An Act To Establish A Statewide Transportation Project Selection Prioritization Process

LD 1756 establishes a Transportation Project Selection Council to create a statewide process for prioritizing transportation projects funded by state and federal sources. The Council, composed of representatives from state agencies, regional planning organizations, transit agencies, environmental groups, and community interests (including low-income and immigrant communities), must develop a prioritization framework considering highway, transit, rail, and active transportation improvements. The bill requires the Council to hold at least three annual public meetings (with one in person), accept public input before finalizing the process, and publish an annual report detailing how projects were evaluated. This process will directly guide funding decisions by the Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority for transportation projects across the state.