Planning

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
  • GO Maine
  • Park and Rides
  • Passenger Rail
• Byways Program
• Complete Streets and Local Cost Share
• Grant Opportunities 
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Funding
  • Industrial Rail Access Program (IRAP)
  • Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP)
  • Special Federal Funding

Family of Plans

MaineDOT’s Family of Plans is a set of multimodal and modal transportation planning documents that lay out the department’s vision for Maine’s transportation system, present recommendations for how to achieve the vision, and lay out the path to implementing them.  

Visit our Family of Plans StoryMap

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.

Focus

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 following the Municipal Valuation Cost Share Scale outlined in Section 10 of the MaineDOT Local Cost Share Policy.

 

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.

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.

 

Active Transportation Partnership Initiative

MaineDOT created the Active Transportation Partnership Initiative (ATPI) to assist in funding small location-specific improvements in the transportation system that enhance safety and mobility for vulnerable road users (VRU), fostering safe and usable human-scale transportation options in Maine.

MaineDOT understands the crucial role that municipal partners play in local transportation safety. This program intends to create strong municipal/State partnerships for safe and walkable village and downtown centers, increased opportunities for economic viability and quality of life, and investment in impactful enhancements to VRU safety in locations on, or adjacent to the State transportation network.

The ATPI program seeks to design and implement transportation system improvements in partnership with Municipal partners via three available implementation tracks: Targeted Transportation Improvements, Measurable Safety Interventions, and Demonstration/Pilot Projects. Click on a section below to learn more.

ATPI Program Process

Interested municipalities should engage their MaineDOT Urban, Regional, or Active Transportation Planner to discuss participation in the program for a specific project location in their community. MaineDOT staff will work through program requirements and screen locations for demonstrated safety needs, working with other DOT staff as needed. MaineDOT staff will assist in screening potential projects and determining if the project is best suited for the Targeted Transportation Improvements, Measurable Safety Interventions, or Demonstration/Pilot Project program track; a municipality may not use both program tracks for one single project. If deemed an appropriate project, the municipality will submit a short letter of interest, and if approved will enter into a municipal/State agreement for the project. Projects will be implemented wholly by the municipality in accordance with Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) processes but will be coordinated through MaineDOT.

 

1) Measurable VRU Safety Interventions

This program category targets specific interventions that will result in measurable safety benefits for pedestrians and/or bicyclists. The program is established to address locations with demonstrated safety needs, such as those identified via Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Action Plans, HeadsUp! Pedestrian Safety Reports and other similar planning efforts.

Eligible Applicants: Municipal Governments

Eligible Project Locations: Locations on State or local public roads with VRU safety deficiencies that can be demonstrated or measured, and that have feasible solutions that will effectively increase safety. These safety needs should be demonstrated with all readily available data:

• Any available bicycle or pedestrian crash data
• Crosswalk yield compliance data
• Bike/Ped count data
• Current vehicle speeds are outside the appropriate range of speeds based on roadway context
• Documented unsafe bicyclist or pedestrian behavior due to inadequate infrastructure
• Consideration of Community surveys and Public Engagement
• Other measurable safety considerations

Eligible Project Scope: Design and construction of infrastructure enhancements only. The proposed bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure should align with best practices found in FHWA, AASHTO or NACTO design guides, or other widely accepted guidance documents. Some example project scopes may include:

• Enhanced pedestrian crossings
  • Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacon (RRFB)
  • Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB)
  • Pedestrian Refuge Islands
  • Raised Crossings
  • Lighted Crossings
• Bump-outs Intersection safety improvements
• Pedestrian Signal Equipment
• ADA Accessibility Improvements
• Permanent Implementation of Pilot Project Recommendations
• Short gaps in priority sidewalk networks
• Pedestrian lighting
• Bicycle facility safety improvements
• Roadway Width Reallocation or Retrofit Installations
• Speed management countermeasures
• Gateway treatments
• Other proven safety countermeasures

Application Period: Rolling open application period

Maximum MaineDOT Project Award: $500,000

Match Requirement: 20% local match (match requirement may be reduced to 10% if the municipality has successfully implemented a demonstration/pilot project at the proposed location, or if project location falls within a Federally recognized Tribal community or an area of persistent poverty.

Reporting Requirement: All projects funded through the program will be required to submit before and after data regarding the specific safety concerns for vulnerable users (speed data, yield compliance, use data, other documented conditions from before and after project implementation).

 

2) Targeted Transportation Improvements

These projects address location-specific transportation deficiencies, improvements, and shared goals between MaineDOT and a municipality. These projects may relate to all transportation modes but are intended to increase viability and access to human-scale community centers that may link business and economic development areas, public facilities (such as parks, libraries, community centers), and other areas that seek to improve transportation for all modes.

