In the mid-1990s, the Maine Turnpike Authority commissioned a feasibility study on transit options in southern and central Maine. It included a demand and cost-effectiveness analysis of a number of hypothetical transit corridors, and made these recommendations for implementation: - Implement peak-hour(s) service for bus and rail between Biddeford/Saco and Portland, which would run every half hour (status: partially complete with the existing ZOOM service; LD 673 would more fully implement this recommendation)
- Implement bus service between Biddeford/Saco and Portland running hourly from 6 am to 10 pm (status: incomplete; LD 673 would implement this recommendation)
- Implement hourly passenger rail service between Biddeford/Saco and Portland running hourly from 6 am to 10 pm (status: incomplete; this recommendation would require large investments in railroad lines to allow for passing trains)
- Coordinate bus and rail schedules for the Biddeford/Saco to Portland corridor (status: incomplete; LD 673 would bring increased opportunities for connections and increased bus service to train stations in Portland, Saco, and Wells)
- Implement peak-hour bus service between Portland and Bath/Brunswick running every half hour (status: planned in detail as part of the Portland North project; still unfunded and awaiting implementation)
- Implement hourly bus service between Portland and Bath/Brunswick from 6 am to 10 pm (status: planned in detail as part of the Portland North project; still unfunded and awaiting implementation)
- Implement peak period morning and afternoon bus service between Portland and Lewiston/Auburn (status: dependent on passage of LD 673)
- Explore the potential of peak hour passenger rail service between Portland and Bath-Brunswick via Freeport (status: partially complete with the extension of the Amtrak line)
- Explore the potential of peak hour passenger rail service between Portland and Augusta via Brunswick (status: incomplete)
- Explore the potential of peak hour passenger rail service between Portland and Lewiston/Auburn (status: partially complete with the Lewiston/Auburn Amtrak study).
Download the Study's Executive Summary and Transit Recommendation chapters via the link below. | 