Huge support for $105M transportation bond
Statewide ballot Question 3, which authorizes the Maine Department of Transportation to borrow up to $105 million to repair and maintain the state’s transportation infrastructure, cruised to an easy victory, with Bangor Daily News reporting early results showing 72% in favor and 28% opposed.
The transportation bond directs $80 million to be spent on roads and bridges, $20 million to multimodal transportation and $5 million to upgrade.
The BDN reported that the $80 million would go to secondary roads and bridges, including projects in the Municipal Partnership Initiative program that requires municipalities to pay half the cost. This part of the bond would be expected to leverage about $88 million in federal and local matching funds, the newspaper reported
The $20 million designated for multimodal projects will pay for facilities and equipment related to ports, harbors, marine transportation, aviation, railroads and bicycle and pedestrian trails and is expected to be matched by $49 million in federal, local and private funds.
The BDN reported that the final $5 million would be administered by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for a competitive grant project to replace or upgrade municipal culverts and stream crossings, to improve fish and wildlife habitats and to improve stormwater management.
Question 4 also approved
Question 4, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by legislative action, was approved 62% to 38%, according to early results reported by the Bangor Daily News.
The amendment increases from 10 years to 20 years the time required for the state to pay off the Maine Public Employees Retirement System’s unfunded liabilities created by experience losses.
The change doubles the time the state has to catch up after market losses, thereby reducing big swings in what the state pays into the system year to year under the shorter time-frame.
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