Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority To Conduct a Study of Possible Western Connector Roads to Municipal Centers in Cumberland and York Counties
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1720
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: BARSTOW, COURTNEY, BOLAND, TUTTLE, BARTLETT, NASS

Legislative Document 
No. 1720 
H.P.1203 
House of Representatives, March 23, 2007 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation and the Maine 
Turnpike Authority To Conduct a Study of Possible Western 
Connector Roads to Municipal Centers in Cumberland and York 
Counties 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BARSTOW of Gorham . 
Cosponsored by Senator COURTNEY of York and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BOLAND of Sanford, TUTTLE of Sanford, Senators: BARTLETT of 
Cumberland, NASS of York. 
Primed on recycled paper 
Sec. 1. Study of existing infrastructure and future capacity needs west of 
Route 1 in York and Cumberland counties. Resolved: That the Department of 
Transportation, or "the department," and the Maine Turnpike Authority, or "the 
authority," shall conduct a study of existing highway infrastructure and future capacity 
needs west of Route 1 in York and Cumberland counties, including the greater Gorham 
and Sanford areas. The purpose of this study is to develop a series of recommendations 
to enhance, expand and preserve highway connections between Route 1 and the Maine 
Turnpike and communities ill western Cumberland County and York County. 
In 
conducting the study, the department and the authority shall review existing and potential 
new routes from the Maine Turnpike to municipal centers in western Cumberland County 
and York County that, in the determination of the department and the authority, would, if 
constructed, significantly decrease congestion on state and local roads in the area and 
improve access from communities in western Cumberland County and York County to 
the Maine Turnpike. The study must be designed and conducted in a manner that will 
allow the results to be used during future state and federal permitting of any proposal that 
may proceed to construction, and any potential project must be compatible with state 
transportation policy in accordance with Maine's Sensible Transportation Policy Act and 
the federal National Environmental Policy Act. In evaluating and prioritizing strategies 
for study, the department and the authority shall consider, at a minimum, the following 
factors: 
1. The feasibility of expanding the existing highway infrastructure to accommodate 
future traffic and economic demands of the region; 
2. The role of transit and other alternative modes of transportation in managing the 
transportation demand in the region; 
3. The feasibility and effectiveness of the new proposed transportation infrastructure 
strategies to meet the future traffic and economic needs, including: 
A. The traffic impact of the new infrastructure on the existing road network; 
B. Environmental impacts; 
C. Traffic toll revenue projections on any new infrastructure and the effects on toll 
revenues on the existing turnpike; and 
D. Construction and maintenance costs; 
4. Coordinating with area communities and regional planning agencies to evaluate 
land use impacts of all strategies studied, and developing recommendations to 
communities for land use controls to protect their community character, economic vitality 
and future investments in the transportation system; and 
5. Any other factors determined relevant by the department and the authority; and be 
it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the department and the authority shall report the 
results of their study to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than 
February 28, 2008. Upon its receipt and review of the report, the committee may submit 
legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike 
Authority to study the potential strategies for enhancing connections from Route 1 and 
the Maine Turnpike to municipal centers in York and Cumberland counties and to report 
their findings back to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation by February 28, 
2008 . 
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