Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Amend Its Rules Regarding Noise Abatement and Abatement Costs
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 2040
Committee Amendment CA_A_H857 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,A, to H.P. 1438, L.D. 2040, "Resolve, Directing the 
Department of Transportation To Amend Its Rules Regarding Noise Abatement and 
Abatement Costs" 
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Review Its 
Highway Traffic Noise Policy' 
Further amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the 
summary and inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 1. Review of Department of Transportation's highway traffic noise 
policy. 
Resolved: 
That the Department of Transportation shall undertake a 
comprehensive review of the department's current highway traffic noise policy. The 
review must include input from the Maine Turnpike Authority, the Department of Public 
Safety and the Federal Highway Administration. The Department of Transportation shall 
also conduct an analysis of noise abatement policies nationwide. Upon the approval of 
the Commissioner of Transportation, the department shall present a draft highway traffic 
noise policy at one or more public meetings. Community stakeholders must be invited to 
such a public meeting and provided with a draft policy before the public meeting. The 
department shall report with findings and an updated highway traffic noise policy to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters 
by January 15, 2007; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Improvement of Interstate 295 in South Portland and Portland. 
Resolved: That, if the Department of Transportation adopts a revised highway traffic 
noise policy as a result of actions undertaken pursuant to section 1, the scheduled 
improvement of Interstate 295 in South Portland and Portland is subject to the revised 
policy.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTA, to H.P. 1438, L.D. 2040 
SUMMARY 
Under the existing statewide highway traffic noise policy adopted by the Department 
of Transportation, a property must abut a highway project in order to be eligible for a 
noise abatement program. This amendment directs the Department of Transportation to 
undertake a comprehensive review of the department's current highway traffic noise 
policy. 
The amendment also provides that, if the department adopts a revised highway traffic 
noise policy, the scheduled improvement of Interstate 295 in South Portland and Portland 
is subject to the revised policy. 
FISCAL \OTF ){F:(,)l..ll(ED 
~See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/17/06 frac::.. 
LD 2040 
LR 3132(02) 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Amend Its Rules Regarding Noise Abatement 
and Abatement Costs 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Transportation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - Highway Fund 
Minor cost increase - Maine Turnpike Authority 
Establishing that the scheduled improvement ofInterstate 295 in South Portland is subject to any revision of the 
Highway Traffic Noise Policy adopted by the Department of Transportation may result in increased costs for that 
highway improvement project. The amounts will depend on whatever changes to the policy are made and can not be 
determined at this time. In addition, the costs for the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Safety 
and the Maine Turnpike Authority to participate in the development of any proposed changes to the Highway Traffic 
Noise Policy can be accomplished within existing budgeted resources. 
LR3132(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1