At the directive of Gov. Paul LePage and the Commissioner of the Maine Dept. of Transportation all work on Gateway 1 will cease indefinitely, effective immediately.
The suspension of work on the proposed interlocal coalition was announced in a letter sent to participating towns and individuals on March 1 from David Bernhardt, the Commissioner of the DOT.
Gov. LePage and Bernhardt “have come to the conclusion that while the project has been a very worthy effort, it does not correspond with the immediate priorities of this administration,” Bernhardt wrote.
As proposed, Gateway 1 would have created a coalition of representatives from towns along the 100-mile stretch of Rt. 1 from Brunswick to Stockton Springs. The coalition would have coordinated the distribution of any DOT non-maintenance, non-safety funds designated for projects in the region.
Currently, there is a significant amount of DOT planning money that has already been set-aside for Gateway 1, but it is unclear what will happen with that money.
“Some towns have contracts out for small projects they’re already working on, and we’re going to be looking at those on a case by case basis,” said Peggy Duval, DOT’s Acting Chief of Planning.
Gateway 1 has been in the works for more than six years and as it stands embodies the work of “hundreds of citizens and volunteers from up and down the corridor,” said Gateway 1 Project Administrator Stacy Benjamin.
The project originated at DOT’s request as a way to bring local representation into the process of distributing funds, with “the overarching goal being to preserve the desirable rural character of Rt. 1,” according to a description of the history of Gateway 1 on the project’s website, www.gateway1.org.
The stop order came at LePage’s request because he does not support the expenditure of state funds on the project at this time, said LePage’s Director of Communications, Dan Demeritt.
The Governor feels that “with such constraints on our resources, we need to focus on fixing potholes, making sure bridges are sound” and other projects directly related to improving infrastructure, Demeritt said.
The Governor feels “we need paving, not planning,” Demeritt said.
Bernhardt acknowledged the work that has been accomplished by Gateway 1 thus far, and wrote that it would be an asset to the DOT in the future.
“Over the last six years, MaineDOT has developed strong relationships with the Gateway 1 communities, and through this process, we have produced an action plan to guide planning on the Route 1 corridor in the Midcoast region,” Bernhardt wrote. “I am confident that we can continue to work together, outside the Gateway 1 process, on the many shared interests we have along the Route 1 corridor.”
A more detailed account, including reactions from individuals involved with the project, will be available in the March 3 edition of The Lincoln County News.
