Maine Gov. Paul LePage authorized on July 1听an $85 million bond proposal to fund transportation projects. It听will be placed on the November ballot.
The bond鈥檚 investments primarily involve the construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation of various projects. These include $17 million for high-priority highways, $46 million for bridge replacements and $17 million for ports, harbors, aviation and passenger railroads.
LePage described the bond as critical to strengthening Maine鈥檚 infrastructure and economy, and said it would provide thousands of contractors and construction workers with long-term job security.
Ted Talbot, press secretary for Maine鈥檚 Department of Transportation, said that due to limited funding for transportation, the projects have had to be prioritized.
鈥淓very state鈥檚 transportation needs always exceed available funding,鈥 Talbot said. 鈥淚n our case, we are about $110 million short each year of meeting our goals of where we need to be. So funding has always been a major challenge, especially since Congress continues to flat-fund.鈥
According to Talbot, voters typically back transportation-type bonds. He cited the creation of jobs for transportation projects as a way of strengthening the economy.
鈥淸The voters] know that the transportation infrastructure is not only a challenge to maintain, it鈥檚 also a challenge to build,鈥 Talbot said. 鈥淪o everyone seems to recognize every time a transportation bond has come up, it needs to be a priority. I am confident that the voters will recognize the need for solid, well-built infrastructure. It鈥檚 because of that I am confident that this bond will pass.鈥澨
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