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Pre-Publication Draft Guide Book

A Handbook for Local and Inter-Community Transportation Planning in Maine: Implementing Maine’s Sensible Transportation Policy Act through Coordinated Transportation and Land Use Planning (Pre-publication Draft) (Warning: 8 MB PDF - not suitable for slow internet connections)

By
Evan Richert, AICP
Paul Godfrey, HNTB Corp.
Kevin Hooper, Kevin Hooper & Associates
Carol Morris, Morris Communications

Transportation policy

It is the policy of the State that transportation planning decisions, capital investment decisions and project decisions must:

 
A. Minimize the harmful effects of transportation on public health and on air and water quality, land use and other natural resources; [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  B. Require that the full range of reasonable transportation alternatives be evaluated for all significant highway construction or reconstruction projects and give preference to transportation system management options, demand management strategies, improvements to the existing system, and other transportation modes before increasing highway capacity through road building activities; [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  C. Ensure the repair and necessary improvement of roads and bridges throughout the State to provide a safe, efficient and adequate transportation network; [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  D. Reduce the State's reliance on foreign oil and promote reliance on energy-efficient forms of transportation; [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  E. Meet the diverse transportation needs of the people of the State, including rural and urban populations and the unique mobility needs of the elderly and disabled; [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  F. Be consistent with the purposes, goals and policies of the Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act; and [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]
  G. Incorporate a public participation process in which local governmental bodies and the public have timely notice and opportunity to identify and comment on concerns related to transportation planning decisions, capital investment decisions and project decisions. The department and the Maine Turnpike Authority shall take the comments and concerns of local citizens into account and must be responsive to them. [RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]

[RR 1991, c. 2, §88 (cor).]

Revised STPA 2007 (Full document)

B. Policies

The following policy objectives shall be used by MaineDOT, MPOs, RCs and municipalities in making transportation planning, capital investment and project development decisions:

  1. Minimize the harmful effects of transportation on public health, air and water quality, land use and natural resources.
  2. Coordinate the efficient use of all available and potential future modes of transportation.
  3. Give preference to non-highway new capacity projects before building new highway capacity when such non-highway new capacity projects are cost effective, feasible and meet the identified purpose and need for the transportation investment.
  4. Repair, maintain and improve Maine’s transportation system to provide a safe, efficient, and adequate transportation network.
  5. Reduce the state's reliance on foreign oil and promote reliance on energy efficient forms of transportation.
  6. Meet the diverse transportation needs of the people of the State, including rural and urban populations and the unique mobility needs of the elderly and disabled.
  7. Be consistent with the purposes, goals and policies of the Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act.
  8. Incorporate a public participation process in which state, regional and local governmental bodies and the public have timely notice and opportunity to identify and comment on concerns related to transportation planning decisions, capital investment decisions and project decisions.
  9. Promote investment incentives for communities that adopt and implement land use plans that minimize over-reliance on the state highway network.
  10. Be cost effective and operate within fiscal constraints.

Planning Resources for Public Involvement