Maine Infrastructure - Infrastructure

Maine Infrastructure - News

Maine fish auction turns to Progress Software - Boston Globe

Boston Globe, United States - Apr 14, 2009

Maine fish auction turns to Progress SoftwareProgress Software Corp., a Bedford provider of application infrastructure software, said its technology is now being used in the online, all-display, fresh seafood auction system for the Portland Fish Exchange in Maine. Working with application partner Progress Software Helps Portland Fish Exchange Net a Smooth Supply

College system to help its own - Morning Sentinel

Morning Sentinel, maine - Apr 15, 2009

College system to help its ownInvesting money in Maine's education infrastructure will yield dividends in the future, he said. The state would regain its $5.3 million annual investment in six years once the affected students return to work and pay income taxes, he said.

Stimulus money to fund clean water projects in Maine - Construction Digital

Construction Digital, UK - Apr 15, 2009

Stimulus money to fund clean water projects in MaineJohn Baldacci expects construction sector to benefit from projects in 61 communities across the state By Kevin Doyle The influx of $19.5 million in federal stimulus money targeted for water infrastructure improvements will allow Maine to complete more

More transit funds coming - Kennebec Journal

Kennebec Journal, ME - Apr 15, 2009

More transit funds comingMaine has been awarded $143 million for transportation, infrastructure and transit undertakings. To date, $78 million of that has been earmarked for 42 projects, including the resurfacing of northbound Interstate 295, which will start in June.

Maine, Vermont each get $19.5M for water projects - Water Technology Online

Water Technology Online, NY - Apr 14, 2009

Maine, Vermont each get $19.5M for water projectsWASHINGTON — The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced economic stimulus funds for water infrastructure projects in two Northeast states. ● In Vermont , the EPA has awarded $19.5 million to the Vermont Department of Environmental

College system to help its own - Morning Sentinel

15.04.09

AUGUSTA -- The Maine Community College System will cover tuition and fees for full-time students whose parents lose their jobs, the system's president said Tuesday.

The Graduation Protection Assistance program will allow students 24 and younger to remain focused on earning their degrees, even as their families experience economic rough patches, system President John Fitzsimmons told a joint session of the Legislature.

The initiative applies to students who return for classes in the fall or enter the system by spring 2011. The guarantee takes effect if one or both parents experience job loss.

"Maine desperately needs its young people to continue their education," he said. "The best place for them in this economy is in the classroom."

The pledge from Fitzsimmons was one of a number of vows he made Tuesday that he said highlights how the community college system is focused on serving unemployed Maine residents.

Fitzsimmons and University of Maine System Chancellor Richard L.

Source: Morning Sentinel, maine

The Infrastructure Blues

Just before Christmas, the Maine Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2008 Infrastructure Report Card. The report covers fourteen aspects of Maine infrastructure, from roads to ports to parks to wastewater treatment, and more. The grading scale goes from 'A' (exceptional) to 'D' (poor). There is no 'F' rating. As anyone who lives here could have guessed, the results for Maine were not good.

Maine received 'D' or 'D+' grades in five of the fourteen categories: Contaminated Site Remediation, Dams, Municipal Wastewater, Bridges, and Roads. (The overall grade for the state was a 'C-', just barely above poor.) A simpler way of looking at this is that, according to the ASCE at least, one-third of the state's infrastructure is failing.

This report only underscores my observation that Maine has the worst roads I've ever driven. Only the Interstates and the tourist-heavy coastal Route 1 approach any state of driver- or car-friendliness, by my experience. (By ASCE standards, only the Maine Interstate meets any kind of 'good' condition.) In addition, a closer look at the report reveals that Mainers spend on average 285 extra dollars per year on "extra vehicle operating costs," amounting to $286 million statewide. (No wonder my mechanic is the happiest Mainer I've ever met.)

What will it take to get things to change? A massive bridge collapse like the I-35 in Minneapolis? Let's hope not. Will Obama's proposed infrastructure cash infusion help? It couldn't hurt, and Maine obviously desperately needs it. But it'll come a little too late to save me money: I'm having new struts put on my car this week. One week into the new year and I'll be over the $285 dollar average. I can't wait to see what the next fifty-one weeks will bring.