Resolve, To Establish a Demonstration Project To Promote Economic Development in the Forest Products Industry

Sec. 1. Demonstration project. Resolved: That the Commissioner of Transportation shall establish a demonstration project in the Town of Ashland for the purpose of demonstrating cost-effective ways of promoting economic development in the forest products industry by facilitating the transportation of forest product-related materials, including logs and wood biomass, from product-harvesting sites to processing and transportation facilities.

1. Designation of route. As part of the demonstration project, the Commissioner of Transportation may designate a demonstration transportation route, including sections of Maine Route 11 and including the Aroostook River bridge crossing and sections of the so-called Garfield Road in the Town of Ashland as needed to establish a connection between wood processing activities anticipated to be located at the former Levesque Mill site in Ashland and the so-called Realty Road connection to the extended private logging road system serving Aroostook County.

2. Gross vehicle weight exceptions. As part of the demonstration project, the Commissioner of Transportation, after consultation with the Department of Public Safety and the Secretary of State, may authorize the use of certain types of vehicles on the demonstration transportation route with gross vehicle weights up to 200,000 pounds for transportation of logs and wood biomass.

3. Safety. Prior to designating the demonstration transportation route, the Commissioner of Transportation shall:

4. Funding. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department of Transportation may fund up to 50% of the cost of highway and bridge improvements necessary to support the demonstration transportation route. The balance of funding must be provided by private or public sources other than the department.

5. Report. The Department of Transportation shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2015 regarding the demonstration project. The report must describe the status of the project, the anticipated effects of the project and lessons learned from the development and operation of the project that may be applied to similar projects when increased gross vehicle weights on state highways may be a desirable catalyst for improved intermodal freight connectivity and economic development.

summary

This resolve requires the Commissioner of Transportation to establish a demonstration project in the Town of Ashland for the purpose of demonstrating cost-effective ways of promoting economic development in the forest products industry by facilitating the transportation of forest product-related materials, including logs and wood biomass, from product-harvesting sites to processing and transportation facilities by increasing the gross vehicle weights permitted on a demonstration transportation route connecting forest product harvesting sites with potential processing facilities. The demonstration project requires consideration of safety issues and other effects and input from the Town of Ashland. The commissioner is required to report on the demonstration project to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2015.