or federal transportation funding may not be used for the local match. The match may, however, include other non-transportation funding sources such as impact fees, TIFs, and CDBG grants.

How to Apply

Applying is as simple as a town official contacting the Planning Partnership Initiative administrator or regional planner in MaineDOT’s Bureau of Planning. We will arrange a time to meet with you and begin a conversation about your vision and how it might fit this program or other programs. Call 207-624-3300.

For more detailed information on this initiative, please review our detailed PPI Project and Grant page

Funding

Planning Partnership Initiative funding is limited, is first come/first serve, and may vary. MaineDOT funding is generally capped at $75,000; therefore, most studies will be $150,000 or less in total cost. Minimum local contributions are typically as follows:

Municipal Property Valuation less than $150M, 70% State, 30% Municipal
Municipal Property Valuation $150M to $350M, 60% State, 40% Municipal

Business Partnership Initiative

Focus

If a municipality and a local business or businesses feel that state highway or state aid highway infrastructure are impediments to them being able to reach their economic potential, this program will allow them to improve a portion of state or state aid highway to enhance the business climate, create new opportunities, or to allow for expansion. This Work Plan sets aside $2 million in state funding which anticipates leveraging another $4 million in local and business funding, annually.

This program is designed to promote public/private partnerships between MaineDOT and municipalities, public utilities, private businesses, and other entities by leveraging additional resources on a voluntary basis to match limited state resources. It will make improvements to state and state-aid highways, often utilizing more flexible project delivery methods when the nature of the highway and project allows.

Types of Projects

Typical projects under this program include improved access to and from state and state aid highways to businesses; improving vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian access and safety; improving local access; and mitigating traffic constraints related to economic development. Projects must provide for:

Economic Development & Job Creation
Improved Safety Transportation
Customer Benefit

You may contact the traffic engineer in your MaineDOT Regional Office or your regional planner at 207-624-3300.

For more detailed information on this initiative, please review the 2016 BPI Municipal Guide

Eligibility

Eligibility is extended to projects on state and state aid highways that are related to business development and are sponsored by the local municipality and one or more businesses.

Matching

MaineDOT Business Partnership Initiative funding contribution for a project will be capped at 33.3 percent of the total project cost, with a state share not exceeding $1 million. The local community and business(es) will contribute 33.3 percent each.

If a Business Partnership Initiative project is an add-on to an existing MaineDOT project, the Business Partnership Initiative funding portion will only count as MaineDOT’s additional contribution beyond what was previously programmed.

How to Apply

You may contact the traffic engineer in your MaineDOT Regional Office or your regional planner at 207-624-3300.

For more detailed information on this initiative, please review the 2016 BPI Municipal Guide

Partnerships

MaineDOT works closely with many partners across the state to achieve our mission. These include Federally-Recognized Tribes, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Regional Planning Organizations, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and others. More information is available below, or by contacting the MaineDOT Bureau of Planning. Please review our current Public Involvement Plan and Cooperative Planning Process for Non-Metropolitan Local Officials for additional in-depth information.

Federally-Recognized Tribes

MaineDOT maintains a Tribal Consultation Policy, in accordance with the Tribal-State Collaboration Act, 5 M.R.S. §§ 11051 et seq, the purpose of which is to promote respectful, government-to-government dialogue, and improve communication between state agencies and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation. Per this policy, MaineDOT maintains a Tribal Liaison, who is responsible for coordinating between MaineDOT and these governments. For more information, please contact Jarod Farn-Guillette, Regional Transportation Planner - Region 4 & 5 & Tribal Liaison

Metropolitan Planning Organizations

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are federally designated planning organizations responsible for carrying out a continuous, comprehensive, and cooperative transportation planning process for urbanized areas with populations of 50,000 or more.

The MPO's are composed of policy and technical committees with elected and appointed officials from the municipalities within the metropolitan area, the local planning commission or council of governments, chambers of commerce and/or business representatives, local public transit providers, the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA), if appropriate, the Maine Department of Transportation, and the federal funding agencies of the US Department of Transportation.

