AASHTO Journal, 15 November 2013
Earlier this month, Maine citizens approved a $100 million transportation bond that will allow Maine Department of Transportation rehabilitate and reconstruct highways and bridges across the state. About 72 percent of those at the polls voted to approve the measure.
Overwhelming approval of Question 3 on the ballot means that the state will supply $76 million to highway and bridge improvements while allowing for an additional $24 million for ports, rail (freight and passenger both), and air projects. In addition, the funding passed by Maine voters will allow for up to $154 million in matched funds and other sources.
The day before the vote (Nov. 4), Maine Governor Paul LePage released a YouTube video urging voters to pass Question 3, describing the benefits of doing so.
“Now is the time for the state to invest in these much needed infrastructure improvements. [The measure] will create jobs and make Maine more attractive to employers,” LePage said. “Construction unemployment currently in Maine is at 26 percent. A $100 million bond would support an estimated 2,800 good-paying jobs in construction and related industries.”
The week before the vote, transportation nonprofit group TRIP released a report highlighting the biggest transportation infrastructure needs in Maine. That 24-page report, “Maine’s Top 50 Transportation Challenges and the Improvements Needed to Address Them,” is available here.