BILL TO STOP STATE FROM SHIFTING TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO YORK AND KITTERY IS PRESENTED
Measure would direct MDOT to continue maintenance of U.S. Route 1 Bypass
AUGUSTA – A bill that would reverse a decision by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to pass its maintenance responsibilities to the towns of York and Kittery was heard today before the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.
The bill, LD 437, directs MDOT to continue its maintenance of 3.5 miles along the U.S. Route 1 Bypass between the two towns.
“This is not about asking for special treatment from the state,” said Senator Dawn Hill of Cape Neddick, sponsor of the bill. “This is about being fair and consistent in staying within the bounds of the statutory standards that are applied to municipalities for determining the urban compact zone and who is responsible for maintaining the stretch of road.”
Senator Hill organized a series of meetings with York and Kittery officials, local representatives, and MDOT officials to try to resolve the issue in early March. Both sides were unable to agree on their interpretation of the urban compact zone, which MDOT uses as its criteria for turning over maintenance to a municipality. The towns dispute that the density has not changed along Route 1 and that the state should continue its responsibility for taking care of the roadway.
Senator Hill encouraged the committee to consider an amendment to the bill to remove language in state statute that MDOT relies upon for unbridled discretion for determining an urban compact zone.
“The standards should not be personal, they should be statutory,” said Representative Lydia Blume, D-York. “The technology is available to determine the zones and help clear up the potential for misunderstanding.”
“Discretionary decisions are difficult to measure and can lead to misuse and problems,” said Senator Hill. “We need to be clear in the standard that is applied to our municipalities around the state.”
A committee work session will be held on the bill in the coming weeks.