What's on my mind? Why #SmilingHillFarm! And yeah, I suspect #MTA / #MDOT is going to try and build the #GorhamConnector again, since the bill to kill the connector failed. I heard the new Maine Turnpike Authority director on WMPG earlier today. It sounds like they are going to have MDOT push the connector through -- rather than build #LightRail or a #RapidTransitBusSystem or safer #BikeLanes! smh...

#Maine - Bill to kill Gorham Connector crashes in committee

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • May 8, 2025

"A bill that would ensure the controversial Gorham Connector proposal is dead was soundly rejected by the Legislature’s transportation committee this week. LD 1020 would repeal 2017 legislation that directed the Maine Turnpike Authority to plan and build a toll highway extension from South Portland, through Scarborough and Westbrook, to Gorham. The bill follows the authority’s announcement in March that it enlisted the Maine Department of Transportation to consider alternative solutions to commuter traffic congestion west of Portland. Neither agency has said the connector proposal has been dropped entirely."

https://www.restore.org/maineenvironews/2025/5/9/bill-to-kill-gorham-connector-crashes-in-committee

#SaveTheFarms #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #SaveRedBrook #Maine #InducedDemand#ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit #MainersForSmarterTransportation

Stopped by #SmilingHillFarm to congratulate them on their victory to stop the #GorhamConnector. Took in the views before things turn green. Plush Baphomet pals hung out in the Barnyard.🐐
#Maine #RuralLife #SaveTheFarms #SaveRedBrook

YES! VICTORY! Public pushback makes a difference!

#MaineTurnpikeAuthority drops controversial #GorhamConnector project

by WGME Staff Thu, March 6th 2025 at 7:56 PM

GORHAM (WGME) – "The Maine Turnpike Authority is now dropping its controversial Gorham connector project.

"The project would have built a new highway from South Portland to Gorham, with the goal of easing heavy road congestion.

"The MTA paused the project last year after receiving backlash from local residents.

"The project would have required the demolition of nearly a dozen homes and confiscation of #farmland."

"'There was a lot of concern, and people wondered if it's the right-sized tool for the job, a lot of people have concerns that, building another highway, there's concerns that it will just fill up,' MTA Director of Communications Erin Courtney said.

The MTA says it's heading back to the drawing board to re-examine traffic conditions and review past mobility studies to find better ways to ease congestion in the area." [Like #LightRail, #RapidTransitBusLines and more #BikeLanes!]

https://wgme.com/news/local/maine-turnpike-authority-drops-controversial-gorham-connector-project-south-portland
#Maine #SaveSmilingHillFarm #SmilingHillFarm #InducedSprawl #GorhamConnector #MainersForSmarterTransportation #Maine #MaineNews #GorhamBypass #GorhamSpur #Maine #RapidTransit #SaveTheFarms #ProtectTheForest #InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit

#ScarboroughMaine Town Council rescinds support for #GorhamConnector

The 6-1 vote on the resolution follows increasing opposition among town residents to the controversial $331 million, 5-mile highway, which would affect 35 property owners in town.

by Drew Johnson
10/2/2024

"The vote was not unexpected; a majority of councilors had voiced support for the resolution at a meeting last month.

"Myles Smith, a member of the #MainersForSmarterTransportation group that organized a rally outside Town Hall Wednesday night, commended the council for taking up the resolution.

"'We’ve heard a lot of people say, ‘There’s nothing we can do about this project,’ ‘It’s a done deal,’ or ‘It’s decided by the state,’ ' Smith said. 'But that’s not true. When people come together and stand up for what they believe in, and our elected leaders listen to their concerns, we can make changes that people want to see in their community.'

"The resolution rescinds the council’s support for the connector, citing the failure of the #MaineTurnpikeAuthority to fulfill the terms of its agreement with Scarborough and three other communities, as well as town residents’ widespread opposition to the project.

"The resolution is not binding on future councils and leaves open the possibility of collaborating with state and regional transportation groups to resolve traffic issues should such efforts garner significant public support.

