Episode 4 - How We Get There From Here: Step 1

Episode 4 - How We Get There From Here: Step 1
Join us as we “drive” around the topic of Maine’s road. In the course of three interviews, Episode 4 travels from the Town of Jackman, through Augusta to chat with MDOT, all the way south to Town of Gray.  

In Jackman we explore the local reality of maintaining a network of roads. The conversation covers state-local partnerships, the budget crunch for public works departments, and a local hero who came to the rescue to save drivers from a 163-mile detour. 

In Augusta we meet with MDOT to hear about the Community Services Division, road inventories and classifications, local road assistance program (LRAP), local road plans and the fallacy of “worst first.” 

Finally, we stop in Gray to dissect the pesky issue of private roads its intersection with the environmental responsibilities of local governments. This episode will be part of ongoing dives into road related issues so...stay tuned! 

Episode Breakdown

03:50 – Town of Jackman, Public Works Director Doug Worster and Town Manager Cheryl Nadeau

21:00 – Peter Coughlan, Director of MDOT Community Services Division and Planning Board member in the Town of Randolph

47:25 – Nate Rudy, Town Manager of Gray

1:07:45 – Municipal Good News: “Celebrate” MMA’s upcoming convention

Corrections and Clarifications
49:55 - The budget for plowing private roads in Gray was originally estimated at $300K per year, however that cost is actually closer to $150K per year.