Maine Senate unanimously passes Highway Fund budget

AUGUSTA —On Tuesday, the Maine Senate unanimously passed the 2020 – 2021 Highway Fund budget. The budget allocates $688 million over two years for road maintenance, construction and resurfacing, and includes $40 million for the Local Road Assistance Program.

“The 2020 – 2021 Highway Fund ensures continued funding to maintain, improve and ensure safety the roads, bridges and other critical highway infrastructure that Mainers depend on every day,” said Transportation Committee Senate Chair Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham. “It funds some really important projects, such as the completion of construction on River Road in Windham. I appreciate my colleagues’ unanimous support.”

The Highway Fund includes revenue from taxes and fees related to vehicles and fuels used on Maine highways. Revenue from the Highway Fund is appropriated by the Legislature in the biennial budget, and pursuant to the Maine Constitution Article IX, Section 19, must be used for highway-related activities. This revenue is expended primarily within the Departments of Transportation, Public Safety and the Secretary of State Bureau of Motor Vehicles.