MPOs are responsible for developing a 20-Year Multimodal Transportation Plan for the metropolitan area and a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), a prioritized listing of transportation projects to be carried out during the specified two-year time frame.

MPO Administrative Guide 2019

There are 4 MPOs in Maine:

Androscoggin Transportation Resource Center (ATRC)
125 Manley Road
Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 783-9186

Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS)
12 Acme Road, Suite 102
Brewer, ME 04412
Phone: (207) 974-3111

Kittery Area Comprehensive Transportation System (KACTS)
Saco Island
110 Main Street, Suite 1400
Saco, Maine 04072
(207) 571-7065

Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS)
970 Baxter Boulevard, Second Floor
Portland, ME 04103
(207) 774-9891

Regional Planning Organizations

Regional Planning Organizations (RPOs) were established by Maine State Statute (i.e. Planning Commissions, Councils of Governments) and receive funds from the Maine Legislature and Maine Coastal Program to provide general planning assistance to municipalities within their respective regions. The organizations are private nonprofits that cooperate with MaineDOT and other state agencies per contract assignment letters. Those contracts include tasks and activities that support MaineDOT’s staff and regional offices with municipal outreach, safety planning, Tribal liaison work, bicycle and pedestrian planning, transit planning, ADA data collection, comprehensive plan assistance, traffic data collection, traffic management collection, and public works.

Funding allocations will be mutually agreed upon based upon the amount of work capacity anticipated for each selected task annually with contracts beginning on the first day of the new calendar year. This assistance is available upon request to the extent that the funding allows. At a minimum, this assistance will include answering general questions, advising on committee formation, explaining the Growth Management Act and the Comprehensive Plan Review Criteria Rule, and providing presentations on interlocal resource planning. MaineDOT also regularly meets with the RPO executive committees, which provides another opportunity for RPOs to engage.

Contact information for the RPOs that MaineDOT contracts with is listed below. Please note that these are subject to change, and the Regional Planners in the MaineDOT Bureau of Planning (207-624-3300) can provide current updates as needed.

Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG): Principally serves communities in Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford counties.
125 Manley Road, Auburn, ME 04210
(207) 783-9186
Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS) Penobscot County Rural Transportation Planning Program. The BACTS MPO provides rural transportation planning services to communities in Penobscot County.
12 Acme Road, Suite 104, Brewer, Maine 04412
(207) 974-3111
https://bactsmpo.org
Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG). Serves communities in the Greater Portland area, principally in Cumberland County.
970 Baxter Boulevard, Suite 201, Portland, ME 04103
(207) 774-9891
www.gpcog.org
Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC). Principally serves communities in Hancock and Washington Counties.
395 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605
(207) 667-7131
www.hcpcme.org
Kennebec Valley Council of Governments (KVCOG). Principally serves communities across Kennebec, Somerset, Piscataquis, and western Waldo Counties.
17 Main Street, Fairfield, ME 04937
(207) 453-4258
www.kvcog.org
Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (LCRPC). Principally serves communities in Lincoln County.
297 Bath Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578
(207) 882-5188
www.lcrpc.org
Midcoast Council of Governments (MCOG). Serves communities in the Midcoast region not covered by other RPOs.
165 Main Street, Suite F, P.O. Box 62, Damariscotta, ME 04543
(207) 209-4129
https://www.midcoastcog.com/
Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC). Principally serves communities in Aroostook County.
11 West Presque Isle Road, PO Box 770, Caribou, ME 04736
www.nmdc.org
Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission (SMPDC). Principally serves communities in York and southwestern Oxford and Cumberland Counties.
110 Main Street, Suite 1400, Saco, ME 04072
(207) 571-7065
www.smpdc.org
Sunrise County Economic Council (SCEC). Principally serves communities in Washington County.
7 Ames Way, Machias, ME 04654
330 North Street, Suite 1, Calais, ME 04619
(207) 255-0983
https://sunrisecounty.org/