Governor Signs Biennial Highway Fund Budget

Governor Paul R. LePage today signed the $613.6 million Highway Fund budget into law.

Separate from the state’s general fund budget, the Highway Fund budget funds the Maine Department of Transportation, the Motor Vehicle Division of the Secretary of State, and a portion of the State Police.

“The Highway Fund budget is fiscally responsible,” said Governor LePage. “It does not raise taxes or fees, and it puts people to work. I am pleased to put my name to a budget that makes good sense for Maine people.”

This budget, LD 1480, the FY14-FY15 biennial Highway Fund Budget, received unanimous support from the Transportation Committee on June 11. Subsequently, the Maine House and Senate followed suit with near unanimous support with only one negative vote being cast, allowing it to go to the Governor’s desk for his signature.

“We worked hard to make sure all the pieces of this budget were geared to benefit our customers; the citizens of Maine,” said MaineDOT Commissioner David Bernhardt.  “In order for us to responsibly provide the safest and most reliable transportation system possible, we allocate the funding where it matters most.  This ensures that today’s infrastructure needs are met, while maintaining the ability to plan for future needs.”

Transportation infrastructure maintained or supported by the MaineDOT includes about 8,500 miles of highway (out of about 23,000 total public road miles, meaning MaineDOT maintains a higher percentage of public road miles than all but eight other state DOT’s) 2,728 state bridges, 1,110 miles of active railroad track (315 miles of which are state owned) the Downeaster Amtrak Service, 6 commercial airports including the majors in Portland and Bangor and 30 general aviation airports, 3 major seaports, the Maine State Ferry Service serving Penobscot Bay island communities, and 20 plus transit providers running about 450 buses.