WASHINGTON, D.C. — Maine has been awarded a total of $69.2 million in highway and transit funding through the COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law in late December, according to a news release. 

“The funding provided by the most recent COVID-19 relief package is crucial for Maine’s transportation system from a capital programming perspective,” said Maine DOT Commissioner Bruce Van Note.

The latest COVID-19 relief package, per the release, provided a total of $10 billion for highways and $14 billion for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

Of the highway funding, Maine was awarded $46 million to:

• Support highway and bridge capital projects that include 268 miles of high-priority roads and 43 bridge projects throughout the state.

• Support improvements to 320 miles of lesser traveled roads statewide.

Of the FTA funding, Maine was awarded $23.2 million to:

• Support transit agencies in meeting COVID-19 protocols to safely maintain operations and employees statewide.

• Support rural and intercity transit operators across Maine that provide access to jobs, commercial airports, and rail services.

• Provide safe connections to jobs through employee commuter services, including those at The Jackson Laboratory, Bath Iron Works, and Sunday River.

• Support connections to Maine’s island communities, including: the Maine State Ferry Service, the Cranberry Isle Ferry, the Casco Bay Island Transit District, and the Isle Au Haut boat service.

• Provide critical services beyond traditional transit services, including the Downeast Community Partners’ buses used to safely distribute food and provide transit to COVID-19 vaccination sites.