"The Maine Turnpike Authority, Scarborough, Gorham, South Portland and Westbrook signed an agreement in May 2022 pledging support for the project. While those other communities have not officially considered withdrawing their support, officials in the other municipalities have been watching the Scarborough council’s deliberations closely as public opposition to the project mounts.

"The project, estimated to cost at least $331 million, was proposed by the turnpike authority to alleviate traffic congestion through the Gorham area and has been contentious from the outset.

"The four-lane, 5-mile connector would stretch from Route 114 at the Gorham Bypass into Scarborough with interchanges at County and Running Hill roads before linking up with Interstate 95 at Exit 45 in South Portland. It’s designed to alleviate traffic in other parts of those communities, such as on Route 114 and Route 22, which provide connections to the highway.

"According to a turnpike authority presentation to the Scarborough council in February, about 50 landowners would be impacted by the project via easements, 35 of them in Scarborough. The connector also would weave through #wetlands in the northern portion of town, sparking #environmental concerns.

"The preferred path also is set to cut through a portion of #SmilingHillFarm in #WestbrookMaine, a family-owned farm on 500 acres that has been in the Knight family for 13 generations, which spurred widespread opposition to the project.

"'I’m hoping today that the Town Council members decide to put a pause on this and to talk to the MTA about finding alternate routes or scrapping this project altogether,' Ben Wallace, a 12th-generation farmer at Smiling Hill Farm, said ahead of the vote."

Original article:
https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/02/scarborough-town-council-votes-to-rescind-support-for-gorham-connector-project/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/dkvkB#selection-2485.0-2541.254

#Maine #MaineNews #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamBypass #SaveSmilingHill #GorhamSpur
#Maine #RapidTransit #LightRail #SaveTheFarms #ProtectTheForest #InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout

Workshop in #ScarboroughMaine Wednesday, September 18th

Community group opposing #GorhamConnector discusses alternatives

A coalition run by volunteers, #MainersForSmarterTransportation , held a community forum about the Gorham Connector, with all present opposing it.

"Offering alternatives to the connector, Gorham resident Tina Ruel talked about traveling this summer in Switzerland and France and riding aboard electric trams on tracks and buses. 'Building more roads and widening roads is no longer the answer,' Ruel said in a printed statement to the American Journal."

by Robert Lowell, September 12, 2024

"Opponents of the proposed #MaineTurnpike toll connector to Gorham spoke out last week in a community forum held in Westbrook.

"A grassroots coalition, Mainers for Smarter Transportation, organized the meeting. It has more than 11,000 signatures on a petition to halt the connector, according to its website m4st.org.

"#SmarterTransportation volunteer Myles Smith of Portland said the connector could cost upward of $400 to $500 million and quality of life suffers when new roads are constructed. '#Highways often lead to #sprawl, Smith said.

"Two ways to solve transportation problems, Paul Drinan, who is a member of Westbrook Recreation and #Conservation Commission, said, are #RapidTransit and active transportation such as #bicycling and #ElectricScooters.

The proposed 4.8-mile connector would link the Bernard Rines Bypass in Gorham to Turnpike Exit 45 in South Portland. It is aimed at easing bumper-to-bumper, rush-hour congestion in the routes 22 and 114 commuter corridor through #GorhamMaine, #ScarboroughMaine and #WestbrookMaine. The connector alignment would cut a 50-acre swath through historic #SmilingHillFarm.

"Retired Gorham tax assessor Mike D’Arcangelo said Maine is a tourist mecca and the state’s beauty needs protection. 'Are we going to put in a forever, four-lane highway?' he said.

"The Scarborough Town Council will discuss the Gorham connector in a workshop scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at the Scarborough Municipal Building, 259 Route 1."

Original article:
https://www.pressherald.com/2024/09/12/community-group-opposing-gorham-connector-discusses-alternatives/

Archive:
https://archive.md/CrtWs

#InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #GorhamBypass
#Maine #RapidTransit #LightRail #SaveTheFarms #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #LightRail #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit #BikeLanes #MainersForSmarterTransportation #MaineTurnpikeAuthority

Grassroots group’s report sharply criticizes #GorhamConnector proposal

#MainersForSmarterTransportation recommends alternatives to the project as #ScarboroughMaine town councilors consider calling for changes to address growing public concerns.

