AUGUSTA - On Thursday, October 12th, the Maine Department of Transportation will hold the second of three in-person stakeholder group meetings to assist the department in identifying and developing strategies to address highway mobility and transportation needs in northern Maine. This second meeting will be held at 4:00 p.m. in the Fort Kent Town Office, located at 416 West Main Street. Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide comments.

In June, the Maine State Legislature passed, and Governor Mills signed into law, LD 607, Resolve, to Direct the Department of Transportation to Examine Improving Highway Connections from Interstate 95 to the St. John Valley. In accordance with that resolve, this stakeholder group consists of 11 members and includes representatives from local municipal offices, regional and statewide planning organizations, and local industry groups. This group will review past feasibility studies and recommend highway improvements that will improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity in Aroostook County.

The first meeting of this stakeholder group was on September 18th in Madawaska. The third in-person meeting will be on November 14th in Caribou. A virtual meeting will be held on December 12th to review this group's work.

By the end of the year, MaineDOT will submit a final report that includes the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.