An Act To Require Economic Analysis and Public Comment for Road Construction Projects

Sec. 1. 23 MRSA §651, first ¶,  as amended by PL 1971, c. 593, §22, is further amended to read:

The department may alter, widen or change the grade of any state or state aid highway whenever in its judgment the public exigency may require, and may lay out, establish and open a new highway as a state highway, and upon appropriate petition from municipal officers may lay out, establish and open a new highway as a state aid highway. The department shall complete an economic analysis of a proposed corridor for a state or state aid highway and shall submit this economic analysis for public comment prior to any final determination of the location of the corridor. It may discontinue a highway, or a portion thereof, as a state or state aid highway and the same shall must be thereafter maintained by the town or county originally liable therefor except as otherwise provided.

summary

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to complete an economic analysis of a proposed corridor for a state or state aid highway and to submit this economic analysis for public comment prior to any final determination of the location of the corridor.