AUGUSTA – The Maine Department of Transportation will hold public meetings throughout the state in December on its draft six-year transportation improvement plan.

All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. Among the dates and locations where meetings will be held:

. Monday, Dec. 2, Augusta City Center lecture hall.

. Monday, Dec. 9, Northern Maine Technical College John Martin Building, Presque Isle.

. Tuesday, Dec. 10, University of Maine at Machias, Science Building.

. Wednesday, Dec. 11, Rockland Middle School.

. Wednesday, Dec. 18, Penquis Higher Education Center, Dover-Foxcroft.

Senior DOT staff will discuss the six-year plan, which lists the major transportation policy initiatives and capital improvement projects the DOT expects to include within its next three biennial transportation improvement programs. A budget request then will be submitted to the Legislature and broadly distributed in early 2003.

Copies of the six-year plan can be obtained at www.state.me.us/mdot/planning/6ypdraft.htm or by calling 624-3287.

In addition to comments at public meetings, the DOT will accept written comments on the draft document until Jan. 2, 2003. Comments may be submitted by e-mail to Six-Year.Plan@state.me.us or to Bureau of Planning, 16 State House Station, Augusta 04333-0016 Re: Six-Year Plan.