$45 Million Requested by Senator Collins for 12 Maine Road Improvement Projects Included in Transportation Funding Bill
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that $45,046,000 she requested for 12 Maine road improvement projects was included in the draft Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation Appropriations bill that has been released by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Collins is the Ranking Member and lead Republican on the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee. The bill, which was officially released by the full Appropriations Committee yesterday afternoon, must still be voted upon by the full Senate and House.
“Deteriorating roads cost Mainers hundreds of dollars each year on average in vehicle repairs and wasted gasoline due to congestion. In addition, poor road designs can create hazardous conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists,” said Senator Collins. “As a leader of the Transportation Appropriations Committee, I have long supported investments to improve Maine’s transportation network. These projects would help all users of Maine roadways reach their homes and jobs safely and more quickly, and I will continue to champion this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
Details on the 12 Maine road improvement projects Senator Collins requested are below:
Augusta – Bangor Street Improvements
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $4,800,000
Purpose: To improve safety of a section of Bangor Street in Augusta, including for pedestrian and bicycle use. There have been at least 16 pedestrian and 10 bicycle crashes on this section of roadway in the last 10 years, including a fatal pedestrian crash.
Belfast Street Improvements
Recipient: City of Belfast
Amount: $972,000
Purpose: To fund street improvements in Belfast, ME.
Downtown Berwick Safety Improvements and Revitalization
Recipient: The Town of Berwick
Amount: $3,142,000
Purpose: To increase vehicular, pedestrian, and bicycle safety and access throughout the area, consistent with the recommendations of the 2019 Berwick Downtown Vehicle, Bicycle and Pedestrian Study.
Camden – US Route 1 Transportation
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $5,000,000
Purpose: To reconstruct a section of US Route 1 to address deficiencies with safety, mobility, pavement structure, drainage, pedestrian access, ADA compliance, and bicycle access. Route 1 is a highly used commuter route for the regional workforce and plays a role in providing a link to the passenger ferry terminals in Lincolnville and Rockland, both vital to the coastal islands.
Edgecomb to Boothbay – State Route 27
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $8,000,000
Purpose: To fund roadway, pedestrian, and bicycle improvements on State Route 27.
Walkable Houlton Project
Recipient: Town of Houlton
Amount: $732,000
Purpose: To repair and replace sidewalks, make improvements to the Gateway Crossing Pedestrian Bridge, and expand on Houlton's Downtown Sidewalk Project.
Livermore Falls – State Route 17 Reconstruction
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $4,000,000
Purpose: To reconstruct a section of State Route 17 to address deficiencies with safety, mobility, pavement structure, drainage, pedestrian access, ADA-compliance, bicycle access, and parking. The project would improve travel times and safety for traffic to and from the Androscoggin Mill in Jay.
Newport – US Route 2
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $4,000,000
Purpose: To improve safety and mobility in the area of the intersection of Route 2 and Route 7 in Newport. The intersection of US Route 2 and State Route 7 is a busy junction. There are several high crash locations in the area that would be addressed through this project providing safety benefits for motorists.
Pittsfield – State Route 11 Rehabilitation
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $3,200,000
Purpose: To rehabilitate a section of State Route 11. This project would address deficiencies with safety, mobility, pavement structure, drainage, pedestrian access, ADA-compliance, and bicycle access. Main Street in Pittsfield is the primary North to South roadway in the town and carries over 3,000 vehicles daily.
Presque Isle – Route 1 Reconstruction
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $1,200,000
Purpose: To provide preliminary engineering funding for improvements to a two-mile stretch US Route 1 (Main St) in Presque Isle.
Searsport – US Route 1 Reconstruction
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $9,200,000
Purpose: To reconstruct a section of US Route 1 in the town of Searsport to address deficiencies with safety, mobility, pavement structure, drainage, pedestrian access, ADA compliance, bicycle access, and parking. US Route 1 through Searsport is one of the last remaining sections that are considered “unbuilt” in mid-coast Maine.
Vassalboro – State Route 32
Recipient: Maine Department of Transportation
Amount: $800,000
Purpose: To repair Route 32 (Main Street) in Vassalboro, which serves as a connection from State Route 3 to Winslow and carries nearly 2,500 cars per day.
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