Instead,
the Maine Department of Transportation signed a deal without any accountability
to the public. There were no public hearings and no oversight from the legislature's
transportation committee, which is responsible for the department's budget,
including funds to operate the Casco Bay Bridge.
That’s
a move in the wrong direction.
Safeguarding
the safety of Maine people and the economic success of our state are among the
most important job of elected officials. Those two concerns crop up in nearly
all aspect of state government, even ones that aren’t obvious.
That
includes our state’s transportation infrastructure — its roads and bridges,
ports, rails and airports.
So
it came as a surprise when the Maine DOT announced this week that it had agreed
to privatize the operations of the Casco Bay Bridge. We learned that the
department had made a five-year, $3.8 million deal to put one of the state’s
most important infrastructure assets into the hands of an out-of-state company.
Connecting
the Portland peninsula to points south, the Casco Bay Bridge is a major conduit
for travel, workday commutes and commerce. Between 30,000 and 35,000 vehicles
pass over it every day, making it one of the most travelled bridges in our
state.
The
sea traffic underneath is just as important. The Casco Bay Bridge is the
largest drawbridge in the state, and its safe opening and closing allows for
huge oil tankers and other large vessels to pass underneath.
This
is the first time the state has privatized such an operation, and the deal
making lacked the appropriate level of transparency. I serve on the
transportation committee. Not only were we never briefed on this deal, we
weren't given reasons why the deal should have been made in the first place.
The
workers who currently operate the bridge have a stellar work record and have
responded admirably in emergencies.
Despite
their success in protecting the public safety and commercial operation they
oversee, those workers now face layoffs through no fault of their own. To add
insult to injury, their layoffs won't save the state any money. According to
media reports, Maine DOT says paying a Florida-based company to run the bridge
will cost the same as running it ourselves.
In
the wake of this decision, we are left with nothing but questions: Why is
privatization necessary? Who is this company that’s been chosen to operate the
bridge? What is their safety record? How much leeway does the contract give this
out-of-state company? They’ll be looking to make money off this deal, but their
agenda toward that end is unknown. Will they want to establish a toll, or some
other means of generating revenue?
Maine
DOT Commissioner David Bernhardt has agreed to meet with me and other members
of the committee, so we may get answers to those questions. Regardless, he’s
already told me the decision to privatize the bridge has been made.
This
is just the latest example of concerns that have been raised by both Republican
and Democratic lawmakers regarding the lack of transparency that seems to be
increasing in state government.
Currently
departments often refuse to appear before legislative committees making it
difficult for the legislature to obtain critical information. In this case,
Maine DOT made a major policy change without the proper transparency and
accountability toward the public or the legislature.
This
scenario cannot be repeated. The legislature is responsible for crafting
budgets for all state agencies. We also have oversight over the laws and
policies that govern the various departments of the executive branch. That duty
is derived from our responsibility to represent the best interests of our
constituents, who elected us to be their voice in Augusta.
If
government agencies are allowed to make monumental, unilateral changes to how
the state cares for its critical infrastructure, what other changes can it make
alone? What other important state services can be altered or dismantled before
anyone outside the executive branch ever finds out?
No comments:
Post a Comment