AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mill's signed Maine's two-year state transportation budget into law last week, allocating roughly $1.8 billion in state and federal funds to the state's transportation needs. Earlier in the month, the budget received unanimous, bipartisan approval from both the House and the Senate.
LD 161 was sponsored by Rep. Roland "Danny" Martin, D-Sinclair, House chair of the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Transportation. The budget funds improvements and maintenance to Maine's extensive multimodal transportation system, including 8,800 miles of highway, 3,000 bridges, six commercial airports, 1,200 miles of active railroad tracks and 492 miles of state-owned track, seven state-owned ferry boats and terminals and three major seaports.
"From our lobster industry to our logging industry, every sector of our state's economy depends on having reliable transportation infrastructure," said Martin. "It is critical that we adequately invest in our roads, bridges and ports to keep our state running and encourage businesses and families to come to Maine and stay. I am appreciative of my colleagues on the Transportation Committee for working so hard to develop a transportation budget that meets our states needs.
"Investment in our roads is always necessary, because Mainers depend on these roads to be safe and reliable every day," said Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, Senate chair of the Transportation Committee. "Especially now, as we welcome visitors back into our state, we must continue working to make sure our infrastructure including our roads and bridges is prepared for increased use. I'm grateful to everyone for their good work on this budget."
Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note briefed the committee on the funding needs of Maine's transportation system on March 25. In his testimony, he discussed the challenges of funding Maines transportation systems due to the state's large geographic size, low population density and low per capita income. The testimony detailed the various funding sources of the transportation budget, including Highway Fund Revenue and federal highway funds.
The budget was passed as an emergency measure and went into effect when the governor signed the measure.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Martin] c. 812-1111
Lisa Haberzettl [Diamond], c. 251-3548