MEXICO – The state’s Department of Transportation wrapped up its 20-meeting series devoted to identifying topics of concern for a long-range transportation plan Wednesday night with a session in Mexico.

Only a handful of people turned out, but they were given an opportunity to learn the issues facing the state as the population ages, how improved transportation can enhance economic development, and the difficulties in finding funding for the improvement of roads and bridges.

Duane Scott, a member of MDOT’s Bureau of Planning, said he’s learned that many more people will need to be served by alternative means of travel as the baby boomers and elderly continue to age. He learned, too, that most of the groups he has met with believe better transportation is needed to fuel the economy.

“We want people to be able to explore Maine and not be dependent on a motor vehicle,” he said. “But use a multi-modal approach.”

Finding the money, however, is a problem.

The MDOT’s 20-year draft plan requires about $10 billion for capital improvements, but known funding comes up at least $5 billion short.

Suggestions so far to raise capital include changing the way gasoline is taxed so that it goes up as the price of fuel increases, taxing people for the actual number of miles they drive on roads, boosting automobile registration fees so that it reflects the number of miles driven, and developing public/private partnerships for road construction, then charging tolls for using the road.

Mexico Selectman George Byam asked whether the towns were slated to lose excise tax to highway costs.

MDOT officials said they believed such bills have been eliminated from the legislature.

Kingfield resident David Guernsey wanted to know how 20 towns in Mid-Coast Maine were able to band together to work toward improvements for Route 1, while Sen. Walter Gooley, R-Farmington, suggested that railroad travel be extended to Western Maine.

Scott said transportation officials will soon take the 56-page draft 20-year-plan, titled Connecting Maine, incorporate many of the comments made at the 20 meetings held during the past 45 days, then come out with a final document that will also be reviewed by the public.

Susan Angle, MDOT’s public information coordinator, said the department’s Web site provides information on the plan. It also has a survey people are encouraged to fill in on their transportation needs and ideas. She said the survey will be available for a few more days. That address is mainedot.gov.

The Mexico and Auburn meetings were sponsored by the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments.

Joan Walton, representing AVCOG, said her agency provides planning assistance to MDOT for projects in the three-county area. Right now, she said AVCOG has identified needs for Western Maine including reconstruction of parts of routes 2, 4 and 26; extension of passenger rail service to Auburn; and daily transit services from Lewiston/Auburn to Carrabassett Valley, Farmington, Rumford, Bethel and Portland.