Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority To Conduct a Study Regarding the Need for a Passenger Transit Service Linking Municipalities from Portland North to Lewiston and Auburn
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0763
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: BOLDUC, CLEVELAND

Legislative Document 
No. 763 
H.P. 514 
House of Representatives, February 28, 2013 
Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation and the Maine 
Turnpike Authority To Conduct a Study Regarding the Need for a 
Passenger Transit Service Linking Municipalities from Portland 
North to Lewiston and Auburn 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative BOLDUC of Auburn. 
Cosponsored by Senator CLEVELAND of Androscoggin. 
Sec. 1.  Study.  Resolved:  That the Department of Transportation, referred to in 
this resolve as "the department," and the Maine Turnpike Authority, referred to in this 
resolve as "the authority," shall conduct a study of existing transportation services and 
future capacity needs for a passenger transit service linking municipalities from Portland 
north to Lewiston and Auburn. The purpose of this study is to identify the need for and 
develop a series of recommendations to implement a passenger transit service linking 
municipalities from Portland north to Lewiston and Auburn.  In conducting the study, the 
department and the authority shall review methods that might be implemented to improve 
access from Portland north to the Lewiston and Auburn area. The study must be designed 
and conducted in a manner that allows the results to be used during future state and 
federal permitting of any proposal that may proceed to construction, and any 
recommendations must conform with state transportation policy in accordance with the 
Sensible Transportation Policy Act and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.  
In evaluating and prioritizing strategies for the study, the department and the authority 
shall consider, at a minimum, the following: 
1. The feasibility of expanding the existing passenger transit service options in the 
subject area to allow persons in the Lewiston and Auburn area to have access to the 
economic opportunities that exist in the Portland job market and persons in Portland to 
have the opportunity to seek affordable housing options in the region; 
2. Coordinating with area communities and regional planning agencies to evaluate all 
strategies studied and developing recommendations for communities for transportation 
controls to protect their community character, economic vitality and future investments in 
transportation; and 
3. 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 
January 15, 2014. Upon its receipt and review of the report, the committee may submit a 
bill to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike 
Authority to conduct a study regarding the need for a passenger transit service linking 
municipalities from Portland north to Lewiston and Auburn.