A Letter From Executive A Letter From Executive Director Andre Briere Director Andre Briere
MTA Teammates—
As I enter my third month as your ED (time flie want to thank you all for your tremen welcome! Every office I’ve visited and emp that I’ve met has impressed me and blown away with their professionalism and enthus for our mission. I feel fortunate to be Executive Director, and honored to lead suc incredible team.
My 6-week assessment report to the MTA B reflected my positive overall impression o operations and business practices. With that I think we have multiple centers of excellenc
the Authority, some areas which need small adjustments to be brought up to industry standards, and a handful of functions which will require a bit more attention and effort to achieve excellence. And make no mistake…my standard is excellence. As one of the directors put it to me in my early days here, “there is nothing standing between us and making MTA the best turnpike system in the country.” I couldn’t agree more. We have the talent, resources, and know-how to elevate our game to the next level. That’s where we’re heading, and that is my expectation.
While I’ve had to spend more time than I would have liked with our legislative friends in Augusta during my first two months, I’ve also had the chance to visit many of your workplaces. If I haven’t yet met you in person, I look forward to chatting with you and hearing your MTA stories and your ideas on how we can be even better.To that end, many of your directorates already have “to do” lists from me. Many of the changes that I’ve directed so far are aimed at better supporting you and bringing some functions into closer compliance with industry standards. But the majority of changes you will see at the Authority will follow our leadership strategy off-site later in the summer. That effort will result in a new strategy, vision, and set of operational goals which will guide MTA over the next few years, and put in place a workplan for improvements, efficiencies, and increased effectiveness.
As I’ve told many of you, my leadership bottom-lines are integrity, mutual respect, and employee empowerment. What these boil down to is very simple…doing the right thing, treating each other with kindness and decency, and giving you the permission structure to innovate. One of the themes you will also detect with the way I lead is an emphasis on compliance and common-sense process streamlining. If we have a policy or procedure on the books, I will expect you to follow it.If a particular policy or procedure doesn’t make sense, let’s change it together. But unenforced policy or “zombie directives” are a thing of the past.
More on all of that in due time. Suffice it to say that I like where we’re at…but I’m even more excited about where we’re going! And as we enter into the heart of summer, let me sign-off here by urging you to make sure to take the time you need to recharge, spend time with family and loved ones, and stay safe!
Executive Director Andre Briere
After Senate Confirmation vote in April
MTA Roadeo in May
Visiting New Gloucester Tolls in June
Meet Emily Becker Meet Emily Becker
Emily Becker is the newest MTA Board member, she was sworn in May 5 . Emily is a Project Manager and Northern New England Sustainable Mobility Lead within AECOM’s Transportation Planning Group. Since 2023, she has been the Portland Office Site Lead. She holds a degree in Public Health, where her thesis focused on food deserts. This research led her to her discovery of how lack of transportation options for non-drivers contributes to food insecurity. Sparking her interest in transportation planning and ultimately leading her to purse a Master’s Degree from Northeastern University. th
ln her first 5 years of tenure at AECOM was spent exclusively working on the MassDOT Safe Routes to School Program. She is especially proud of creating the first guide and hands-on training for Accessible Safe Routes to School program for students with disabilities, a project that continues to make a lasting impact on students and families.
When asked what she wishes more people understood about Transportation Demand Management, she responded, “I wish more people in the transportation industry knew what TDM is! TDM isn’t about ‘taking cars off the road’, it’s about planning for our transportation system to be accessible for all users.TDM requires a lot of public engagement as planners are often working with individuals who have barriers to accessing our transportation system. Having a good public engagement process and listening to the lived experience to those experiencing barriers helps us become better transportation professionals.”
Outside of work you can find Emily and her family at Range Pond State Park or at the beach.They are avid skiers and hikers. Emily is looking forward to her son beginning his first year of ski school.When asked what might surprise her coworkers, Emily shared that many coworkers and clients alike would be surprised at how much effort goes into showing up to events outside of regular daycare hours, when a kid is home sick. She is intentional with her time and is appreciative of the village that helps her get it all done.
2025 Snowplow Roadeo 2025 Snowplow Roadeo
On May 13th, we held our annual Snowplow Roadeo at the Litchfield Maintenance Camp and we couldn’t have asked for better weather! A total of 25 two-person teams from across all our maintenance camps came together to compete in a friendly yet challenging test of skill and precision.
Teams tackled a timed obstacle course like the Haybale, the Serpentine, and the Blade Drop. Before heading out, each team completed a pre-inspection challenge, identifying five planted faults with the plow truck in just five minutes.
