An Act To Authorize the Construction of a Maine Turnpike Connector to Gorham
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0905
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: McLEAN, VOLK, BATTLE, GATTINE, SIROCKI, TERRY, VACHON, COLLINS
Amends: 23 MRSA §1964, 23 MRSA §1965, 23 MRSA §1965-C, 23 MRSA §1968, 23 MRSA §1973

Legislative Document
No. 905
H.P. 633
House of Representatives, March 7, 2017
An Act To Authorize the Construction of a Maine Turnpike 
Connector to Gorham
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative McLEAN of Gorham.
Cosponsored by Senator VOLK of Cumberland and
Representatives: BATTLE of South Portland, GATTINE of Westbrook, SIROCKI of 
Scarborough, TERRY of Gorham, VACHON of Scarborough, Senator: COLLINS of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  23 MRSA §1964, sub-§3-A is enacted to read: 
3-A.  Connector.  "Connector" means a section of highway owned by the authority 
for purposes of connecting the turnpike to the state highway system. 
Sec. 2.  23 MRSA §1965, sub-§1, ¶D-2 is enacted to read: 
D-2.  Construct, maintain, reconstruct and operate a connector in Cumberland County 
from Route 114 in South Gorham to an interchange on the turnpike to address safety 
and mobility deficiencies in a manner that maximizes public safety, enhances the 
mobility of people and goods and minimizes adverse effects on the community in 
accordance with local and regional comprehensive planning; 
Sec. 3.  23 MRSA §1965-C is enacted to read: 
§1965-C.  Construction of a connector to Gorham 
1.  Evaluation of reasonable alternatives.  The authority and the department shall 
evaluate reasonable alternatives to the building of a connector to Gorham in Cumberland 
County from Route 114 in South Gorham to an interchange on the turnpike by 
completing an alternative mode feasibility study. 
The authority in cooperation with the department shall update the evaluations with public 
participation to satisfy the requirements of section 73 and rules adopted pursuant to that 
section. 
2.  Review of alternatives.  Upon completing the evaluation and update required 
under subsection 1, the authority shall determine whether the alternatives are sufficient to 
meet long-term regional transportation needs, to correct deficiencies and to fulfill 
mobility requirements of the region safely and at reasonable cost, using available 
technology.  If the authority finds that the alternatives are not sufficient: 
A.  A final license, permit or approval necessary for construction 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. 4.  23 MRSA §1968, sub-§2-D is enacted to read: 
2-D.  Bonds for construction of a connector to Gorham.  In addition to bonds 
outstanding pursuant to any other provision of this chapter, the authority may provide by 
resolution for the issuance of special obligation or subordinate bonds, including notes or 
other evidences of indebtedness or obligations defined to be bonds under this chapter, not 
exceeding $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount exclusive of refundings, to pay for 
planning, design and construction of a connector to Gorham as described in section 
1965-C. 
Sec. 5.  23 MRSA §1973, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §63 and 
affected by §153 and Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read: 
3.  Tolls.  Tolls, or the fixing of tolls, is not rulemaking and is not subject to 
supervision or regulation by any state commission, board or agency.  Subject to 
subsection 4, the authority may fix and revise from time to time tolls for the use of the 
turnpike and the different parts or sections of the turnpike, including, but not limited to, a 
connector, and charge and collect the tolls, and contract with any person, partnership, 
association or corporation desiring the use of any part of the turnpike, including the 
right-of-way adjoining the paved portion.  The tolls must be so fixed and adjusted as to 
provide a fund at least sufficient with other revenues of the turnpike, if any, to pay for 
each fiscal year: 
A.  The cost of maintaining, repairing and operating the turnpike, and providing and 
maintaining reasonable reserves for those costs; 
B.  The bonds and the interest on those bonds, and all sinking fund requirements, and 
other requirements provided by the resolution authorizing issuance of the bonds or by 
the trust indenture or loan or a security agreement as those bonds, interest, sinking 
fund requirements and other requirements become due; 
C.  Those sums for the purpose of maintaining, constructing or reconstructing access 
roads or portions of access roads that have been requested by the department and in 
the sole discretion of the authority are from time to time determined to warrant the 
expenditure of turnpike revenues; and 
D.  The cost of maintaining, constructing or reconstructing interchanges. 
The authority may use any method for assessing and collecting tolls, including but not 
limited to toll tickets, barrier toll facilities, billing accounts, commuter passes and 
electronic recording or identification devices.  The display of a recording or identification 
device issued or authorized by the authority for these purposes on or near the windshield 
of a motor vehicle is not a violation of a law or rule, including but not limited to Title 
29-A, sections 1916 and 2082, unless the device is attached in a way that obstructs the 
driver's clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the construction of a connector in Cumberland County from 
Route 114 in South Gorham to an interchange on the Maine Turnpike if, after completing 
an evaluation of reasonable alternatives, as required by the Sensible Transportation Policy 
Act, the Maine Turnpike Authority determines that there is no reasonable alternative to 
the construction of a connector to meet the identified need.  The bill also provides that the 
Maine Turnpike Authority may provide for the issuance of special obligation or 
subordinate bonds, not exceeding $150,000,000, to pay for planning, design and 
construction of this project.