Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Study . Ways To Reduce Energy Use and Promote Efficiency along Major Transportation Corridors Reference to the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future suggested and ordered printed.
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0846
Sponsors: BARTLETT, BROWNE, DUCHESNE, EBERLE, FLETCHER, HINCK, MAZUREK, THERIAULT, DAMON

Legislative Document 
No. 846 
H.P.582 
House of Representatives, March 3.2009 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Study . 
Ways To Reduce Energy Use and Promote Efficiency along Major 
Transportation Corridors 
Reference to the Joint Select Committee on Maine's Energy Future suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative PlOTT! of Unity. 
Cosponsored by Senator BARTLETT of Cumberland and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BROWNE of Vassalboro, DUCHESNE of Hudson, EBERLE of South 
Portland, FLETCHER of Winslow, HINCK of Portland, MAZUREK of Rockland, 
THERIAULT of Madawaska, Senator: DAMON of Hancock. 
Printed on recycled pupcr 
' 
Sec. 1. Develop recommendations on existing transportation laws, rules 
and policies. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall evaluate existing 
transportation laws, rules and poliCies, including, but not limited to, those that address 
transportation facility planning and design, traffic movement, driveways and entrances, 
urban compact designation and cost sharing and transit operations, identifYing their 
strengths and weaknesses and how they might be changed to meet the objective of saving 
energy, measured principally by reduction in vehicle miles traveled, by maintaining 
arterial functions, improving system efficiency, reinforcing land use patterns . that 
facilitate transit development and improving connections between land use and 
transportation decisions. 
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The evaluation must be conducted in collaboration with the Executive Department, 
State Planning Office and the Department of Environmental Protection and other state 
agencies that determine land use patterns along witb the Maine Municipal Association, 
regional planning entities, metropolitan planning organizations, regional planning 
commissions and interest groups affected by those transportation laws, rules and policies. 
Wherever it might be shown to advance this section, the evaluation must consider: 
1. 
Overlay zoning districts for corridors of regional economic significance for 
transportation; 
2. Costs and benefits of purchasing land or easements, including access easements, 
along such corridors; 
3. Transfer of development or trip rights programs to level the playing field between 
high-growth and low-growth arterial areas; 
4. Costs and benefits of urban compact designation; 
5. Feasibility of developing so-called "complete streets"; and 
6. Other land use and transportation strategies designed to reduce growth in vehicle 
miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions, including transportation funding options; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall submit a 
comprehensive written report concerning the evaluation under section 1 by January 31, 
2010 including detailed recommendations for legislation. This report must be submitted 
to both the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation and the Joint Standing 
Committee on Natural Resources. Upon receipt and review of the report, the committees 
may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Transportation to study ways to reduce energy 
use and promote efficiency along major transportation corridors. 
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