September 5, 2024
by Kelley Bouchard

“Tyson and others say the connector proposal is based on stale #commuter data and obsolete #highway design goals in an attempt to shave an average of 4 minutes off morning and evening drive times. They question the design, cost, safety and need for the project, as well as its impact on the #environment, regional economy and overall quality of life in #SouthPortland, Scarborough, #WestbrookMaine, #GorhamMaine and beyond.

"#M4ST is a coalition of individuals, nonprofits and other groups seeking alternatives to highway expansion in #GreaterPortland. So far, over 12,000 Mainers have signed the group’s petition calling for a halt to planning the Gorham Connector.

"Coalition members include #GrowSmartMaine, #TroutUnlimited, #SierraClubMaine Chapter, #SmilingHillFarm, #MovingMaineNetwork, #PortlandBikePed Advisory Committee and Westbrook #SafeMobility and Access Committee.“

Original article:
https://www.pressherald.com/2024/09/05/gorham-connector-target-of-grassroots-groups-report/

Archive:
https://archive.md/axABu

#SaveRedBrook #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #GorhamBypass
#Maine #RapidTransit #LightRail #SaveTheFarms #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #LightRail #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit #BikeLanes #MainersForSmarterTransportation #MaineTurnpikeAuthority

Coalition proposes alternatives to controversial #GorhamConnector project

Maine Public | By Nicole Ogrysko
Published September 6, 2024

"A coalition of #environmental, planning and #transportation groups is advocating for alternatives to the controversial Gorham Connector project.

"The #MaineTurnpikeAuthority has proposed a toll road that would run from Exit 45 in South Portland through Westbrook and and Scarborough to the #GorhamBypass at Route 114. Turnpike authorities have said the 4.8-mile, four-lane highway would significantly reduce traffic congestion [by a whole 10 minutes, according to MTA's own study!!!].

"But the coalition, known as #MainersForSmarterTransportation (#M4ST), is out with a report this week that details a long list of recommendations for reducing congestion in the region.

"'Simply replacing some of the existing traffic lights with #roundabouts would reduce congestion and reduce #GreenhouseGas emissions,' said #PaulDrinan, active transportation director for the #BicycleCoalitionOfMaine, which is part of Mainers for Smarter Transportation. 'We could also convert some of the old traffic lights with what they call smart lights.'

"Other recommendations include improving the shoulders along nearby roads and adding #BikeLanes. Drinan said the group is also urging the Turnpike Authority to delay the Connector project for at least two years, so that a #RapidBusTransit plan developed by the Greater Portland Council of Governments can take shape.

"The group also believes outdated and flawed traffic data are being used make the case for the project."

[Plus contracts and kickbacks from #PikeIndustries and other vendors]

https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2024-09-06/coalition-proposes-alternatives-to-controversial-gorham-connector-project

#SaveRedBrook #SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #GorhamBypass
#Maine #RapidTransit #LightRail #SaveTheFarms #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #LightRail

Upcoming meeting! Find out about alternatives to the #GorhamConnector in Southern #Maine! #LessCars, #MorePublicTransportation!

Gorham Notes: Aug. 29, 2024
by Robert Lowell

"Gorham connector forum
#MainersForSmarterTransportation have a community forum planned from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the #WestbrookMaine Community Center on the proposed Gorham Connector to the #MaineTurnpike.

"The #MaineTurnpikeAuthority is proposing a 5-mile, four-lane connector from the roundabout on Gorham’s South Street to Exit 45 in South Portland.
The plan calls for the connector to slice through #SmilingHillFarm and has generated an extensive public outcry. The connector is aimed at easing the heavy commuter traffic in the routes 22 and 114 corridor through #GorhamMaine, #ScarboroughMaine and Westbrook."

