Title 23, Title 23

The department may enter into service contracts with municipalities to perform at cost maintenance, reconstruction or construction functions on local service roads. To the extent state manpower and equipment permits, the department shall encourage municipalities to coordinate the…

The Department of Transportation may administer funds for the construction of municipal or county salt and sand storage facilities in order to reduce salt pollution of ground and surface waters. In administering these funds, the department shall provide reimbursement to municipal…

The legislature finds that new financing mechanisms are necessary to provide greater flexibility and additional funds for needed transportation infrastructure projects in the State. The creation of a financing mechanism, in conformance with the National Highway System Designation…

The state infrastructure bank is created as a revolving fund in the department, to be administered by the department and used for the purposes described in this subchapter. The fund consists of certain federal highway funds and state highway funds and other funds eligible for dep…

The Commissioner of Transportation shall use the state infrastructure bank to make loans to counties and municipalities, state agencies and quasi-state government agencies upon such terms as the commissioner shall determine, including secured and unsecured loans, and in connectio…

The Legislature of this State makes the following findings of fact. [PL 1981, c. 318, §1 (RPR).] 1. Tourist industry. A large and increasing number of tourists has been coming to Maine and, as a result, the tourist industry is one of the important sources of income for Maine citi…

To promote the public health, safety, economic development and other aspects of the general welfare, it is in the public interest to provide tourists and travelers with information and guidance concerning public accommodations, facilities, commercial services and other businesses…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following words have the following meanings. [PL 1981, c. 318, §1 (RPR).] 1. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Transportation. 1-A. Controlled access highway. "Controlled access highway" mea…

To the extent funds are available or contracts can be entered into, the commissioner shall establish official tourist information centers near the principal entrance points into the State, as determined by the commissioner, with the advice and recommendation of the Director of th…

1. Erection and maintenance. The commissioner shall designate locations for and erect official business directional signs licensed under this chapter. The official business directional signs must be furnished and preserved by the applicant after the erection of the official busin…

No person may erect or maintain signs visible to the traveling public from a public way except as provided in this chapter.

A municipality may erect and maintain at a publicly owned bus stop outdoor advertising signs visible to the traveling public from a public way. For purposes of this section, "bus stop" means a place where a public transport bus stops for the purpose of allowing passengers to boar…

1. Signs. A municipality may build and maintain an advertising sign visible to the traveling public from a public way at an outdoor athletic facility as long as the sign: A. Is oriented inward to the persons visiting or using the facility; [PL 2023, c. 214, §1 (NEW).] B. Is secur…

Lawful businesses and points of interest and cultural, historic, recreational, educational and religious facilities are eligible for official business directional signs, subject to this chapter and to rules adopted by the commissioner and to any federal law, rule or regulation af…

Subject to this chapter, the commissioner shall regulate the size, shape, color, lighting, manner of display and lettering of official business directional signs. A symbol may be specified for each type of eligible service or facility for inclusion upon official business directio…

1. Location limited. Official business directional signs shall only be located in those vicinities where the traveler must change direction from one public way to another to reach the business, facility or point of interest. 2. Number limited. Notwithstanding section 1918, the co…

In adopting regulations relating to locations for official business directional signs, the commissioner shall take into consideration such factors as the effect upon highway safety, the convenience of the traveling public and the preservation of scenic beauty. [PL 1981, c. 318, §…

1. Interstate highway. Official business directional signs are not permitted within the right-of-way of the interstate highway. 2. Permitted on certain controlled access bypasses. Official business directional signs are not permitted within the right-of-way of controlled access h…

The commissioner may authorize the placement of logo signs within the right-of-way of the interstate system except for that portion owned by the Maine Turnpike Authority. To implement this section, the commissioner shall adopt rules that include provisions that regulate the size,…

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Advance guide sign" means a sign described in the national standards that identifies the principal destinations and routes served by an exit and t…

1. Signs within the public right-of-way. The following signs may be erected and maintained within the public right-of-way without license or permit as long as they conform to applicable provisions of this Title and rules adopted pursuant to this Title: A. Signs bearing noncommerc…

1. License and permit. Except as provided in subsection 4, a license or permit may not be required for an on-premises sign. 2. Number. On-premises signs on any one property may not exceed 10 in number, except in the case of more than one business, facility or point of interest be…

1. Payment of compensation. Compensation shall be paid for the removal of any sign lawfully erected as of January 1, 1978, and which is visible from the interstate or primary systems, except no compensation may be paid if such sign is exempt as provided in section 1913‑A and no c…

