One of the ways that we from standard
views of the federal government by both liberals and conservatives is
that we believe in federal involvement in all sorts of things, but not
federal nitpicking and interference in decisions that are best made at
the state or local level. These seemingly minor problems are a major
reason why there is so much hostility towards the federal government.
Here is a great case in point:
Portland Press Herald - You can’t get there from here.
Some
businesses and town officials fear that old Maine saying could turn out
to be true if state lawmakers pass a bill to eliminate dozens of signs
on the Maine Turnpike and interstate highways.
Business owners
and representatives of communities from Arundel to Lubec condemned the
measure Tuesday at a three-hour public hearing before the Legislature’s
Transportation Committee, saying it would hurt tourism by making it
harder for visitors to find rural attractions.
The bill,
developed by the Maine Turnpike Authority and the state Department of
Transportation, seeks to create standards for turnpike and interstate
signs and bring Maine into compliance with federal standards that define
which attractions merit signs. Officials say Maine could lose millions
of dollars in federal funding if it doesn’t meet the standards.
Along the turnpike and interstate highways are three types of signs.
The
green signs that mark upcoming exits would not be affected by the
legislation. Also unaffected would be the blue “services” signs
advertising businesses such as restaurants, gas stations and tourist
attractions. Each business pays $1,500 a year, per sign, to have its
logo displayed.
The bill concerns “supplemental guide signs,”
which are brown with white lettering and give exit numbers for
destinations that aren’t immediately off the highway interchanges. Those
signs, like the green directional signs, are publicly funded.
The
state’s proposal would alter 30 percent of the supplemental guide signs
on the turnpike, Interstate 295 and Interstate 395, a 5-mile road
between Bangor and Brewer.
A total of 68 of the 225 signs would
be affected, including 26 that would be removed. Forty-two would either
be moved closer to the places they point out or be removed but qualify
for logo signs.
Peter Mills, executive director of the turnpike
authority, and Deputy Transportation Commissioner Bruce Van Note were
the only people who spoke in favor of the bill at Tuesday’s hearing...
The
standards have been in effect for years, but Maine has erected signs
over the years that do not adhere to them, Mills said. He said signs are
supposed to provide direction to drivers clearly and effectively, and
should not serve as advertisements for particular businesses, as the
federal standards say.
Attractions like universities, national
and state parks, and major recreational areas qualify for supplemental
guide signs if they meet certain guidelines for numbers of visitors and
distance from interchanges, the standards say. Many businesses and
attractions that don’t qualify could instead buy logo space on the blue
service signs, which typically are posted before exits to indicate what
services and attractions are available there.
Some towns,
including Arundel, Hallowell and Topsham, would lose signs directing
drivers to them because they have populations of less than 10,000 and
are not considered major attractions.
After the Maine Mall opened
in 1971, the state refused to put a sign for the Mall on the turnpike.
So Allen, who became the mall’s first general manager, got the city to
rename Payne Road to Maine Mall Road in 1975, and the Maine Mall Road
exit sign served the purpose.
Sen. David Burns, a Republican who
represents towns in Washington County, said tourism is critical for the
county’s economy, and removing signs for places like Quoddy Head State
Park and Roosevelt Campobello International Park because they’re too far
from the attractions would hurt the area.
Under the proposed
legislation, ski areas with a minimum vertical drop of 1,000 feet and 40
or more maintained trails would qualify for supplemental signs.
Gregory
Sweetser, executive director of the Ski Maine Association, said he
opposes the bill because removing signs for smaller ski areas – like
Lost Valley in Auburn – would hurt an industry that plays an important
role in the state’s rural economy.
Todd Shea, town manager of
Arundel, said it would be unfair to remove a sign for Arundel, while
pointing out that more than five miles of the turnpike go through the
town.
Hallowell officials echoed his concern, saying it is
essential for the town’s small businesses that visitors find their way
downtown.