Original article [may be behind paywall]:
https://www.pressherald.com/2024/08/29/gorham-notes-aug-29/

Archive:
https://archive.md/qDpDR#selection-2399.0-2413.250

#SaveSmilingHillFarm #GorhamConnector #GorhamBypass #SaveSmilingHill #GorhamSpur
#Maine #RapidTransit #LightRail #SaveTheFarms #ProtectTheForest #InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook

@breadandcircuses Yeah, they are trying to build a 4-lane highway through a 300-year old farmstead -- through woods, disrupting the wildlife and farm animals, and more than likely causing the extinction of Brook Trout, which used to be abundant in Southern Maine.
#SaveSmilingHillFarm #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheForest #GorhamSpur #MaineTurnpikeAuthority

How #NoisePollution from humans is wreaking havoc on U.S. #wildlife

Nation Jul 18, 2017 2:20 PM EDT

"As transportation networks expand and urban areas grow, noise from sources such as vehicle engines is spreading into remote places. Human-caused noise has consequences for wildlife, entire #ecosystems and people. It reduces the ability to hear natural sounds, which can mean the difference between life and death for many animals, and degrade the calming effect that we feel when we spend time in wild places."

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/noise-pollution-humans-wreaking-havoc-u-s-wildlife

#biodiversity #GorhamConnector #SaveSmilingHillFarm #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheForest #WorkingFarms #MaineTurnpikeAuthority #Sprawl #InducedDevelopment #GorhamSpur #Wetlands #Meadows #EnvironmentalImpact
#SaveTheWoods #Maine #GorhamMaine #ScarboroughMaine #WestbrookMaine #AnthropogenicNoise

Understanding Wildlife Behavioral Responses to Traffic Noise and Light to Improve Mitigation Planning

Product Type: Policy Brief
Publication Date: June 09, 2020

"As roads and other developed land uses proliferate, the resulting habitat fragmentation and loss of wildlife connectivity hinder animals’ ability to forage, establish new territories, and maintain genetic diversity. Wildlife crossing structures such as culverts and bridges theoretically can reduce these impacts by allowing species to effectively cross highways. However, previous research has shown that traffic presence and density can disrupt wildlife use of highway crossing structures, and that noise and light from human activities can affect animal behavior. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, Road Ecology Center measured traffic noise and light levels and placed motion- and heat-triggered cameras at 26 bridges and culverts along four interstate highways, 11 state highways and one major county road across California. The presence and behavior of animals at these highway crossing structures were compared to those detected at sites unaffected by roads to understand the effects of noise and light from a highway on wildlife behavior. This policy brief summarizes findings from that research and provides policy implications.

"Traffic moving on transportation corridors affects wildlife connectivity. Many wildlife species move across road surfaces, or through culverts and bridges, with varying levels of success depending on species, infrastructure and traffic levels. As roads and other developed land uses proliferate, the resulting habitat fragmentation and loss of wildlife connectivity hinder animals’ ability to forage, establish new territories, and maintain genetic diversity. Wildlife crossing structures such as culverts and bridges theoretically can reduce these impacts by allowing species to effectively cross highways. However, the physical roadway barrier may not be the only deterrent. Previous research has shown that traffic presence and density can disrupt wildlife use of highway crossing structures, and that noise and light from human activities can affect animal behavior."

https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/research-product/understanding-wildlife-behavioral-responses-traffic-noise-and-light-improve

#GorhamConnector #SaveSmilingHillFarm #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheForest #WorkingFarms #MaineTurnpikeAuthority #Sprawl #InducedDevelopment #GorhamSpur #Wetlands #Meadows #EnvironmentalImpact
#SaveTheWoods #Maine #GorhamMaine #ScarboroughMaine #WestbrookMaine #RapidTransit

I'm planning on submitting a summary of these studies as part of my arguments against the #GorhamSpur. I grew up near a 4-lane highway, and the vibrations and noise pollution were constant -- I hadn't realized how bad it was until I went back home a few years ago and camped in my old backyard -- and felt every speeding tractor trailer truck going by.

