An Act To Allow the Widening of a Portion of the Maine Turnpike
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0320
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DAMON, HOGAN, DIAMOND, ROSEN, CROSTHWAITE, FISHER, MAZUREK, TARDY
Amends: 23 MRSA §1965, 23 MRSA §1965-B, 23 MRSA §1968

Legislative Document 
No. 320 
S.P.103 
January 22, 2007 
An Act To Allow the Widening of a Portion of the Maine Turnpike 
Submitted by the Maine Turnpike Authority pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator DAMON of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representative HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: DIAMOND of Cumberland, ROSEN of Hancock, SA V AGE of Knox, 
Representatives: CROSTHWAITE of Ellsworth, FISHER of Brewer, MAZUREK of 
Rockland, TARDY of Newport. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §1965, sub-§1, ~, as amended by PL 1995, c. 341, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
D. 
Construct, maintain, reconstruct and operate a toll turnpike from a point at or 
near Kittery in York County to a point at or near Augusta in Kennebec County, 
except that the traveled way may not be widened or expanded beyond 3 lanes for 
each direction of travel from ~ 
the southern terminus of the turnpike t<>;-aHd 
inek:tdiRg, -gKit (,;A mile marker 53 and beyond 2 lanes for each direction of travel 
elsewhere on the turnpike without the express approval of the Legislature. 
Except as provided in section 1965-A, a license, permit; or approval necessary for the 
widening or expansion of the turnpike may not be issued by any state agency unless 
that agency makes an affirmative finding that the widening or expansion is consistent 
l3 
with state transportation policy, as established in section 73, as well as rules 
implementing that policy; 
Sec. 2. 23 MRSA §1965-B is enacted to read: 
§1965-B. Widening oftbe turnpike between mile marker 44 and mile marker 53 
1. 
Evaluation of reasonable alternatives. 
The authority shall complete an 
evaluation of reasonable alternatives to widening the turnpike to 3 lanes for each 
direction of travel in the corridor from mile marker 44 to mile marker 53. To evaluate 
reasonable alternatives, the authority shall complete an alternative mode feasibility study 
that examines regional travel patterns and demographics and provides an inventory of 
existing transportation infrastructure and employer-based commuter programs in the 
turnpike corridor from mile 44 to mile 53. 
In conducting the evaluation required by this subsection, the authority shall provide for 
public participation consistent with section 73 and the rules adopted pursuant to that 
section. Completion of the evaluation required by this subsection satisfies the alternative 
evaluation requirements of section 73 and ofthe rules adopted pursuant to that section. 
2. 
Review of alternatives. 
Upon completing the evaluation required under 
subsection 1, the authority shall review the alternatives to determine whether the 
alternatives can meet identified transportation deficiencies or needs in a safe manner at a 
reasonable cost with available technology. If, based on the evaluation, the authority finds 
that the alternatives do not meet the identified deficiencies or needs: 
A. 
A final license, permit or approval necessary for the widening or expansion of 
the turnpike may be issued by the appropriate state agency; and 
B. 
The alternative evaluation and preference requirements of section 73 and rules 
adopted pursuant to that section are considered satisfied. 
Sec. 3. 23 MRSA §1968, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 566, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Turnpike revenue bonds. In addition to bonds outstanding purs1Jant to any other 
provision of this chapter, the authority may provide by resolution from time to time for 
the issuance of turnpike revenue bonds, including notes or other evidences of 
indebtedness or obligations defined to be bonds under this ~hapter, but not exceeding 
$3el,QQQ,OOQ $386,000,000 in the principal amount at any otie time outstanding 
exclusive ofrefundings, for any purpose described in section 1969, subsection l. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the widening of the Maine Turnpike to 3 lanes for each direction 
of travel from mile marker 44 to mile marker 53 if, after completing an evaluation of 
reasonable alternatives, as required by the Sensible Transportation Policy Act, the Maine 
Turnpike Authority determines that reasonable alternatives to the widening do not meet 
the identified need. This bill also increases the Maine Turnpike Authority'S bonding limit 
to allow for construction of this project.