Violette's resignation was the right response to a growing concern about lax oversight of the agency, but this was never about one man's performance. Questions go deeply into the MTA itself, and will not be resolved by a change at the top.

The Office of Program Evaluation and Governmental Accountability issued a report last month that said the MTA under Violette was largely an effective agency that fulfilled its mission, but that it had excessively spent money raised from tolls on things like gift certificates, travel and lavish expenses. That kind of spending might have been normal for a profit-making private-sector business, but for a quasi-state agency during a period of fiscal crisis, it could not be tolerated.

The OPEGA report raised other questions about the turnpike authority's reliance on no-bid contracts and its lack of an operating surplus that could have been applied to other state transportation needs.

The real question is one of accountability, and that does not go away with Violette's resignation. The MTA behaves at times as if it is a private business, and finances its projects through bonds repaid by toll revenue, never having to dip into the state budget.

But the MTA is not a private business with competitors in a marketplace to check its excesses. It is a creation of the state government that delivers an essential government service. It is part of our transportation system and should be evaluated as such.

Lawmakers should take the information provided by the OPEGA report, and ask whether it really makes sense for this entity created in the 1940s to continue to exist outside the state's transportation planning bureaucracy.

At a time when the taxpayer-supported general fund is expected to be tapped to pay for road and bridge projects, does it still make sense to dedicate toll revenue, paid in large part by out-of-staters, to only one 100-mile stretch of Maine highway?

The criticism of the MTA has been constant and was not aimed at Violette alone. It should not end with his departure. It may be best to keep the turnpike an independent agency with new management, but that decision should come after a top-to-bottom review with no options off the table.

REGARDING EVENT ON May 25, 2010       For More Information:

Hilary Frenkel, Maine League of Young Voters; 772-3207, hilary@youngvoter.org 

PORTLAND – The League of Young Voters Education Fund and the Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation is holding a forum called We CAN Get There From Here! In a time when gas prices are rising, jobs and affordable health insurance are hard to find, and climate change is imminent, people need options to get where they need to go. The goal of this forum is to bring all different modes of sustainable transportation together around a shared vision. During the forum, we will hear from experts of each mode, and we will break out into groups to develop action items that will help with implementation of this vision. The forum will be held at The Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall on Tuesday, May 25th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 

Our speakers include experts from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, METRO, The Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, The Rail Transit Coalition, and Go Maine. We will also be hearing from Jennifer Puser , Deputy Director for the Governor’s office of Energy Independence and Security. At the end of the evening, Go Maine will be presenting information on how we as a community helped to reduce traffic congestion and auto emissions, as well as auto trips, miles, tons of pollution, and gallons of gasoline, not to mention the money we saved during the month of May – Transportation Month. Go Maine will also be presenting the winners of their Commute Another Way contest - This year’s Grand Prize is a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond. They’re also giving away two $500 savings bonds and five $100 bonds. Plus a bunch of other cool prizes, like gift cards good for dining, entertainment, shopping and gas. To enter the contest, go to http://gomaine.org/commuter-services/caww/. 

WHAT:  Forum: We CAN Get There From Here  

WHEN:  Tuesday, May 25, 2010 
  5:30 to 8:30 p.m. 

WHERE:  Merrill Auditorium Rehearsal Hall

            20 Myrtle St., Portland, ME (enter the door further toward the bottom of Myrtle) 

To Register: www.portlandmaine.gov/planning/conferenceregistrationhere.asp 

Mission:  The League of Young Voters is a non-partisan multi-issue group that works to make politics relevant, accessible, and fun by empowering and engaging young people in social and civic action.  We achieve these goals by raising awareness and providing tools for leadership through working on positive social change in our communities. 

Mission: The Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation works to ensure that Mainers have access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable transportation. MaST strives to defend, expand and improve sustainable transportation options through advocacy, policy initiatives, and public outreach.

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