East-west highway foes seek open project docs
Opponents of a proposal to build an east-west highway through Maine are supporting a bill that would remove confidentiality from documents related to such public-private partnerships, but state officials say that particular project isn't that kind of partnership.
The Associated Press reported that the bill, LD 721, removes confidentiality protection from documents related to public-private transportation projects in the state.
Deputy Department of Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note told a legislative committee Friday that although the state had advertised for companies to perform an economic feasibility study for the east-west highway, that project does not meet the terms of a public-private partnership as outlined in state statute.
Others testifying Friday disagreed. Maine's American Civil Liberties Union representatives said such a project would fall into the category of a public-private partnership.
Supporters of the bill said that information allows the public to assess the impact of the proposed highway. While taking no formal position on the bill, the Maine Turnpike Authority's Executive Director Peter Mills said the existing confidentiality provision aims to protect a company involved in a public-private project from disclosing certain financial information considered proprietary, the AP reported.
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