Thank you to John Cannell, Jeff Stevens, and Cliff O’Brien for stepping up to grill and provide food for everyone, your efforts helped make the day even more enjoyable. And thank you to everyone who helped organize and support this great event!
Our top performing teams advanced to Skowhegan to represent MTA at the Statewide Roadeo on Thursday, June 5th. We’re proud to share that Nick Violette and Brandon Barker placed 5th in the statewide competition, congratulations to both on a job well done!
Nick Violette & Brandon Barker Crosby Maintenance
Eric Lunn & Micheal Somerset Crosby Maintenance
John Davis & Glenn Davis Auburn Maintenance
Skowhegan June 5th
Department Highlight: Department Highlight: Fare Collections Fare Collections
By: Director of Fare Collections Rick Barra By: Director of Fare Collections Rick Barra
Imagine you’re a patron approaching a toll plaza, realize all you have is a $50.00 dollar bill, you know the toll is only a $1.00, you pull up to the toll booth with a bit of anxiety and you hear a “Good morning! How are you?” greeting accompanied with a warm smile. The toll collector accepts your $50.00 dollar bill without question, makes and hands you back the correct change and says “Thank you and have a great day!”. You leave with a smile and a warm feeling and faith that there are kind, friendly people in the world.
As goodwill ambassadors that is what toll collectors do all day as they are often the first face people see when they travel to work or enter our state for their summer or winter vacation. Those greetings and smiles represent the Maine Turnpike Authority but also the State of Maine.
The Fare Collection department is comprised of 99 full time toll collectors, 70 to 80 temporary toll collectors, 5 superintendents, 3 supervisors, a coordinator, a Deputy Director and a Director. Staffing 20 toll plazas (soon to be 22 with the opening of Exit 35) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year can be a challenging exercise and it is accomplished very proficiently
Toll collectors need to accurately classify and charge each and every vehicle that goes through their lane in all kinds of weather conditions, day and night. Giving directions, calling in broke down vehicles, cleaning booths and buildings, lowering and raising flags and completing assorted paperwork are several duties that most people don’t know toll collectors do during their shift.
The Fare Collection department enjoys being the face of the Maine Turnpike Authority and the State of Maine and will enjoy doing so into the future.
Robin CoffeyYork Toll Collector
York Toll Tunnel
Inside of York Toll Booth
A Family Legacy on the A Family Legacy on the Maine Turnpike Maine Turnpike
Some families pass down heirlooms Others pass down stories, recipes, or traditions. For the Michaud-Frederickson family, it’s a career path specifically, one through the tollbooths of the Maine Turnpike.
It all started back in 1987 when Diane Frederickson became the first in her family to join the Turnpike Authority After three years on the spare list, she became full-time, building a career that would span nearly four decades “This has been the best job I’ve ever had,” Diane says “It’s been a joy to see my girls make a career out of it as well.”
Those girls Amber Michaud and Misty Michaud grew up watching their mom’s commitment to the job. Eventually, they followed in her footsteps Amber started in 1998 while in college, worked on and off through the early 2000s, then returned in 2012 after some time away pursuing education and raising a family. Misty joined in 1995, just months after graduating high school, and has since worked her way into a supervisory role
The family’s time on the Turnpike has been filled with shared shifts, carpool karaoke, schedule shuffling, and potlucks Amber recalls competing with Misty atYork Toll to see who could process the most traffic, while Diane and Misty once ran a “Feed the Work Family Fund,” cooking meals five days a week for coworkers. “We would do all the shopping, cooking, and prepping ourselves,” Misty said.“People really appreciated it.”
Even now, Misty and her son Griffin the third generation are both assigned to Gardiner Toll. Misty helped train him when he came on board, and Diane still interacts with him on weekends when he's serving as Acting Capital Teller. That kind of overlap, for this family, is both meaningful and practical. “Our family is thankfully close,” Amber says “Working together has meant getting to spend a little more time with each other.”
Of course, much has changed over the decades Cash-paying traffic has decreased, toll plazas have been modernized, and E-ZPass has replaced some of the daily interactions with travelers. But some of the biggest shifts have been cultural.“The workforce has changed more than the job itself,” Misty observes “People used to work their lives around the job.Now the mindset has shifted—many want the job to work around their lives.”
What might surprise Diane and her peers from the early days is that the Turnpike is still here collecting tolls.“When it opened, there was talk it would become toll-free once it was paid off,” Misty says “But here we are, 75 years later, still going strong.And I’m grateful we are.”
