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WEBVTT -- 35-0.MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR LEPAGE WANTSTO GET RID OF THE MAINE TURNPIKEAUTHORITY.HE IS SUBMITTING A BILL THATWOULD BEGIN THE PROCESS OFSHUTTING IT DOWN WITHIN THE NEXTDECADE.IF IT PASSES, THE TURNPIKEAUTHORITY WOULD HAVE UNTILNOVEMBER 2027 TO REMOVE ALL TOLLFACILITIES ON THE TURNPIKE,EXCEPT THE YORK TOLL FACILITIT WOULD ALSO HAVE TEN YEARS TOTRANSFER ALL ITS DUTIES TO THEDEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.TURNPIKE OFFICIALS PLAN ONFIGHTING THE PROPOSAL.THE WHOLE DIRECTION OFTRANSPORTATION FUNDING IS HEADEDTOWARD SOMETHING OTHER THAN THEGAS TAX.SO NOT TO HAVE THE TOLL SYSTEMWOULD BE MOVING BACKWARD.STEVE: THE BILL WOULD MEAN THEAUTHORITY WOULD HAVE TO COME UPWITH A PLAN TO PAY DOWNOUTSTANDING DEBT BY APRITHE GOVERNMENT IN MARCH SAID THE

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Maine's Republican governor wants to start shutting down the state turnpike authority within the next decade. The House referred Gov. Paul LePage's bill to the transportation committee on Thursday. The Maine Turnpike Authority would have until November 2027 to remove all toll facilities on the turnpike, except the York toll facility. The quasi-governmental authority would also have ten years to transfer all its duties to the transportation department. The governor in March said such a merger would benefit residents by leading to the elimination of most tolls. The legislation would prohibit the Maine Turnpike Authority from issuing bonds after October. By April, the authority would have to provide the state Department of Transportation with a plan to pay down outstanding debt. The legislation is sponsored by Republican Rep. Eleanor Espling.