Evidence of the impact of noise pollution on biodiversity: a systematic map

By Romain Sordello, Ophélie Ratel, Frédérique Flamerie De Lachapelle, Clément Leger, Alexis Dambry & Sylvie Vanpeene

Environmental Evidence volume 9, Article number: 20 (2020)

"Ecological research now deals increasingly with the effects of #NoisePollution on #biodiversity. Indeed, many studies have shown the impacts of #AnthropogenicNoise and concluded that it is potentially a threat to the persistence of many species. The present work is a systematic map of the evidence of the impacts of all anthropogenic noises (industrial, urban, transportation, etc.) on biodiversity. This report describes the mapping process and the evidence base with summary figures and tables presenting the characteristics of the selected articles."

https://environmentalevidencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-020-00202-y

#SaveSmilingHillFarm #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheForest #WorkingFarms #MaineTurnpikeAuthority #Sprawl #InducedDevelopment #GorhamSpur
#Wetlands #Meadows #EnvironmentalImpact
#SaveTheWoods #Maine #GorhamMaine #ScarboroughMaine #WestbrookMaine #RapidTransit

Save Smiling Hill Farm!

via Shawn McKeogh

"Looking for a way to support Smiling Hill Farm in their fight to keep the land that’s been in their family for 300 years? I’ve spoken with a member of the family and learned that Smiling Hill Farm does NOT want to sell land to MTA for any price. I also learned that it would be more like 47 acres the MTA would take. The connector highway as planned would also landlock an additional 59 acres, making that 59 acres only accessible from Saco St. Here’s how we can help right now, share your concern with the local Town Councils and #MTA!"

1) Email the entire Gorham Town Council at this link.
https://www.gorham-me.org/tow.../webforms/email-town-council

2) Send the Maine Turnpike Authority a comment at this link:
https://www.maineturnpike.com/Contact-Us.aspx

3) Email the entire Scarborough Town Council at this email address.
towncouncil@scarboroughmaine.org

Public hearing at the Shaw Gym in Gorham at 6pm, March 25, 2024!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/423121764390042?multi_permalinks=7170065746362243&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen

#SaveSmilingHill #GorhamConnector #GorhamSpur #RapidTransit #GorhamMaine #ScarboroughMaine #PortlandMaine #InducedDevelopment #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheFarms #ProtectFarmland #ProtectTheForest

#Maine Voices: Nobody would benefit from the building of the #GorhamConnector

Transit-oriented urban design boosts economies, reduces emissions and provides public space; the only long-term result of the Gorham Connector will be #sprawl.

Posted September 29, 2023
By Jasper Curtis

"If the Gorham Connector is constructed and put to use, everyone in the state will lose out in more ways than one.
First, there is the cost, up to $237 million. That’s a lot of money, and it’s on top of the $140 million already being spent on lane widening on Interstate 95. Spoiler alert, none of that money will relieve congestion. In fact, it will likely do the opposite, as proven time and time again in countless U.S. cities. On top of the $340 million total, there is the price of owning a car, which costs the average American $11,000 per year. New car prices are nearing $50,000. None of this is affordable to everyday Mainers. It’s time the state takes these costs seriously, instead of burdening taxpayers with more.

"Increased road capacity simply leads to more cars on the roads and does not reduce the time spent in traffic. It is a case of #InducedDemand, where wider roads encourage more driving, more vehicles then fill the roads and the public is asked to fund another road- widening project. The cycle repeats itself to extremes, such as the 26-lane #KatyFreeway outside Houston, Texas, which did not solve traffic. St. Louis, Missouri, home to the most highway square mileage per capita in the country, has yet to cease traffic. Here we are again, however, being asked to fork over our tax dollars to an inefficient, ineffective solution to a problem that the state created with poor #UrbanPlanning and shortsighted #infrastructure projects.

"Light #PassengerRail from #WestbrookMaine to #PortlandMaine would cost an estimated $75 million. That’s about $19 million per mile. If a similar cost-per-mile ratio were to be applied to the #GorhamConnector, the project would total $115 million. (Even if the cost-per-mile ratio were double the estimated cost of the Westbrook-to-Portland connection, building rail along the proposed Gorham Connector route would still save $7 million.) From Gorham to Portland, the cost of rail would be almost $30 million cheaper than the Gorham Connector, which reaches only to the Maine Mall in South Portland.

