2025 News

 

Citizen's take a “hard look” at 25 years of the I-395/Route 9 Connector and other Maine transportation boondoggles:

As of February 18, 2024, informaton has been added on the Gorham Connector, a project much like the I-395/Route 9 Connector that my community has experienced for 24 years. Both are boondoggles, throwing hundreds of millions of critical transportation dollars of new pavement and steel at a problem without seriously considering cheaper alternatives to existing infrastructure, at a time when we can't afford to maintain the roads and bridges we already have. Maintaining roads and bridges is not "sexy", transportation officials that demand these boondoggles and the politicians that fund them just love ribbon cutting ceremonies.

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Click here for Gorham Connector posts only or keep scrolling to view combined posts on the I-395/Route 9 and the Gorham Connectors.

 

 

 

The DOT once avowed they would be seen as “custodians of the environment” for their controversial selection of 2B-2 for this $124+ million project. DOT’s self-imposed-title does not reconcile why the many state and federal agencies, with sign-off on the Environmental Impact Statement, purposely ignored mitigated “I395 PROTECTED WETLANDS” in the community of Brewer…

 

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

3.24.2025 – A second community pulls support from the Gorham Connector:

 

This is obviously good news for the anti-connector group, however don’t lose sight that a resolution is non-binding; all 3 communities impacted by the I-395/Route 9 connector also had non-support resolutions at some point in the study. The City of Brewer had 3 such resolutions, below is the last resolution in February of 2015. They were summarily ignored with no mention from the MaineDOT.

The DOT’s preferred alternative 2B-2 (the second preferred alternative of the project) only satisfied one of the five study purpose and needs in April 2009; how did that become the preferred alternative, especially when 3EIK-2 was the preferred alternative in April 2009? Easy – just change the purpose and needs – and – that’s what they did in our community.

 

 

I hate to be a “Debbie Downer”, but you have to realize what and who you are up against. We always thought that the facts were on our side and we would be able to change minds in the state and DOT; however – the DOT – as was our experience, ignored the facts that did not fit their program and went ahead with the project anyway. They build roads (period), the environment and the community are not necessarily their number one issue.

 

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

3.20.2025 – Public hearing set for April 3rd @ 1:00 p.m. in Augusta for LD1020:

 

 

Click here to track this bill.

 

We had this same experience twice with 2 separate bills in front of the Transportation Committee; to those that plan on giving oral testimony, be advised that the pro-bill (you) will go first and be followed up by the DOT and others that will obviously oppose your actions.

Click here for an example of written testimony given in support of LD47 in Feb. 2015.

Click here for an example of written testimony given in support of LD47 in Feb. 2015.

Don’t expect an immediate action as the panel may decide to take it to several work sessions before given their verdict. I would be shocked if this passes out of the committee with anything other than an ought not to pass, just by my past experience, so be prepared for that. That wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of your efforts, it could still go for a full vote but with an unlikely outcome of passing into law. Both our attempts died in the Transportation Committee with an ought not to pass verdict.

You have to fight this and even if you lose, you know that you did your best. I gave it my all and it still smarts to lose, but I learned a lot along the way. You can’t trust anybody, the only time you’ll find out who was really on your side is during the ribbon-cutting ceremony when the project is completed; I am only a few months away from that…

 

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

3.20.2025 – Discovered this morning that the jughandle at Lowe’s, at the intersection of Wilson Street, Arista Drive and Dirigo Drive, is now open.

This jughandle was the DOT’s answer to providing an eastbound exit for the new connector from the north. I would imagine this will surprise a lot of people as this design was not included in the Final Environmental Impact Statement or the FHWA Record of Decision. The original design of the eastbound exit would have encroached upon the parking area of the Lafayette Family Cancer Institute – thus – a jughandle was born.

The stop sign at the end of the jughandle gives exiting traffic from Lowe’s the right of way. I predict this design will become a huge embarrassment for the DOT.

