Resolve, To Require an Independent Analysis of the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  it is necessary that this resolve take effect immediately to provide timely analysis of the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project; and

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

Sec. 1. Project suspended. Resolved: That, unless otherwise authorized by the Legislature, the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project may not continue until 90 days after the adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature.

Sec. 2. Independent analysis required. Resolved: That the Legislature, through the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, shall select and contract with a nongovernmental entity to perform an independent analysis of the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project.

The entity selected by the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation must determine the public interest costs and benefits of the project, evaluate the cost and benefit assumptions that currently underlie the project and assess the concerns of local communities directly affected by the project. The entity shall provide a final report, including a recommendation to continue or terminate the project, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than April 19, 2019.

The entity selected by the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may not have a direct commercial interest in the project.

Sec. 3. Joint standing committee authorized to report out legislation. Resolved: That the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation may report out a bill, based on the analysis and recommendations contained in the report submitted pursuant to section 2, to the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature authorizing the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project to continue.

Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following appropriations and allocations are made.

LEGISLATURE

Legislature 0081

Initiative: Appropriates funds on a one-time basis to the Legislature to enter into a contract with a nongovernmental entity to perform an independent analysis of the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project.

GENERAL FUND	2018-19
All Other	$25,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL	$25,000

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This resolve directs the Legislature, through the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation, to contract with a nongovernmental entity to perform an independent analysis of the Department of Transportation's I-395/Route 9 Connector Project and appropriates $25,000 from the General Fund to fund the contract. The nongovernmental entity may not have a direct commercial interest in the I-395/Route 9 Connector Project and must provide a report of its analysis to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation no later than April 19, 2019. This resolve also suspends the project until the independent analysis is complete and provides the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation with the authority to make a determination about whether the project may continue.