Rep. Arata's News from the Legislature: Maine DOT Releases New Three-Year Work Plan, Updated Dyslexia Web Page, & Upcoming Public Hearings

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Town of New Gloucester

385 Intervale Road, New Gloucester, ME 04260

(207) 926-4126 (phone) / (207) 926-4136 (fax)

Town of Poland

1231 Maine Street, Poland, ME 04274

(207) 998-4601 (phone) / (207) 998-2002 (fax)

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Maine DOT Releases New Three-Year Work Plan

The Maine Department of Transportation has released the 2020 edition of its Three-Year Work Plan.  This Work Plan includes all capital projects and programs, maintenance and operations activities, planning initiatives, and administrative functions for calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022.  It includes 2,051 individual work items with a total estimated value of $2.59 billion.

This Work Plan largely consists of spreading what used to be two years of capital projects over three years to stay within funding and cost constraints.  Due to cost increases arising from workforce challenges, work constraints, and other factors, making old projects whole at the beginning of this Work Plan process has required an extraordinary amount of funding.  The bottom line on this year's Work Plan is higher than last year's -- largely due to increased levels of one-time infusions of federal grant money -- higher costs will yield lower levels of capital project production in terms of miles of paving, numbers of bridges, etc.

The biggest project in this Work Plan is the replacement of the Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge.  This bridge represents a vital link between Maine and New Brunswick.  The current structure is 100 years old and has deteriorated to the point that it is near the end of its useful life.

Last year, the Legislature created the Blue Ribbon Commission To Study and Recommend Funding Solutions for the State's Transportation Systems.  Commission members have identified an annual unmet funding need of approximately $232 million.  Members recommend that after providing sufficient funding, the State gradually reduces its reliance on bonding.  The Commission is continuing to meet this year to try to identify a nonpartisan solution to MaineDOT's chronic funding problem.

Read the full 2020 Edition of MaineDOT's Three-Year Work Plan here.

Download images and renderings of Work Plan projects here.

 

Maine Department of Education Releases Updated Dyslexia Web Page

The Office of Special Services has updated their Special Initiatives page to further develop dyslexia awareness and to serve as a dyslexia toolkit for educators and families.  The Special Initiatives Web page will be continuously updated as new resources become available.

 

Upcoming Public Hearings

Now that the Second Regular Session is in full swing, legislative committees are busy holding public hearings and work sessions.  Click here for 129th Legislature committee information.

Bills I have personally co-sponsored include:

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