"Rail helps not only commuters and students, but also those who require vehicles for work, because, unlike road widening, public transit reduces the number of vehicles on the road. Driving a work truck on public roads can be infuriating during peak traffic; I know because I have done so. The same goes for driving in an emergency. Rail would help these alleviate these problems; the Gorham Connector would not.
While less quantitative than the previous points, #Maine must still be conscious of its #environmental and social goals. The Maine Department of Transportation (#MDOT) should keep these in mind before it decides its best solution to traffic is to encourage more internal combustion engines. Part of what makes Maine so special to residents is the nature around us. Let’s not wreck it for the sake of one more lane. Maine’s population is the oldest in the nation, and seniors deserve to have safe travel options.

"Transit-oriented urban design boosts economies, reduces emissions and provides public space. There will be no long-term benefit from the Gorham Connector, only sprawl. It’s that simple. Honest Maine people work hard for their paychecks – they deserve infrastructure that uses their tax dollars with vision and purpose, not another wasteful, #pollution-filled project."

https://www.pressherald.com/2023/09/29/maine-voices-the-gorham-connector-is-a-bad-idea-in-more-ways- than-one

#GorhamSpur #SaveSmilingHillFarm
#SaveTheForest #Woodlands #Meadows #EnvironmentalImpact #GorhamConnector #SaveRedBrook #GreaterPortlandMaine #LightRail #BikeLanes #BusService #MTA #ProtectFarmland #LessCars #WorkingFarms #RapidTransit

Until #RapidTransit is established, at least the #GorhamPortlandMetro will keep running....

Gorham joins Metro, keeps #HuskyLine public bus stops open

The Town Council votes to become a member of Greater Portland Metro at a cost of $170,000 this year.

Posted March 13 Updated March 13
Robert Lowell

"The bus line runs from the USM Gorham campus through Westbrook into Portland to the campus there and to the Old Port area. USM students and staff ride with passes and Gorham passengers paying fares can board at a stop on Main Street in the village, Libby Avenue at Main Street and campus. The public fare is $2 and $1 for the disabled, veterans and riders over age 65. All Husky Line passengers can transfer to other Metro routes."

https://www.pressherald.com/2024/03/13/gorham-joins-metro-keeps-husky-line-bus-available-to-public-passengers/

#GorhamConnector #GorhamSpur #SaveSmilingHillFarm
#Sprawl #SaveTheForest
#Woodlands #Meadows
#InducedDemand #EnvironmentalImpact
#GorhamConnector #SaveRedBrook #GreaterPortlandMaine
#LightRail #BikeLanes #BusService #MTA #ProtectFarmland #LessCars #WorkingFarms

Rapid transit plan calls for 10-20 minute service through #PortlandMaine, #WestbrookMaine and #GorhamMaine

Maine Public | By Nicole Ogrysko

Published July 28, 2023

"Local officials in #GreaterPortland are considering a system of #RapidTransit bus routes for the region.

"Under a draft proposal from the Greater Portland Council of Governments, dedicated bus lanes would provide express service through Portland, Westbrook and Gorham more quickly than traditional bus service, with stops along the way.

"The preferred route would start at the University of Southern Maine campus in Gorham, travel through downtown Westbrook and stop at the USM campus in Portland before heading down Congress Street and ending near the Eastern Promenade.

"The proposal envisions service every 10 minutes between Portland and Westbrook, and 20 minutes between Westbrook and Gorham.

"'That's frequent enough that you're not relying on a schedule anymore,' said Andrew Clark, transit program manager for #GPCOG. 'You're no longer planning your day around the bus schedule. You just know you can go out to the station, and the bus will be there in 10 minutes or something like that.'

"Clark said service every 10-20 minutes should also lure riders who wouldn't normally consider taking #PublicTransit.

"'I think people understand the role that transit can play in making our cities better, its role in reducing congestion, its role in better climate outcomes, better social equity outcomes,' he said.

"Greater Portland Metro would operate the proposed route, but the vehicles and stops would have a different look than the service's existing buses, Clark added.

