AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Transportation is launching new resources today to advance the department's roadway safety efforts and work toward MaineDOT's vision of a safe and equitable transportation system.

The new "2024">https://bit.ly/MaineDOT-safer-roads">"2024 Safety Initiatives" online story map includes information regarding MaineDOT's efforts to utilize context-specific decision-making in how the department sets speed limits, manages roadway speeds, and implements its updated Complete Streets policy to ensure all transportations system users can get where they are going.

"At MaineDOT, we have always been early adopters of many safety-related practices, and these new tools represent an important step forward in the safety portion of our mission," said MaineDOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note. "To keep improving safety for our customers, our team members continuously monitor national highway safety practices and programs to identify, test, and implement new measures that can make a real difference here in Maine."

This new page includes several important new MaineDOT policies and tools, including:

• MaineDOT's new Roadway Context Classification System, including a map of context classifications statewide and an explanation of the different classifications.
• Information regarding MaineDOT's new speed-limit-setting process and speed management guidance including a set of traffic-calming measures and tools.
• MaineDOT's updated Complete Streets Policy, which now includes additional guidance regarding context-specific design elements that benefit safety, walking, and bicycling.

The page also includes information on MaineDOT's updated Local Cost Share Policy. While not a safety initiative by itself, this policy does have impacts on how infrastructure and safety projects are funded.

MaineDOT is committed to implementing Safe">https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafeSystem">Safe System Approach initiatives that fit Maine's transportation needs to ensure that travelers using all modes of transportation can get to their destinations safely.

The "2024">https://bit.ly/MaineDOT-safer-roads">"2024 Safety Initiatives" story map is available at https://bit.ly/MaineDOT-safer-roads.">https://bit.ly/MaineDOT-safer-roads">https://bit.ly/MaineDOT-safer-roads.