This has always been a questionable intersection without the jughandle – standby…

 

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

3.14.2025  – Legislative effort to stop the Gorham Connector:

 

 

We did the same with the I-395/Route 9 Connector; actually 2 bills were presented to stop the connector and both came out of the JSC of Transportation as “ought not to pass”. Do all you can to stop this, but realize that the DOT is “letting you play” and they will always have the upper hand. The MaineDOT and the Transportation Committee have a personal working relationship that is hard to break thru. The Committee will more than likely default to whatever the DOT wants. That being said, I do wish you all the best as you move forward in your efforts.

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

3.11.2025 – Just a personal observation: For as long as I have been reporting on the MaineDOT and the I-395/Route 9 Connector, normally every year the DOT releases their new 3 year work plan by mid-January with great fanfare in the media, to include an honest representation of the hundreds of millions of dollars (few years ago it was $250 million/year) of unmet and annual budgetary shortfalls.

The latest 3 year work plan was released to the public on February 20th and almost 3 weeks latter there is still no such fanfare and no representation of the monetary figure of shortfalls to gauge where our state stands in maintaining our infrastructure. Seems odd to me that the MaineDOT is being so quiet…

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

3.06.2025 – The MaineDOT is taking over the “study” of the Gorham Connector. I would caution those that think this is a win; it may only be a delay for a year to get right back where the MTS left off.

 

 

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

3.03.2025 – Once again, the MaineDOT project mapping identifies an area around the intersection of I-395 and Route 1A as “I-395 PROTECTED WETLANDS”. Really???

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

2.26.2025 – The annual 3 year MaineDOT Work Plan was released on the 20th. After following this yearly event for the last 13 years and commenting on the hundreds of millions in annual unfunded shortfalls, this year, however, there appears to be no mention of shortfalls in the bridge and highway program – yet a highly crafted wordsmithing of pragmatism and MacGyver funding…

 

The annual shortfall just 5 years ago was $232 million.

The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan stated: “[The] Mills administration…set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year…MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years…in the third year…and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.”

So, what the true shortfalls are will hopefully come out when this plan is presented to the media.

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

2.02.2025 – Latest report on the Gorham Connector from the PPH:

 

“It’s an emotional issue. We don’t need to settle this with them right away.” A condescending statement by MTA Peter Mills (PPH 3.21.2024)

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

 

1.05.2025 – It’s January – that means the DOT is crying for more money. The DOT saw no problem spending $124 million on a new connector that the City of Brewer did not support, and the MTA sees no problem spending $331 million on a new connector that citizens from Portland to Gorham do not support, at the same time that the DOT now announces that they have a $280 million dollar shortfall in funding to properly maintain the roads and bridges we already have. We argued back in 2012 that new projects should be halted until the roads and bridges of main are brought up to a good/safe condition, but those arguments went unanswered…

 

 

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)

 

Carried over these December 2024 reports from News Center Maine, the Portland Press Herald and the ASCE on the condition of Maine’s roads and bridges:

12.03.2024 – Latest ASCE report on Maine’s Infrastructure, “mediocre at best” per News Center Maine report. The question be: should we be happy that 400 of our bridges are in poor condition and 26% of our highways are rated something less than good? Maybe if our state didn’t spend all their money on connectors such as $124 million in Brewer and another proposed $331 in Gardner, we would have the money to raise our infrastructure out of mediocrity…

 

 

12.03.2024 – The Portland Press Herald echoes in with more of the same; I have no comment other than to read it for yourself and ask why…

 

MaineDOT established that the preferred alternative (2B-2) for the I-395/Route 9 Connector did not meet the Study Purpose, the USACE Purpose, the System Linkage Need and the Traffic Congestion Need in April 2009, satisfying only 20% of the five Purpose and Needs. How this became a $124 million project was never satisfactorily answered. The 2024 MaineDOT Work Plan states: “[The] Mills administration...set the minimum unmet state capital transportation funding need at $200 million per year...MaineDOT has sufficient resources for the next two years...in the third year...and beyond, we will need to find other solutions for at least half of this annual need, now estimated at $100 million.” ($200 million in 2026.) This project’s $124 million would have been better spent on Maine’s annual unfunded transportation needs. (2.13.2024)