Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
Maine is a big state as you know, and mostly rural. So, winter weather that can create a lot of challenges for maintaining our infrastructure.
The State of Maine is responsible for supporting the maintenance and upkeep of more than 8,000 miles of highway and 2,800 bridges – not to mention six commercial airports, as well as seaports and railroads.
For years, Maine has been playing catch-up when making investments in the critical infrastructure that Maine people rely on every day to go to work, to go to school, to drive for business or pleasure.
But thanks to smart financial planning and unprecedented federal resources, and a new transportation work plan from my Administration, Maine is finally prepared to make long-overdue investments in our transportation infrastructure. I’m sure you’ll notice!
For years, the Maine Department of Transportation has operated in what Transportation Commissioner Van Note has called “MacGyver Mode” – stretching each dollar as far as it can go to fix problems when they arise.
Well, MaineDOT will always focus on getting the most value out of every dollar, but now, strong state and federal support for infrastructure means that Maine is now in the position to make significant targeted investments in our infrastructure without diverting funds away from the usual repairs and maintenance that Maine people rely on.
In 2021, with the support of Maine’s Congressional Delegation, the Congress passed – and President Biden signed – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Based on formula funding alone, Maine is expected to receive $1.5 billion over the next five years for highways and bridges.
We know that the average age of our bridges is about 55 years – that’s pretty old. In 2020, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave us a C- overall grade, with a D for roads.
But look, funding under this new federal program though, generally requires a matching contribution from funding often requires a matching contribution from the state, which is why I’ve included $400 million in my biennial budget proposal to ensure that our state can leverage the maximum amount of federal funds to fix those roads and bridges.
This week, the Maine Department of Transportation unveiled a three-year Work Plan to put these historic federal resources – along with the funds allocated by the state – put them to work over the next three years. The plan includes action on nearly 2,600 work items.
They include:
- 302 bridge projects
- 1,178 miles of preservation paving and more than 2,000 miles of light capital paving
- 271 miles of highway construction and rehabilitation – that’s big!
- And 264 highway safety and spot improvements
The plan also invests in Maine communities, with $11 million dedicated to pedestrian safety in communities especially that have seen disproportionate pedestrian crashes.
The plan also improves infrastructure in Maine’s iconic downtowns through the MaineDOT Village Partnership Initiative. That initiative focuses on improving lower-speed areas where Maine people meet, walk, and shop, and downtowns in places like Sanford, Bucksport, Cumberland, Gorham, Monmouth, Monson, Norway, Orono, Presque Isle, Skowhegan, and others.
MaineDOT’s online, interactive plan details these investments—from freight and ferry to airports and seaports. To view this searchable plan, visit Maine.gov/mdot. That’s M-a-i-n-e dot gov backslash m-d-o-t.
This is an exciting time for Maine. These investments will support good-paying jobs and will enhance our safety and quality of life and make our downtowns more beautiful than ever.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.