The LA community saw a lot more purple this morning, as three 35’ low-floor purple Citylink transit buses hit the streets for the first time!  The heavy-duty 31-passenger Gillig buses were 100% funded by American Reinvestment Recovery Act Funds (ARRA).  They are American made and were manufactured in Hayward, California, to include two wheelchair tie-down locations. 

Pat Christian, General Manager of Western Maine Transportation Services, Inc., said, “These are real heavy-duty transit coaches that will serve the communities well for the next 12 years.” 

The purchase of the buses, valued at $371,406 each, was made possible by the Maine Department of Transportation “piggy backing” on an existing bid awarded to San Mateo, California.  The State of Maine received 13 ARRA funded buses, with Lewiston-Auburn Transit, Bangor, Portland’s METRO, and South Portland benefiting.

“MaineDOT needs to be given a lot of credit for making this purchase

On Wednesday, May 4, 2011, Governor Paul Lepage and the United Bikers of Maine will be celebrating Motorcycle Safety and Awareness month. The theme for this year is "Did You See Me". Distracted driving has become a major hazard to motorcyclists but also bicycles, pediatricians and other vehicles.   Lets step up the awareness of distracted drivers and make our highways a safer place to travel.   http://www.ubm-usa.org/  

AUBURN—The Hackett Road Bridge, located at mile 76.9 on the Maine Turnpike in Auburn will be closed for nine days from Monday April 25 through Tuesday May 3, 2011.  The bridge closure will allow the contractor to make repairs to bridge beams that were damaged when an over-height load struck the bridge.  T-Buck Construction of Auburn, Maine has the contract to complete the repairs to the bridge between March 28 and May 27, 2011.

Motorists traveling locally will be directed around the project via the South Main Street Bridge, then across Witham Road and finally over Broad Street back to Hackett Road.  

Work crews must remove the damaged beams and replace them with new ones.  Traffic will not be permitted on the bridge while the beams are missing from the structure.  The contractor has placed roadside, electronic message boards on Hackett Road announcing the closure prior to the start of the project. 

Turnpike mainline lane clo