"The proposed routes are still a long way away, Clark said. The cities of Portland, Westbrook and Gorham will need to decide how much road space can be freed up for dedicated bus lanes. The project will also need to secure federal funds for the new bus lanes and some new battery-powered vehicles.

"Local officials also eventually envision rapid transit routes to South Portland, Biddeford and Saco, Brunswick and Windham."

https://www.mainepublic.org/business-and-economy/2023-07-28/rapid-transit-plan-calls-for-10-20-minute-service-through-portland-westbrook-and-gorham

#GorhamBypass #SaveSmilingHillFarm #Sprawl
#SaveTheForest #Woodlands
#Meadows #InducedDemand
#EnvironmentalImpact
#GorhamConnector
#SaveRedBrook #RedBrook
#GreaterPortlandMaine
#BusService #MTA
#ProtectFarmland #LessCars #WorkingFarms #PeterMills #JanetMills #CommuterRail #RapidTransit #GreaterPortland #Maine

There are alternatives to the #GorhamBypass... This is one of them! A much better use for the #Infrastructure funds #Maine received!!!

Gorham-Westbrook-Portland #RapidTransit Study

The Gorham-Westbrook-Portland Rapid Transit Study examined the need for and benefits of a rapid transit line connecting Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland. Based on estimated ridership, travel times, operating costs, and social equity, the study concluded that the most direct and fastest route alignment is via Main Street, Brighton Ave, and Congress Street. From west to east, this alignment connects USM Gorham, Gorham Village, downtown Westbrook, Rock Row, USM Portland, Maine Medical Center, downtown Portland, and the Eastern Waterfront. See project document below:

"The Bigger Picture. The purpose of this project is to provide fast, reliable, and frequent transit service that connects Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland's major transportation and/or activity centers. This project stems from our region's long-range transit plan Transit Tomorrow. That plan identifies five corridors where rapid transit is feasible. The Gorham-Westbrook-Portland corridor is the first corridor we studied. The bigger goal is to create a rapid transit network that allows us to meet the growing demand placed on our transportation network without building new roads or inducing more vehicle travel. "

https://www.gpcog.org/557/Gorham-Westbrook-Portland-Rapid-Transit-

#GorhamBypass #SaveSmilingHillFarm #Sprawl
#SaveTheForest #Woodlands
#Meadows #InducedDemand
#EnvironmentalImpact
#GorhamConnector
#SaveRedBrook #RedBrook
#GreaterPortlandMaine
#LightRail #BikeLanes
#BusService #MTA
#ProtectFarmland #LessCars #WorkingFarms #PeterMills #JanetMills #CommuterRail #RapidTransit #GreaterPortland #Maine

Have thoughts about the proposed #GorhamBypass? How you can make your voice heard

A public meeting is scheduled for March 25

GORHAM, Maine —"The #MaineTurnpikeAuthority wants to build a new toll road connecting the Turnpike to Gorham. The plan has sparked strong opinions both for and against since the route was announced in February.

"The first public meeting about the Gorham connector is scheduled for March 25 in the Shaw Gym at the Gorham Municipal Center on South Street. An open house is scheduled from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., where people can look at displays and ask questions about the project. It will be hosted by area municipalities in partnership with the Maine Turnpike Authority and the Maine Department of Transportation.

"At 6 p.m., a brief presentation will provide an overview of the project, after which attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and make comments. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can watch online starting at 6 p.m."

https://www.wmtw.com/article/have-thoughts-about-proposed-gorham-bypass-public-meeting/60178615?fbclid=IwAR0ZtB89WNCpLO73BdWujTdwhcyjOSA95AcKz3ShRo6l2huU2KiIfyce-es

https://www.youtube.com/embed/aTKSuVJ1iAg?autoplay=1

#SaveSmilingHillFarm #Sprawl #SaveTheForest #Woodlands #Meadows #InducedDemand #EnvironmentalImpact #GorhamConnector #SaveRedBrook #RedBrook #GreaterPortlandMaine #LightRail #BikeLanes #BusService #MTA #ProtectFarmland #LessCars #WorkingFarms #PeterMills #JanetMills