2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 23: TRANSPORTATION › Part 1: STATE HIGHWAY LAW › Chapter 24: MAINE TURNPIKE › 23 §1967. Property of the authority; eminent domain

§1967. Property of the authority; eminent domain
The authority shall hold and acquire property as follows.   [PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).]
1.  Property of the authority.
All property of the authority and all property held in the name of the State pursuant to the provisions of this chapter are exempt from levy and sale by virtue of any execution, and an execution or other judicial process is not a valid lien upon property of the authority held pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A. The authority may not lease, sell or otherwise convey, or allow to be used, any of its real or personal property or easements in that property, franchises, buildings or structures, with access to any part of the turnpike or its approaches, for commercial purposes, except for the following:
(1) Intermodal transportation facilities, kiosks at rest areas, gasoline filling stations, service and repair stations, safety patrol vehicles sponsored or operated by 3rd parties, tourist-oriented retail facilities, state and tri-state lottery ticket agencies, automatic teller machines and restaurants that the authority determines are necessary to service the needs of the traveling public while using the turnpike. The leasehold interests in such intermodal transportation facilities, kiosks, gasoline filling stations, service and repair stations, tourist-oriented retail facilities, state and tri-state lottery ticket agencies, automatic teller machines and restaurants are subject to taxation as provided in section 1971;
(2) Electrical power, telegraph, telephone, communications, water, sewer or pipeline facilities installed or erected by the authority, or permitted to be installed or erected by the authority; and
(3) Signs erected and maintained by the authority, or allowed by the authority to be erected and maintained, in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to section 1965, subsection 1, paragraph U, that contain names, symbols, trademarks, logos or other identifiers of specific commercial enterprises.   [PL 2013, c. 549, §4 (NEW).]
As used in this subsection, "tourist-oriented retail facilities" means facilities that promote tourism in this State by selling products that are made or primarily made in this State or to which value is added in this State.
[PL 2013, c. 549, §4 (RPR).]
2.  Use of eminent domain.
Whenever a reasonable price cannot be agreed upon for the purchase or lease of real property found necessary for the purposes of the authority or whenever the owner is legally incapacitated or is absent or is unable to convey valid title or is unknown, the authority may acquire by eminent domain any such real property whether wholly or partly constructed or interest or interests therein and any land, rights, easements, franchises and other property deemed necessary or convenient for the construction or reconstruction or the efficient operation of the turnpike, its connecting tunnels, or bridges, overpasses, underpasses or interchanges, or both, in the manner provided by chapter 3, subchapter III. Title to any property taken by eminent domain shall be in the name of the authority.
[PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).]
3.  Entry upon lands.
The authority and its authorized agents and employees may enter upon any lands, waters and premises in the State for the purpose of making surveys, soundings, drillings and examinations as it deems necessary or convenient for the purpose of this chapter and the entry shall not be deemed a trespass.
[PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).]
4.  Authority for transfers of interest in land to the authority.
All counties, cities, towns and other political subdivisions or municipalities and all public agencies and commissions of the State, and all public service corporations and districts, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, may lease, lend, grant or convey to the authority, upon its request, upon such terms and conditions as the proper authorities of the counties, cities, towns, political subdivisions, other municipalities, agencies, commissions, public service corporations and districts deem reasonable and fair and without the necessity for any advertisement, order of court or other action or formality other than the regular and formal action of the authorities concerned, any real or personal property or rights therein that may be necessary or convenient to the effectuation of the authorized purposes of the authority, including real and personal property or rights therein already devoted to public use. As used in this subsection, the term "public service corporation" includes every public utility as defined in Title 35‑A, section 102, subsection 13, and every corporation referred to in Title 13‑C.
[RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §39 (COR); RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §58 (AFF).]
5.  Access.
Notwithstanding subsection 1, the authority may permit the City of Saco, or its successors or assigns, to use the interchange in Saco formerly known as exit 5 of the turnpike and land located adjacent to this former interchange for access, utility lines and appurtenances, parking and related accessory rights for the benefit of any or any combination of the following facilities:
A. A liquor store or retail facility;   [PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
B. A regional information center;   [PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
C. A restaurant;   [PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
D. A hotel; or   [PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
E. A banquet and conference center.   [PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
The facilities must be located on property adjacent to the access way that connected the former exit 5 interchange with North Street in Saco. The terms of locating a facility must be mutually agreed upon by the authority and the City of Saco, its successors or its assigns. Access to and from the turnpike by means of the interchange at former exit 5 is restricted to facilities permitted under this subsection.
[PL 1993, c. 612, §7 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW). PL 1983, c. 707, §1 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 141, §B19 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 145 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 410, §MM6 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 612, §§6,7 (AMD). RR 2001, c. 2, §B39 (COR). RR 2001, c. 2, §B58 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 41, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 480, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 549, §4 (AMD).