Eligible Applicants: Municipal Governments

Eligible Project Scopes: Design and construction of infrastructure enhancements only

• Pedestrian and/or bicycle facility enhancements
• Crosswalk enhancements
• ADA Accessibility Improvements
• Rehabilitation of existing bicycle/pedestrian facilities
• Implementation of traffic calming measures (See MaineDOT Traffic Calming Guidance).
• Installation of Gateway Treatments
• Intersection improvements
• Connectivity enhancements between popular traffic generators
• Design, implementation, and evaluation of pilot projects

Application Period: Rolling open application period

Maximum MaineDOT Project Award: $300,000

Match Requirement: Based on Municipal Valuation Cost Share Scale, outlined in Section 10 of the MaineDOT Local Cost Share Policy.

 

3) Demonstration and Pilot Projects

Quick-Build Pilot, or Demonstration Projects are typically short-term, low-cost efforts to pilot improvement options to identify possible long-term implementation solutions. These projects should correct an unsafe situation or deficiency in the existing conditions of a given location, and projects should define clear goals to measure the success of a pilot project.

Pilot Project Types

Pilot and Demonstration Projects have proven effective in Maine and throughout the United States to provide safety improvements and mitigate conflicts between vehicles and vulnerable transportation users such as bicyclists and pedestrians. Definitions and detailed technical information are available in MaineDOT’s Guidance on Traffic Calming and Demonstration Projects.

Example Project Goals

Intersection Safety	Turn Calming	Roadway Width Reallocation
Pedestrian Crossing Yield Compliance	Bicycle Facility Enhancement	Speed Management
Pedestrian Intersection Improvements	Pedestrian Accessibility	Community Gateway Enhancement
Seasonal Demand Considerations	Minor Traffic Changes*	Parking Management
Temporary/Seasonal Bump Outs	Temporary Speed Tables	Striping Changes
Intersection/Turning Radius Adjustments	Bike Lane Enhancements	Median Islands
Gateway Enhancements	Lane Width Reduction	Parking Modifications
Raised Elements	Minor Traffic Changes*

 

* In certain instances, communities may desire traffic pattern changes such as eliminating a travel lane, intersection turning lane or changing highway access from public roadways, or changes in use of traffic signals or traffic circulation. In these instances, a municipality should have a scoping meeting with MaineDOT’s Region Traffic Engineer and Regional Planner as these types of efforts may be better suited to a planning study or at a minimum a degree of traffic modeling and analysis. As indicated in technical guidance, these types of changes will need to be approved and stamped by a Professional Engineer licensed in the State of Maine.

Funding

Municipally initiated demonstration/pilot projects on the State transportation network will be fully managed and implemented by the municipality. MaineDOT will provide technical assistance and ultimately must review all project proposals on the State transportation network. If funded through ATPI, MaineDOT will reimburse up to 50% of the cost of a professional design consultant and/or up to 50% cost of project materials up to a total State investment of $10,000 in any single project.

Pilot Project Design

Depending on the size and purpose of a pilot project, scoping and design may be performed by municipal staff with MaineDOT assistance, or the procurement of professional design services may be required. In the case where a professional consultant is required, MaineDOT recommends any pilot project consultant be prequalified for MaineDOT Consultant Service Numbers 103.60 (Planning-Feasibility Studies) and/or additional prequalification relevant to any specific pilot project scope items. Any proposed pilot project that will impact traffic capacity or change traffic flow (e.g. lane removal, lane reconfiguration, signal removal, signal changes, and other traffic control changes) will require plans to be stamped by a Professional Engineer licensed in the State of Maine or a memo documenting the scope or the project and explaining its impacts to the traveling public must be provided to MaineDOT.

Evaluation

All pilot projects supported by MaineDOT shall include a final summary evaluating the success of the project in achieving its stated goals within 60 days of the end of project implementation. Before and after data relating to speed or other metrics should be provided as applicable, along with a report on community feedback or public engagement. Final reports should clearly indicate both positive and negative outcomes of the project, and any information specific to the safety impacts of the project. MaineDOT, MPOs and RPOs, or consultants may be able to assist in supporting data collection for pilot projects with technical assistance, equipment, or other support.

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.

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

The required cost share for a municipality is determined by the Municipal Valuation Cost Share Scale outlined in Section 10 of the MaineDOT Local Cost Share Policy.

How to Apply

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

Planning Partnership Initiative

Focus

The Planning Partnership Initiative is intended to address time-sensitive, locally initiated planning and feasibility studies. 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.

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.

The required cost share for a municipality is determined by the Municipal Valuation Cost Share Scale outlined in Section 10 of the MaineDOT Local Cost Share Policy.

The Local Cost Share Policy also outlines limitations on the use of other state and/or federal transportation funding for the local match.

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 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.

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.

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 

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   

Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC): Principally serves communities in Hancock and Washington Counties. 

• 395 State Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605 
• (207) 667-7131  

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 

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (LCRPC): Principally serves communities in Lincoln County. 

• 297 Bath Road, Wiscasset, ME 04578 
• (207) 882-5188 

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

Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC): Principally serves communities in Aroostook County. 

• 11 West Presque Isle Road, PO Box 770, Caribou, ME 04736
• (207) 498-8736

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 

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