Friday, April 06, 2007
For Immediate Release
Hancock County Transportation Forum
Quick Facts
What: MaineDOT and HCPC will host a transportation presentation and discussion
When: Monday, May 7th 7:00 PM
Where: Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium
Narrative
The public is cordially invited to attend a County Transportation Forum on May 7th at 7:00 PM at the Ellsworth City Hall Auditorium. This meeting will be an opportunity for you to learn about the future of our transportation system and to offer your thoughts on priorities here in Hancock County.
The Maine Department of Transportation and the Hancock County Planning Commission will host this forum to discuss statewide and county transportation issues. Representatives of MaineDOT will provide a short presentation about Connecting Maine: Planning our Transportation Future, the nearly final long-range transportation plan. Once adopted, Connecting Maine will be the guiding vision for future transportation investments, including highways, bikeways, airports, transit buses, rail and ferry services.
Recent hikes in the price of gasoline and long-term shifts to more fuel efficient transportation are reducing fuel excise tax revenues just as the cost of materials and labor for transportation projects are climbing to new heights. Even as this plan is being finalized MaineDOT has been forced to delay additional transportation projects due to revenue shortfalls. Project delays mean bumpy and unsafe roads, traffic congestion and even higher prices in our markets. A recent study finds that a one-hour unscheduled delay for a commercial trucker costs $350! Connecting Maine grapples with current and anticipated funding shortages by identifying spending priorities to maximize potential economic benefits from transportation investments.
Hancock County municipal leaders, businesses and residents who are concerned about transportation will have this opportunity to provide MaineDOT with a grass roots’ perspective of the issues that concern them. In addition to speaking your minds, we hope that you will take time to participate in an online survey that will be posted to www.maine.gov/mdot soon. This survey will be used to identify our future opportunities and challenges in your words.
Additional information about this forum will be posted to www.maine.gov/mdot and www.hcpcme.org. Inquiries can be directed to Jim Fisher at HCPC by calling 667-7131 or sending email to jfisher@hcpcme.org.