1. Exclusions. This section shall not apply to: A. Signs for which compensation is paid under section 1915; [PL 1981, c. 318, §4 (RPR).] B. On-premises signs as provided in section 1914; [PL 1981, c. 318, §4 (RPR); PL 2011, c. 115, §4 (REV).] C. Exempt signs under section 1913‑A;…

1. Notice to remove. The owner of a sign that was or is unlawfully erected or maintained either prior to or after October 24, 1977 is in violation of this chapter until the sign is removed. The owner of the sign shall remove the sign within 14 days of a notice from the agency tha…

A person who takes, defaces or disturbs a sign placed within the public right-of-way in accordance with section 1913‑A, subsection 1, paragraph L commits a civil violation for which a fine of up to $250 may be adjudged. This section does not apply to a person authorized to remove…

1. Submitting applications. Any person who is eligible under section 1909 for an official business directional sign may submit to the commissioner a written application therefor, on a form prescribed by the commissioner. The application shall set forth the name and address of the…

An applicant for an official business directional sign shall pay to the commissioner an initial license fee not to exceed $30 for each sign, and an annual renewal fee not to exceed $30. The amount of each fee shall be determined for each year by the commissioner in advance of suc…

Any person, firm, corporation or other legal entity who shall erect, maintain or display a sign contrary to and in violation of this chapter, or the rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 together with the cost of …

To provide for the orderly implementation of this chapter, the State shall be divided by the commissioner into traveler information service areas which shall correspond to the Maine highway districts. The commissioner may implement the removal of signs for which compensation is p…

This chapter shall not supersede the provisions of any other statute, regulation, ordinance or resolution, the requirements of which are more strict than those of this chapter and not inconsistent therewith, whether such ordinance, bylaw, regulation, resolution or statute was ena…

The commissioner is authorized, empowered and directed to enter into agreements with the United States or its agencies and subdivisions to control signs in accordance with national standards, this chapter and the best interests of the State. Nothing in this chapter may abridge an…

1. License. Any license issued pursuant to repealed Title 32, section 2713, shall remain in effect for 6 years from January 1, 1978, provided a licensee shall apply annually and pay the annual fee to the commissioner provided in repealed Title 32, section 2713. This subsection sh…

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the commissioner shall administer this chapter. The commissioner may employ, subject to the Civil Service Law, clerical and other assistants required for the administration of this chapter. The commissioner may delegate to personnel o…

1. Designation. The Trans-Maine Trail is designated as follows: A. Beginning at the Canadian border in Vanceboro, then westerly via Route 6, through Lincoln, Milo, Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford to Abbot, then westerly via Route 16 to Stratton and via Route 27 to the Canadian border…

The Fallen State Trooper Dedication Program is established. The Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, shall designate one mile of the state highway system to a state police officer who dies in the performance of that officer's duty w…

1. Legislative findings. The Legislature makes the following findings of fact. The economic and social well-being of the citizens of the State requires that the transportation system be developed in a comprehensive manner and depends upon the safety, efficiency and modern functio…

No provision of this chapter may impair the rights of existing bondholders or of any other persons to whom the authority owes contractual obligations.

In order to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the Maine Turnpike Authority, created by Private and Special Law 1941, chapter 69, continues in existence with the powers and duties prescribed by this chapter until the Legislature provides for its termination and all outstandi…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).] 1. Access roads. "Access roads" means any and all roads or highways in the state highway system, including bridges, overpasses and underp…

The authority is managed by a board of 7 members. Except for the member from the department who serves ex officio, all members are appointed by the Governor subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters and to…

1. Powers. The Maine Turnpike Authority, as created by Private and Special Law 1941, chapter 69 and as authorized by Title 5, section 12004-F, subsection 4, is and continues to be a body both corporate and politic in the State and may: A. Sue and be sued; [PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NE…

1. Evaluation of reasonable alternatives. The authority shall complete an evaluation of reasonable alternatives to widening the turnpike to 3 lanes for each direction of travel in the corridor from mile marker 44 to mile marker 53. To evaluate reasonable alternatives, the authori…

1. Evaluation of reasonable alternatives. The authority and the department shall evaluate reasonable alternatives to the building of a connector to Gorham in Cumberland County from Route 114 in South Gorham to an interchange on the turnpike by completing an alternative mode feasi…

The authority shall operate as follows. [PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).] 1. General. All expenses incurred in carrying out this chapter shall be paid solely from funds provided under the authority of this chapter, and no liability or obligation may be incurred under this chapter beyo…

The authority shall hold and acquire property as follows. [PL 1981, c. 595, §3 (NEW).] 1. Property of the authority. All property of the authority and all property held in the name of the State pursuant to the provisions of this chapter are exempt from levy and sale by virtue of …