The Vermont handbook seems very straightforward and helpful. It's also from another Northern New England state, so some of the issues may be the similar to ours. Another handbook from Florida can be found at the link below.

www.cutr.usf.edu/research/access_m/pdf/corridor.pdf

It is important to establish the focus of the corridor plan from the outset, because this will drive the data-gathering and plan formulation phases.

For each of the corridor planning efforts, it seems to me that all players need to be at the table at the beginning, including a representative from MDOT . MDOT staff can play a pivotal role in educating local officials, businesses and the public about funding limitations, the need to make wise investments in an era of declining resources, and the importance of preserving capacity through wise land use choices.

The most important thing we can discuss at our meeting on the 24th is the process that will be used to start corridor planning efforts or assist those already underway. What role will MDOT play? The Regional Councils of EDDs? Some of the questions I would like to see us address are:

1. What is a successful corridor plan and how would it work?
2. Will it be helpful in setting MDOT capital priorities?
3. How can we avoid raising expectations, yet have a plan that is achievable and helpful?
4. Is this a long-term, committed process, or a one-shot deal?
5. What do we do about areas where a corridor plan would be useful, but local interest isn't there?
6. How will this process differ from the consultant-driven "mega-studies?"
7. Is the transportation funding picture so bleak that we can expect few if any transportation improvements arising from these studies for the foreseeable future?

Jeffrey Kobrock, Executive Director
752 High Street, Bath, ME 04530
Phone: 207.443.5790 Fax: 207.370.6816
info@midcoastcog.org
midcoastcog.org