#westbrookme — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #westbrookme, aggregated by home.social.
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So, #GPCOG (Greater Portland Council of Governments) did a study, and upgrading the existing rail lines would be more expensive. What they are proposing is a dedicated bus lane on existing surface roads... Interesting...
Gorham-Westbrook-Portland Rapid Transit Study
"The study explored both rail and bus-based modes, including the potential to use existing rail corridors for rapid transit service. Once Tier 1 Evaluation corridors were identified, the costs and benefits of using the corridor for rail versus bus-based service were considered.
Existing rail corridors were not recommended for rapid transit service, mainly due to current use by freight and/or Downeaster passenger rail services, and strict FRA regulations related to shared rights-of-way.
Existing rail corridors also provide limited access to key destinations, could create environmental impacts to sensitive sites, and are susceptible to sea-level rise. Ultimately, we found that using an existing rail corridor would require major rail construction and reconstruction to support rapid transit service, which would be considerably more costly and complicated than a bus-based service, while providing less access and mobility to the public.
A more detailed description of the mode-choice analysis can be found in Chapter 4 of the final report.
More detailed key reasons for recommending a rapid bus-based LPA were determined in the Tier 2 evaluation, and include:
Capital Costs: A rail alternative is likely to cost four to twelve times more to construct than a BRT alternative.
Operating Costs: It is generally more than twice as costly to operate rail transit on a per-hour basis than it is to operate bus transit.
Ridership and Capacity: In the Greater Portland context, a street-running rail service is unlikely to produce enough added ridership to justify the higher cost of building and operating rail service instead of BRT.
Overall: BRT is assumed to provide similar benefits as street-running rail service at substantially lower per- rider cost"
https://gpcog.org/557/Gorham-Westbrook-Portland-Rapid-Transit-
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation
#BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector
#MoreRapidTransit #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME -
This (and maybe #LightRail along existing rail lines)! Bonus - #GreaterPortlandMetro buses are equipped with bike racks!
Greater Portland Metro looking for feedback on Maine's first bus #RapidTransit line
The plan is to have buses operate every 10 minutes in order to connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland
Jacob Murphy, April 29, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — "Greater Portland Metro is in the design phase for a proposed bus rapid transit route that would connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. It would be the first of its kind for Maine, and project staff says the goal would be to operate buses every 10 minutes.
"Where the bus stations, bus lanes, and other infrastructure is placed along the route hasn't been decided. Greater Portland Metro is asking for community members to fill out a survey on their website to help them finalize a plan.
" 'This design stage is very important because we want the public's feedback. We're making a lot of the big design decisions at this point,' said Mike Tremblay, director of transit projects at Greater Portland Metro.
"Tremblay says he hopes they can have bus rapid transit operational in 2031 or 2032."
[...]
"Bus rapid transit takes buses and tries to replicate the service offered by light rail. 'Like, you might see on the Green Line in Boston or elsewhere in the country, bus rapid transit tries to achieve a lot of the same goals without that high level of investment,' Tremblay said."
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation #BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector #MoreRapidTransit #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #MainePol #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME
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This (and maybe #LightRail along existing rail lines)! Bonus - #GreaterPortlandMetro buses are equipped with bike racks!
Greater Portland Metro looking for feedback on Maine's first bus #RapidTransit line
The plan is to have buses operate every 10 minutes in order to connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland
Jacob Murphy, April 29, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — "Greater Portland Metro is in the design phase for a proposed bus rapid transit route that would connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. It would be the first of its kind for Maine, and project staff says the goal would be to operate buses every 10 minutes.
"Where the bus stations, bus lanes, and other infrastructure is placed along the route hasn't been decided. Greater Portland Metro is asking for community members to fill out a survey on their website to help them finalize a plan.
" 'This design stage is very important because we want the public's feedback. We're making a lot of the big design decisions at this point,' said Mike Tremblay, director of transit projects at Greater Portland Metro.
"Tremblay says he hopes they can have bus rapid transit operational in 2031 or 2032."
[...]
"Bus rapid transit takes buses and tries to replicate the service offered by light rail. 'Like, you might see on the Green Line in Boston or elsewhere in the country, bus rapid transit tries to achieve a lot of the same goals without that high level of investment,' Tremblay said."
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation #BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector #MoreRapidTransit #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #MainePol #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME
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This (and maybe #LightRail along existing rail lines)! Bonus - #GreaterPortlandMetro buses are equipped with bike racks!
Greater Portland Metro looking for feedback on Maine's first bus #RapidTransit line
The plan is to have buses operate every 10 minutes in order to connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland
Jacob Murphy, April 29, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — "Greater Portland Metro is in the design phase for a proposed bus rapid transit route that would connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. It would be the first of its kind for Maine, and project staff says the goal would be to operate buses every 10 minutes.
"Where the bus stations, bus lanes, and other infrastructure is placed along the route hasn't been decided. Greater Portland Metro is asking for community members to fill out a survey on their website to help them finalize a plan.
" 'This design stage is very important because we want the public's feedback. We're making a lot of the big design decisions at this point,' said Mike Tremblay, director of transit projects at Greater Portland Metro.
"Tremblay says he hopes they can have bus rapid transit operational in 2031 or 2032."
[...]
"Bus rapid transit takes buses and tries to replicate the service offered by light rail. 'Like, you might see on the Green Line in Boston or elsewhere in the country, bus rapid transit tries to achieve a lot of the same goals without that high level of investment,' Tremblay said."
