Sec. BB-1. Study. The Commissioner of Transportation shall study and develop a west-east highway in the State. The commissioner shall make a preliminary report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 1, 1999 and a final report by March 15, 1999 on matters including, but not limited to:
1. A comprehensive plan to reconstruct to current standards existing west-east highways and existing highways that provide direct access to Canada;
2. Plans to expand highway or bridge capacity to a 4-lane limited access roadway. These plans must consist of cost estimates, routes, project scopes and improvement schedules as well as early identification of economic, environmental and community issues;
3. An analysis of opportunities to fund the construction of highways along west-east corridors by means of innovative financing, including but not limited to public-private partnerships, tax increment financing and toll revenue financing. This analysis must include discussion of mechanisms used or proposed to finance new highway construction in the Province of New Brunswick as well as a synthesis of innovative financing resources and options provided by the 1998 reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991; and
4. To make application for funds provided by the 1998 reauthorization of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 and NEXTEA for the purpose of planning and improving border crossings, border corridors and trade corridors.
Sec. BB-2. Legislative intent. This project may neither detract from nor diminish the commitment of the Department of Transportation or the State to the maintenance and upkeep of existing roadways.
Sec. BB-3. Study. The State Planning Office, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and the Department of Economic and Community Development, must study and report on economic and trade issues associated with the development of a west-east highway in the State. The study must examine the projected increase in the Canadian highway traffic across Maine as well as the projected economic impact of the Canadian highway traffic. The State Planning Office shall report its findings along with any implementing legislation to both the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriation and financial affairs and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters no later than January 1, 1999.
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