Transportation & Infrastructure

Transportation & Infrastructure

Put simply, improving infrastructure and transportation not only increases the competitiveness of our state economy, but also makes Maine a more attractive place to live. In a rural state connecting people to products can be especially difficult, so the strength of our commerce relies on the maintenance of our ports, roads, railways, airspace, and rivers.  These resources and others such as broadband, sewers, and utility lines play a key role in supporting our businesses and facilitating the high standard of living that we in Maine enjoy.

Our state incurs a debt when we postpone investments in our transportation and infrastructure systems. Preserving and improving our state’s infrastructure and transportation systems is an essential component of any long term path to prosperity, and I am committed to supporting projects that keep Maine moving forward.

My Priorities include:

  • Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act. On March 21, 2013, I co-sponsored the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act.  The Act will extend a tax credit for short line railroads that complete maintenance on their tracks, roadbeds, bridges, and other structures.  Short line railroads serve small and mid-sized towns in Maine and provide freight services for businesses that are vital to our state’s economy.
  • Support for Continuous Air Traffic Control in Bangor. The Air Traffic Control Tower at Bangor International Airport facilitates safe takeoffs, landings, and airspace management for the airport’s civil and military aircrafts.  When the Federal Aviation Administration attempted to discontinue 24-hour Air Traffic Control in Bangor, I sent a letter with other members of our delegation to urge the Secretary of Transportation and the FAA Administrator to maintain continuous Air Traffic Control services at that tower.  I am pleased to report that, due in part to our letter, the FAA decided to maintain continuous air traffic control services as Bangor International Airport through the end of the fiscal year 2013. I will continue to fight for Bangor International Airport during this difficult budgetary period.
  • Sarah Mildred Long Bridge. The 73-year-old Sarah Mildred Long Bridge carries the Route One Bypass and a rail line critical to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s mission between New Hampshire and Maine.  The bridge, which promotes tourism, interstate commerce, and our shipbuilding industry, is nearing the end of its service life and must be replaced within the next few years.  I am working with stakeholders to build a new bridge that will maintain one of our most important links to New Hampshire and southern New England.
  • Truck Weights. Nationwide, the Federal Highway Administration restricts truck weights to 80,000 pounds.  Maine’s congressional delegation won a 20-year waiver in 2011 that enables trucks weighing 100,000 pounds to operate on Maine’s highways if they add a sixth axle with extra brakes as a safety measure.  I support Congressman Michaud’s Safe and Efficient Transportation Act, which will permanently allow states, should they chose, to set their truck weight limits at 97,000 pounds for a six-axle truck.  By allowing these trucks on the highways, they will no longer cause congestion and accidents on Maine’s secondary roads.  Additionally, industries shipping heavy commodities, such as paper, will benefit through lower trucking costs.
  • The Partnership to Build America Act. I have introduced bipartisan legislation to help jumpstart our nation’s ability to build and repair roads, bridges, highways, ports, school, and other infrastructure projects. The Partnership to Rebuild America Act will establish a $50 billion infrastructure fund that has the potential to support billions in loan guarantees and financing authority for state or local governments, nonprofits, private parties, and public-private partnerships.  The American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s infrastructure a D+ on its 2013 report card. Estimates of how much investment is needed to repair and rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure reach as high as $2 trillion over the next two decades. Our bill would help finance projects prioritized by state and local governments.  

  • The Federal Permitting Improvement Act. I am a co-sponsor and strong advocate of the Federal Permitting Improvement Act, introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO). This bill would made significant strides towards improving our federal permitting process for major capital projects through better coordination and deadline-setting, enhanced transparency, and reduced litigation delays. Together, this will help ensure that federal permitting processes don’t act as a barriers to entry for those seeking to innovate and improve our nation’s infrastructure. The bill is limited to economically significant capital projects – based on the size of initial investment – across all sectors including energy production, electricity transmission, surface transportation, aviation, ports and waterways, water resource projects, broadband, pipelines, manufacturing.