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation #BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector #MoreRapidTransit #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #MainePol #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME
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This (and maybe #LightRail along existing rail lines)! Bonus - #GreaterPortlandMetro buses are equipped with bike racks!
Greater Portland Metro looking for feedback on Maine's first bus #RapidTransit line
The plan is to have buses operate every 10 minutes in order to connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland
Jacob Murphy, April 29, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — "Greater Portland Metro is in the design phase for a proposed bus rapid transit route that would connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. It would be the first of its kind for Maine, and project staff says the goal would be to operate buses every 10 minutes.
"Where the bus stations, bus lanes, and other infrastructure is placed along the route hasn't been decided. Greater Portland Metro is asking for community members to fill out a survey on their website to help them finalize a plan.
" 'This design stage is very important because we want the public's feedback. We're making a lot of the big design decisions at this point,' said Mike Tremblay, director of transit projects at Greater Portland Metro.
"Tremblay says he hopes they can have bus rapid transit operational in 2031 or 2032."
[...]
"Bus rapid transit takes buses and tries to replicate the service offered by light rail. 'Like, you might see on the Green Line in Boston or elsewhere in the country, bus rapid transit tries to achieve a lot of the same goals without that high level of investment,' Tremblay said."
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation #BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector #MoreRapidTransit #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #MainePol #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME
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This (and maybe #LightRail along existing rail lines)! Bonus - #GreaterPortlandMetro buses are equipped with bike racks!
Greater Portland Metro looking for feedback on Maine's first bus #RapidTransit line
The plan is to have buses operate every 10 minutes in order to connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland
Jacob Murphy, April 29, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — "Greater Portland Metro is in the design phase for a proposed bus rapid transit route that would connect Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. It would be the first of its kind for Maine, and project staff says the goal would be to operate buses every 10 minutes.
"Where the bus stations, bus lanes, and other infrastructure is placed along the route hasn't been decided. Greater Portland Metro is asking for community members to fill out a survey on their website to help them finalize a plan.
" 'This design stage is very important because we want the public's feedback. We're making a lot of the big design decisions at this point,' said Mike Tremblay, director of transit projects at Greater Portland Metro.
"Tremblay says he hopes they can have bus rapid transit operational in 2031 or 2032."
[...]
"Bus rapid transit takes buses and tries to replicate the service offered by light rail. 'Like, you might see on the Green Line in Boston or elsewhere in the country, bus rapid transit tries to achieve a lot of the same goals without that high level of investment,' Tremblay said."
#SolarPunkSunday #MorePublicTransportation #BikeRacks #NoGorhamConnector #MoreRapidTransit #GorhamConnector #InducedSprawl #MainePol #GorhamME #WestbrookME #PortlandME
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So, I knew if the #AmazonWarehouse got approved (which just happened, but still needs #MDOT approval), then the #GorhamConnector would rise from the dead! Grrrrr.... And of course the #MaineLegislature could have KILLED the Connector, but they chickened out! More #PublicTransportation ( #LightRail )and #BikeFriendlyRoads !
#MDOT seeks opinions for study of traffic issues west of #PortlandME
The department will share information and seek public engagement about transportation challenges in #SouthPortlandME, #Scarborough, #WestbrookME and #GorhamME.
Madeleine Kaptein
Staff Writer"The Maine Department of Transportation will host two public meetings next week as part of its Portland-West Study to identify and relieve traffic congestion in the region. The study, launched in May, is focused on transportation challenges in Gorham, Scarborough, South Portland and Westbrook.
"A drop-in open house on Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in Shaw Gym at the Gorham Municipal Center and a virtual meeting on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. will include information about the study, introductions to the project team and opportunities for residents to share concerns and feedback, according to a news release from MDOT.
"The study is examining existing traffic congestion and traffic patterns, reviewing research on future travel demand and population growth, and evaluating possible changes to existing roadway capacity. Improved signal timing, expanded public transportation and added walking and bicycling connections are under consideration, according to the department’s website.
"The study comes in the aftermath of plans the #MaineTurnpikeAuthority shelved last year for a four-lane toll road connector to Gorham. The connector was aimed at reducing rush-hour traffic in the commuter corridor along Routes 22 and 114.
"The connector would have linked the roundabout at South Street (Route 114) and the southerly end of Gorham’s Bernard Rines Bypass with the turnpike’s Exit 45 in South Portland. The connector proposal was met with public outcry because it called for cutting a swath through #SmilingHillFarm in Westbrook and other properties.
"An advisory committee of residents, business leaders, advocacy groups, transportation representatives and municipal officials has met bi-monthly since April to guide the study process, according to a news release from MDOT.
"The public input sessions will take place a week after the Gorham Planning Board approved Amazon’s proposed warehouse on 94 acres off Main Street (Route 25), which would see over 3,000 daily vehicle trips to and from the facility. Vehicles would travel 5 miles down Route 25 through Westbrook to the #MaineTurnpike, prompting public concern over worsening traffic.
"Amazon still needs a Department of Transportation permit to move forward with the facility."
Archived version:
https://archive.li/8ZWox#MainePol #InducedSprawl #SouthernMaine #SaveSmilingHill #SaveRedBrook #SaveTheForest #AlternativeTransportation #WildlifeCorridor #ConnectedGreenSpace #BrookTrout #EndangeredSpecies