HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-12 97-223 RESOLVECOUNCIL ACTION
Data: May 12. 1997 Item No. 97-223
Item/Subject: Support for Legis Wive Proposals to designate, sign, and construct
an East-West Highway
Responsible Department: Community and Economic Development
Commentary:
The existence of an Hast -West Highway oomectag Bangor m the New Bromamwk border in the east, and
to the Quebec border in the wen, h av assertion element of vampottatiov infrastructure for Bangor to realize its
opportunity to be a nue cross -road for visitor and commercial highway traffic between the Canadian Maritime
Provinces and both the US east coast and wwral Canada. This Resolve supports pending legislative action to
designate, and mark with signs, an East-West highway route, and smtes that route should begin at the New
Brunswick border at Calais, pass through Bangor, and continue to the Quebec border to the west It border states
that the State should plan, fund and construct within the next seven bienniums, a limited access highway
connecting these points. It also suggests a follow-up Plan to extent this limited access highway system with
connections from 1-95 to the New Brunswick border in northern Arooatook County and at Vanceboro, and to the
New Hampsh'ne border to cmmec[ with US -2 in northern New Hampshire.
The Conmm city and Fcotmm'm Developveaa Committee will review this request at its mceting on May
9, 1999.
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Budget Approval:
Finame Dinasor
Legal Approval:
14 r 'ry Soliriror
horoduced For
Passage
First Reading Page_of_
Referral ca -hymn
9]-223
Assigned to Councilor Woodcock May 12, 1997
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) POVItter.Support for. Legislative Proposalsto designate..
and construct an East-West Highway.
By W City Comrwit OW CRY ofBanyor;
BBSOLVBD,
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor is an economic center serving
the northern, eastern and central Maine counties, and portions of
the Canadian Maritime provinces; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor is the US urban area nearest
to the Canadian Maritime provinces; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor is located midway between
Halifax, Nova Scotia, the largest city in the Maritime provinces,
and Montreal, Quebec, the largest city in Canada; and
WHEREAS, the shortest and fastest overland route between
the population centers of the Maritime provinces and central Canada
passes through the City of Bangor; and
WHEREAS, most goads, commodities, and visitors travelling
between the northeastern United States and the Maritime provinces
pass through the City of Bangor; and
WHEREAS, the closest US international airport to the
Maritime provinces is located in, the City of Bangor; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bangor enjoys a sister -city
relationship with the city of Saint John, New Brunswick with a goal
of increasing commerce and exchanges between the two cities; and
WHEHEAS, the volume of commerce between the United States.
and Canada will i s the terms of the NAFTA agreement are
implemented, and much of that increase in cross-border commerce
with the Maritime provinces will pass through the City of Bangor;
and
9]-223
WHEREAS,. existing highways between Calais, Maine and
Bangor, and between Bangor and the Quebec border are deficient in
condition, alignment, capacity and safety;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF BANGOR THAT, the City of Bangor supports action by the
Maine Legislature to designate an East-West Highway connecting the
New Brunswick border on the east and the Quebec border on the west
with the City of Bangor; to install signs to identify and mark this
route; and to plan for, fund, and construct a high-speed limited -
ss highway from Calais, through Bangor, to the Quebec border.
Such highway should be completed within seven bienniums (by the
end of Maine fiscal year 2011); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the layout of the designated
East-West highway should incorporate, where appropriate, existing
portions of I-95, I-395, Sections of US -2, US -201 and sections of
Maine highway routes 9, 16, and 27 where these highway routes have
an alignmentnintent with the designated Bast -west Highway
alignment, and where these routes are constructed to, and
maintained to, National Highway System standards; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVES THAT, the designated East-West
highway may include Spurs form Houlton to Madawaska;. from Houlton
to Bangor following I-95; from Vanceboro to I-95 at Howland; from
Norridgewock to the New Hampshire border and from Skowhegan to the
Quebec border north of ,Jackman, these Spurs to be constructed after
the completion of the Calais -Bangor -Quebec border route. When the
East-West Highway, and all of its spurs are completed, some time i
the mid -21st century, Maine will, for the first time, have an
integrated high-speed, limited access highway system which, in
combination with the existing Interstate routes and the Maine
Turnpike, serve'all regions of the state and provide adequate
access t0 the major international border Crossings.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, the City Manager Shall
convey the contents of this resolve to the members of the Bangor
Legislative delegation, the Maine Commissioner of Transportation,
and the Maine congressional delegation.
IN CITY COUNCIL
Nay 12, 1997
Passed
cLi
97-223
H E 5 0 L V E
SUPVOrt for Lee3elative Pleposals to
designate, sign and comtturt an East-
West xignway
Pilo
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