The Michaud-Frederickson family represents a unique continuity—proof that toll collecting isn’t just a job, but a legacy “This is my story,” Misty says “And now my son gets to write his own.”
MEET THE MEET THE CREW CREW
The 2024 Annual eleased this oudly highlighted members
Tishim
Alex Paquette Webber
Gabby Melakian
Andrew Constantine
Jamie Mason
MTA Legislative Update MTA Legislative Update
The first session of the 132nd Maine Legislature wraps up this week. Since January, lawmakers have considered many Legislative Documents (LD) or bills that could impact the Turnpike — from our budget to rules about outdoor lighting.
Our Government Relations team has been busy supporting helpful legislation and opposing bills that could harm MTA operations.
Here are a few key highlights:
LD 821 – MTA’s Operational Budget
Passed and signed by the Governor.
LD 1457 – Automated Speed Enforcement Pilot in Work Zones
This joint MTA/MaineDOT bill proposes a pilot program for speed cameras in highway work zones.Though it had support, concerns over civil liberties were raised.The bill was carried over to next year. MTA will continue working with lawmakers and others to clarify the pilot program’s purpose and safety benefits.
LD 1020 – Repeal of Authority to Build the Gorham Connector.
This bill would have blocked MTA’s ability to build the project and required MTA to return or resell the land already purchased. It was defeated.
LD 1292 – MTA Contributions and Cash Reserves
This proposal would have reduced our financial reserves, limiting our ability to respond to crises. It was also defeated.
LD 1138 – Stricter Environmental Standards for Transportation
This bill did not pass. It aimed to increase regulations in line with the state’s climate action plan.
If you have any questions on these bills or any other legislation, reach out to Sean Paulhus, Government Relations Manager at spaulhus@maineturnpike.com or at Ext 159.
Thursday August 21 @6:00pm st
Portland Sea Dogs vs. Binghampton Rumble Ponies
Tickets will be available for pickup at the will-call booth. A buffet will be served at 5:00 PM.
The Portland Sea Dogs will also be celebrating Women in Sports Night more details to come as the event approaches!
Look out for a sign up sheet at your job site soon!
Survey Says... Survey Says...
All Written Responses All Written Responses
“Watch racing”
“Golfing”
“Concerts”
“Cycling”
“Biking”
“Horseback Riding”
“Gold and Gem prospecting”
“Enjoying warm, dry weather”
“Gardening”
“Anything outside”
Payroll Updates Payroll Updates
The Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) helps Maine families plan and pay for higher education and connects businesses with financing solutions.
Fame administers a range of student financial aid programsincluding the Maine State Grant, Maine Loan, Section 529 Plan, and the Alfond Grant - along with a statewide scholarship database and FASFA outreach.
FAME also promotes financial wellness through education programs for individuals, families, educators, and employers
Congratulations to Congratulations to the following the following
Retirements Retirements
Robert Douville, Highway Maintenance III,Crosby, Years of Service: 14+ years
Kathleen Martin, Toll Collector I, Saco Toll, Years of Service: 24+ years
Val Tait, Human Resources & Benefits Specialist II,Years of Service: 19+ years
Rosemary Holleman, Toll Collector I, Exit 48 Toll,Years of Service: On-Call: 14 years; FT: 2 years
Pamela Lambert, Director of E-ZPass Operations,Years of Service: 15+ years
New Hires New Hires
Andre J. Briere, Executive Director, April 1
Sherry Marcum, Toll Collector I, South Portland Toll, March 16
Daniel Hurley, Highway Maintenance III,York, March 17
Brent St. Germain, Highway Maintenance II, Night Patrol, March 17
Barbara Davis, Toll Collector I, South Portland Toll, March 23
Joshua M. Davis, Highway Maintenance III/ Crosby, March 24
Tyresius Keys, Toll Collector I, Biddeford Toll, April 6
Cassandra Henson, Toll Collector I, Biddeford Toll, April 6
Cassandra Ellis, Accounts Payable Processor, April 28
Lynna Izumi, Human Resources & Benefits Specialist II, May 1
Hannah Bourgoin, Toll Collector I, Scarborough Toll, May 28
Michaela Richards, Toll Collector I, Scarborough/I-295 Interchange, May 18
Ethan Watts, Engineering Intern, May 19
Parker Dowdy, PC Programmer, May 27
Kiersten Weymouth, E-ZPass Customer Service Representative, June 1
Promotions Promotions
Samantha Kaherl, Director of E-ZPass Operations, April 13
