Resolve, To Establish a Demonstration Project To Promote Economic Development in the Forest Products Industry
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1467
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: JACKSON, THERIAULT, ALFOND, MAZUREK, SHERMAN, THIBODEAU, PARRY, SAUCIER

Legislative Document 
No. 1467 
S.P. 541 
In Senate, April 30, 2013 
Resolve, To Establish a Demonstration Project To Promote 
Economic Development in the Forest Products Industry 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook. 
Cosponsored by Representative THERIAULT of Madawaska and 
Senators: President ALFOND of Cumberland, MAZUREK of Knox, SHERMAN of 
Aroostook, THIBODEAU of Waldo, Representatives: PARRY of Arundel, SAUCIER of 
Presque Isle. 
Sec. 1.  Demonstration project.  Resolved:  That the Commissioner of 
Transportation shall establish a demonstration project in the Town of Ashland for the 
purpose of demonstrating cost-effective ways of promoting economic development in the 
forest products industry by facilitating the transportation of forest product-related 
materials, including logs and wood biomass, from product-harvesting sites to processing 
and transportation facilities. 
1.  Designation of route.  As part of the demonstration project, the Commissioner of 
Transportation may designate a demonstration transportation route, including sections of 
Maine Route 11 and including the Aroostook River bridge crossing and sections of the 
so-called Garfield Road in the Town of Ashland as needed to establish a connection 
between wood processing activities anticipated to be located at the former Levesque Mill 
site in Ashland and the so-called Realty Road connection to the extended private logging 
road system serving Aroostook County. 
2.  Gross vehicle weight exceptions.  As part of the demonstration project, the 
Commissioner of Transportation, after consultation with the Department of Public Safety 
and the Secretary of State, may authorize the use of certain types of vehicles on the 
demonstration transportation route with gross vehicle weights up to 200,000 pounds for 
transportation of logs and wood biomass. 
3.  Safety.  Prior to designating the demonstration transportation route, the 
Commissioner of Transportation shall: 
A.  Consult with the Ashland Town Council and residents of the area affected by the 
proposed route and consider any resulting comments regarding safety, economic 
development and other potential effects from an increase in gross vehicle weight 
limits; and 
B.  Require the chief engineer of the Department of Transportation to determine that 
the state highways and bridges involved in the demonstration project can safely 
accommodate increased weight limits and identify any improvements or operating 
limitations needed to ensure safe operation over the demonstration transportation 
route and to preserve state highway assets. 
4.  Funding.  Subject to the availability of funds, the Department of Transportation 
may fund up to 50% of the cost of highway and bridge improvements necessary to 
support the demonstration transportation route.  The balance of funding must be provided 
by private or public sources other than the department. 
5.  Report.  The Department of Transportation shall provide a report to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by 
January 15, 2015 regarding the demonstration project.  The report must describe the 
status of the project, the anticipated effects of the project and lessons learned from the 
development and operation of the project that may be applied to similar projects when 
increased gross vehicle weights on state highways may be a desirable catalyst for 
improved intermodal freight connectivity and economic development. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish a 
demonstration project in the Town of Ashland for the purpose of demonstrating cost-
effective ways of promoting economic development in the forest products industry by 
facilitating the transportation of forest product-related materials, including logs and wood 
biomass, from product-harvesting sites to processing and transportation facilities by 
increasing the gross vehicle weights permitted on a demonstration transportation route 
connecting forest product harvesting sites with potential processing facilities.  The 
demonstration project requires consideration of safety issues and other effects and input 
from the Town of Ashland.  The commissioner is required to report on the demonstration 
project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
transportation matters by January 15, 2015.