It’s time the state realizes this would be the surest path to environmental and economic degradation. By Chris Buchanan, Special to the Press Herald Portland Press Herald op-ed BELGRADE — The proposed east-west transportation, communications and utility corridor has raised important questions regarding the state’s transportation policy. Two bills have been introduced by Maine legislators to ensure Read More
East-West Highway and Energy Corridor
The idea of building an East-West highway across Maine has been proposed and dismissed many times over the past 60 years. NRCM opposed it each time.
A plan in 2013 was promoted by Peter Vigue, President and CEO of the Cianbro Corporation. NRCM opposed it because it would have harmed forests and fragmented the North Woods; damaged rivers and wetlands; destroyed wildlife habitat; and undermined Maine’s outdoor recreation economy.
Dead or Dormant? Proponents, Opponents Weigh In on Status of East-west Highway Proposal
By Nick Sambides Jr., BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story PITTSFIELD, Maine — The proposal to build a $2.1 billion, privately funded east-west highway connecting two Canadian provinces through Maine is not dead, just on the back burner, a spokesman for the plan’s main proponent said Monday. “We have sort of lowered the temperature Read More
East-west Highway Foes Say Project Would Hurt Businesses, Environment
Robert Long, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story A proposed 220-mile east-highway across Maine will hurt local businesses and destroy wildlife habitat, opponents of the project said at a State House event Tuesday. Patrick McGowan, a former Route 2 business owner, Maine conservation commissioner, legislator and Democratic candidate for governor, said Tuesday that “people Read More
Unanswered Questions Fuel Heated Meeting Over East-West Highway
by Nick McCrea, BDN staff Bangor Daily News news story BANGOR, Maine — Uncertainty surrounding the route of a proposed 220-mile highway across Maine sparked vehement questioning, opposition and doubt during a Tuesday morning meeting at the historic Penobscot County Courthouse. Cianbro Corp. CEO Peter Vigue, the leading proponent of the east-west highway, spent much Read More
East-west Highway Foes Pursue Access to Information
Much of a hearing on confidentiality also serves as a forum for criticisms of the proposed $2 billion project. by Michael Shepherd, State House Bureau Portland Press Herald news story Opponents of a proposed east-west highway across Maine packed a legislative hearing Friday to lobby lawmakers for more access to information about the controversial project. Read More
Bill Seeks to Lift Confidentiality from East-west Highway Partnership, but MDOT Says No Partnership Exists
By Robert Long, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News news story Lingering suspicions about plans to build a 220-mile east-west highway through central and rural Maine drew a large crowd to a legislative hearing Friday on a bill to make documents related to projects like it public. Sponsored by Assistant House Democratic Leader Jeff McCabe of Read More
ACLU and NRCM Urge Passage of Bill to Increase Government Transparency
Public Has Right to Know About Transportation Project Partnerships, Say Groups NRCM and ACLU of Maine AUGUSTA – The ACLU of Maine and the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) today urged the Transportation Committee to support a bill to protect the public’s right to know about transportation projects, such as the East-West highway and Read More
NRCM Testimony in Support of LD 721, An Act to Provide Transparency in Public-private Partnerships for Transportation Projects
Good afternoon Sen. Mazurek, Rep. Theriault and Members of the Transportation Committee. My name is Lisa Pohlmann. I am a resident of Jefferson. I am the Executive Director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. I am here today on behalf of the 12,000 members and supporters of the Natural Resources Council of Maine in Read More
Support of LD 165, An Act To Prohibit the Use of Eminent Domain in Certain Public-Private Partnerships
Good afternoon Senator Valentino, Representative Priest and members of the Judiciary Committee. My name is Eliza Donoghue. I am a resident of Farmington and am speaking today on behalf of the Natural Resources Council of Maine in support of LD 165, An Act To Prohibit the Use of Eminent Domain in Certain Public-Private Partnerships. LD 165 would Read More
