Highway bill gets preliminary OK Fee increases, bonds to fund rebuilding of crumbling infrastructure

AUGUSTA – The Maine House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday in favor of legislation to remedy what many lawmakers consider a long-term funding crisis facing the state’s highways and bridges through an array of fee increases and other revenue raisers.

The bill, which won a 124-14 preliminary vote of approval, authorizes fee hikes for vehicle and trailer registrations, salvage certificates, vanity plates and transfers.

In addition, it would authorize $50 million in Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles, or “GARVEE” bonds, in anticipation of expected federal transportation funds. It would dedicate sales taxes on car rentals to nonhighway projects, principally the Downeaster passenger train.

But the condition of Maine’s highways and bridges was the focus of most of the debate in the House, as lawmakers challenged those opposing the funding bill to stop in the Transportation Committee room and see a chunk of concrete that broke away from a coastal overpass and crashed below.

“This is certainly an issue of public safety,” Rep. Charles Fisher, a Brewer Democrat and Transportation Committee member, told representatives. “It’s our responsibility to take care of these roads and these bridges.”

The bulk of Maine’s Highway Fund revenues come from fuel taxes motorists pay at the pump. But with more people buying vehicles with improved gas mileage, and many people driving less because of high fuel prices, tax revenues are insufficient to address transportation needs.

Supporters of the legislation say that while the state should rehabilitate more than 150 miles of highway a year, the Transportation Department’s work plan proposes only 39 miles a year. And while 36 bridges are in need of significant rehabilitation, the state is doing only 14 a year, supporters also say.

Bridges generally can be expected to last for about a human lifetime. But under the present revenue structure, “we’re going to have to expect bridges to last 180 years,” said Rep. Boyd Marley, House chairman of the transportation panel.

While the bill draws nearly $15 million in expanded fees and transfers through the two-year budget cycle starting in July, supporters said doing nothing would have a much greater cost in the future.

Some lawmakers were not convinced.

“A fee is a tax and a tax is a fee,” said Rep. Douglas Thomas, R-Ripley.

The bill was debated a day after Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a $1.2 billion budget to cover the costs of maintaining Maine’s roads, bridges, ferries, railroads and airports.