Urban-Rural Initiative Program (URIP)

• As of February, 2010, it is anticipated that the URIP allocation for FY 11 will be at least the same as FY 10.
• At the end of the Legislative session on June 12, 2009, the MaineDOT Budget was passed and the total URIP "pie" was decreased because the overall Budget was decreased. The total amount of the FY 10 "pie" was $21,343,364 which was $3.07M (12.6%) less than FY 09. This did NOT equate to a 12.6% reduction for every town in Maine. Over 200 previous "hold harmless" towns saw no decrease at all. The remaining towns/cities, especially urban compact communities, saw reductions in their FY 10 payments. In fact, an additional 200+ towns are now at their FY 99 "hold harmless" amounts.
• Feel free to contact Peter Coughlan for particular details at 624-3266 or peter.coughlan@maine.gov

1. FY-10, Y-09, FY-08, FY-07, and FY-99 Payments to Municipalities, Counties and Indian Reservations (pdf file)
2. How to sign up for Electronic Fund Transfers

3. Rates per Lane-mile table.

4. Graphical summary of rates for urban & rural towns (pdf file).

5. History of Total Payments (pdf file).

6. Law Changes in 2002

7. Urban Rural Initiative Program: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, Chapter 19: FISCAL MATTERS, Subchapter 6: LOCAL ROAD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
8. Municipalities requesting verification of the funds received from the Urban-Rural Initiative Program for Audits should be in writing to, Pete Coughlan, Bureau of Planning, Community Services Division, 16 State House Station , Augusta Maine 04333-0016.
9. Office of Program Evaluation & Government Accountability (OPEGA) Report - Performance Audit - July 07
10. Maine Municipal Association Report of URIP Working Group - Jan 06

Highlights of the"Urban-Rural Initiative Program"

On July 1, 1999 the Urban-Rural Initiative Program (URIP) replaced the Local Road Assistance Program (LRAP).

This initiative shifted the focus of municipal highway aid toward capital improvements. Prior to 1999 the use of these "local road" funds was only for the "maintenance or improvement of public roads". Now these funds must be used for capital improvements to local roads and/or rural State Aid/Minor Collector projects under the Rural Road Initiative (RRI).

The Rural Initiative Program provides a voluntary partnership opportunity for the state and municipalities to reconstruct State Aid Minor/Collector highways. The only exception relates to state "State Urban Compact Municipalities" as explained below. No town will receive any less money than the FY-99 (July 1, 1998 to June 30, 1999) Local Road Assistance Program (LRAP) allocation. No municipal or state maintenance responsibilities will change, unless specifically required.

All funds received after July 1, 2000 MUST be spent on "capital improvements" to local roads and/or rural State Aid minor collectors. The only exception is that urban compact towns have the option to spend the funds on capital or maintenance needs on any public road within the state Compact area of that municipality.
A "capital improvement" is defined as work on a road or bridge that has a life expectancy of at least 10 years or restores the load-carrying capacity.

All State Aid "minor collector" roads will only be repaired as a capital improvement if the town and the MaineDOT agree to jointly fund the project (1/3 town and 2/3 MaineDOT) as part of an RRI project. Otherwise, any State Aid/minor collector road will receive minimal MaineDOT maintenance. All qualifying Towns were initially mailed a capital improvement package from the MaineDOT commissioner in August 1999 and should have responded to it. The most recent mailing was winter of 2005, two previous mailings were done in early 2002, and again in late 2003.

Base funding rates per lane mile before any administrative adjustments to reflect revenue available.

Rural Towns:

• $600 per lane-mile for townways
•  $600 per lane-mile for State Aid/minor collectors
•  $300 per lane-mile for seasonal townways

Urban Compact Municipalities:

1. within urban compact areas
   • $2,500 per lane-mile for summer maintenance of State Highway and State Aid highways
   •  $1,250 per additional lane-mile for summer maintenance of State Highway and State Aid highways
   •  $1,700 per lane-mile for winter maintenance of State Highways only
   •  $0 per lane -mile for town ways
2. outside urban compact areas
   • same rates as "rural towns"

Beginning in July, 2001, annual funding to municipalities "floats" with the incoming revenues, rather than be a fixed amount. If Highway Fund revenues are up, then the rates-per-mile will increase and vice versa.... but never lower than the FY 99 payments.

Urban-Rural Initiative Program Annual certification forms are sent out by Community Services Division around July 1 and need to be returned by August 1st of each year. The certification form provides an estimate of funds the town is eligible to receive for the fiscal year. No funds can be sent until that completed annual certification form is received by MaineDOT's Community Services Division.