AUGUSTA - MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note issued the following statement in response to Governor Mills's supplemental budget proposal:
"On behalf of all Maine travelers, I want to thank Governor Mills for her willingness to commit $10 million in General Fund money to help repair our state's aging infrastructure. Transportation is a fundamental part of our lives, and funding it adequately will preserve public safety, support economic vitality, and reduce its impact on our environment. We look forward to working with the Blue Ribbon Commission and others as we continue to move towards nonpartisan and sustainable solutions to our chronic underfunding of transportation in Maine."
Background: Last year, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed a bill to create a Blue Ribbon Commission To Study and Recommend Funding Solutions for the State's Transportation Systems. The Commission has estimated the annual unmet funding need at MaineDOT is $232 million. Commission members are continuing to work this year with the goal of identifying a nonpartisan and sustainable solution to MaineDOT's chronic funding problem.