‘Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation To Secure Funding To Complete the Aroostook North-South Highway Project’

‘Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the Caribou and Presque Isle segments of the Aroostook North-South Highway have available and ready for use in construction over $40,000,000 in federal financial assistance through the provision of high priority project funding by Congress; and

Whereas,  the Governor executed an order in March 2009 directing the Department of Transportation to make the completion of these segments a priority, with construction of the Caribou segment to begin in 2010 and the Presque Isle segment to begin no later than 2011; and

Whereas,  the cities of Caribou and Presque Isle have unanimously resolved through their respective city councils to proceed with the construction of these segments; and

Whereas,  through the Act To Secure Maine's Transportation Future, Public Law 2007, chapter 470, the Legislature listed the Aroostook North-South Highway as an extraordinary corridor, which now has a scope, priority and schedule for community consensus within the meaning of that Act; and

Whereas,  the current available funding to complete the construction of both of these segments is insufficient; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Full project funding request. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall secure full funding to complete the Aroostook North-South Highway project beginning with segments in Caribou and Presque Isle through all available funding options, including federal funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 or any other similar legislation, the reauthorization of federal surface transportation legislation, bonds, Highway Fund allocations and public-private partnerships.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.’