Bruce Van Note (above), commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation, plans to retire on August 15, whereupon Governor Janet Mills (D) plans to appoint Dale Doughty, Maine DOT deputy commissioner, as acting commissioner.
[Above photo by Maine DOT]
Gov. Mills nominated Van Note as commissioner of Maine DOT in 2019. His tenure culminates a professional transportation career of over 30 years in Maine, which also included a dozen years as deputy commissioner of Maine DOT from 2002-2014, and as director of policy and planning for the Maine Turnpike Authority or MTA from 2014 through 2019.
He also served as a member of the MTA board of directors and chair of the Maine Port Authority. In 2010, he was awarded the David H. Stevens Award – Maine DOT’s highest honor – for “demonstrated transportation excellence” for leading teams that delivered projects like the Sagadahoc Bridge, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory, and the Naples Bay Bridge.
Van Note is a Maine native, earning a B.S. in Surveying Engineering with highest distinction honors from the University of Maine in Orono, along with a J.D. with honors from the University of Maine School of Law in Portland.
“Bruce Van Note has set a high standard for practicality and productivity and has been an invaluable member of my cabinet,” the governor noted in a statement. “Bruce leaves a remarkable legacy as Maine DOT commissioner. I will miss his contributions to my administration and I wish him nothing but the best following his retirement.”
“Serving as Maine DOT commissioner has been the honor and privilege of my life,” said Van Note.
“There have been many challenges to overcome, including the [COVID-19] pandemic, significant increases in construction costs, workforce shortages, extreme storms, and more,” he added. “They made this one of the toughest jobs you’ll ever love, but finding solutions is what we do.”
States
Georgia DOT Honored for 136-Acre Land Donation
August 1, 2025
States
