PORTLAND — Transportation projects in several Maine communities are benefiting from $11.5 million in state and federal funds.

The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System policy committee allocated the funds to 44 projects, which will total about $13.6 million with $2.1 million in local matching funds added.

The projects will take place in 2014 and 2015, with some possibly to start next summer, according to PACTS. Estimated costs include a 25 percent contingency that PACTS requires, although the hope is that the projects will be competed without using that buffer.

The projects include intersection proposals at Woodfords Corner in Portland, with at total cost of $1.5 million; a Route 1 roundabout in Yarmouth, about $210,000; and Broadway signal cabinets in South Portland, $50,000.

There are also two bicycle/pedestrian projects: a Portland Transportation Center neighborhood byway, about $375,000, and a Main Street path extension in South Portland, about $301,000.

Paving makes up the bulk of the projects, including work in:

• Falmouth – Leighton Road, about $292,000.

• Freeport – Desert Road, nearly $32,000.

• Portland – Baxter Boulevard, about $354,000; Canco Road,$nearly $469,000; Danforth Street, $212,000; Lambert Street, about $293,000; Middle Street, about $187,000; Oxford Street, nearly $96,000; Park Avenue, about $6,000; Spring Street, about $84,000; Spring Street arterial, $344,500; Temple Street, $103,500, and Union Street, about $183,000.

• Scarborough – Payne Road, $943,500.

• South Portland – Billy Vachon Drive, $40,000; Cottage Road, $192,500; Market Street, about $113,000, and Stanford Street, nearly $44,000.

• Yarmouth – North Road, $178,500), and Route 1, $1.2 million.

The projects were chosen through a year-long technical review process that PACTS staff led in collaboration with the Maine Department of Transportation, as well as consulting engineers and municipal staffs from around the area.

DOT will manage most of the projects, although municipalities can manage projects themselves with some DOT oversight.

Before submitting project proposals, municipalities and transit systems worked with PACTS staff on feasibility studies. Greater Portland Council of Governments staff led many of the public transportation feasibility studies.

Falmouth Town Manager Nathan Poore is chairman of the PACTS policy committee. South Portland City Manager Jim Gailey is its vice chairman.

Alex Lear can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @learics.

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