| | Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do | not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless | enacted as emergencies; and |
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| | Whereas, I-295 is a highway segment of statewide economic | importance; and |
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| | Whereas, I-295 is facing capacity constraints and projected | unacceptable congestion; and |
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| | Whereas, widening I-295 would create issues of statewide | significance; and |
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| | Whereas, reasonable alternatives to widening I-295 will require | coordinated strategies of many state and local jurisdictions and | authorities; and |
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| | Whereas, the Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike | Authority have also identified capacity constraints on I-95, | which is the Maine Turnpike, between South Portland and Falmouth, | and I-95 between Falmouth and Brunswick; and |
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| | Whereas, I-295 has more than twice the traffic on I-95 where | each road crosses the Portland-South Portland line; and |
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| | Whereas, the Department of Transportation has identified | capacity constraints on noninterstate arteries that might be | remedied by improved access to the turnpike and interstate | system; and |
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| | Whereas, it is the responsibility of the Department of | Transportation to advise the Legislature on transportation | matters; and |
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| | Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create | an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and | require the following legislation as immediately necessary for | the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, | therefore, be it |
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| | Sec. 1. Department of Transportation to conduct study. Resolved: That the | Department of Transportation shall conduct a comprehensive review | of the existing and ongoing studies on the issues included in the | potential widening of I-295, explore opportunities to avoid the | need for the widening and submit a report of its findings and | recommendations to the joint standing committee of the | Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by | January 1, 2001. |
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