Transportation Advocates Announce Plan to Expand Commuter Bus Services Throughout Southern, Central Maine

WHO: The Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation (MAST), a coalition of citizen and environmental organizations working for improved access to reliable, affordable and sustainable transportation in Maine.

WHAT: Press Conference to announce the “Turnpike for the 21st Century Plan,” a proposal to expand and enhance ZOOM commuter bus services between Biddeford, Portland, Lewiston, and Augusta.

WHERE: The Robert Ganley Plaza, in front of Portland City Hall. In case of rain, the press conference will be held in the lobby indoors.

WHEN: Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 10 a.m.

WHY: The Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation will be releasing its “Turnpike for the 21st Century” plan, a proposal to reduce energy costs and create economic development opportunities by bolstering and expanding the successful ZOOM commuter bus throughout southern and central Maine.

The existing ZOOM bus service operates ten round-trips a day during weekday rush hours between Biddeford and Portland. The service has more than doubled its ridership in the past five years, and receives no subsidies from state or local governments. Indeed, by making more efficient use of the Turnpike’s existing infrastructure, the current ZOOM service saves the southern Maine economy $1.8 million in energy costs, parking subsidies, and avoided congestion costs every year.

The “Turnpike for the 21st Century” proposal seeks to increase the frequency and hours of operation of the existing ZOOM service, while extending some trips to serve Park and Ride lots in Kennebunk and Wells at the southern end of the Turnpike, and re-routing some trips through downtown Biddeford and Saco.

At the same time, the Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation proposes to expand the geographic reach of the ZOOM commuter bus with one new route between downtown Portland and downtown Lewiston/Auburn, with buses running sixteen round trips daily, plus a second route offering four daily round trips between Portland and Augusta, at the northern terminus of the Maine Turnpike.

Advocates also cite statistical data from the U.S. Census bureau to argue that the new plan could save millions of dollars for commuters on an annual basis, while also forestalling the need to spend over $100 million for a proposed Turnpike widening within Portland’s city limits.

“We need to be more strategic about how we spend transportation investments. Maine voters, tollpayers, and political leaders aren’t ready for our cash-strapped state to take on nine figures’ worth of new debt to fund a freeway project in Portland,” said Christian MilNeil, a MAST steering committee member and the Chair of Portland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. “Investing in the ZOOM bus generates better results in terms of reducing traffic, parking subsidies, and pollution, and buses cost less than one tenth as much as new freeway lanes would.”

The average Maine household spends over $8,000 a year on motor vehicles, maintenance, and fuel, according to the federal Consumer Expenditure Survey. Many Maine families now spend more income on their cars - a quickly-depreciating asset - than on their homes.

“I live in Lewiston, and I recently took a job in Portland,” said Nicola Wells, representing the Maine League of Young Voters, another MAST coalition member. “But like many Mainers, the expense of my commute - not just in terms of money, but also in terms of my time - makes it a lot harder to work here. Transit service could open up a lot of economic opportunities for people in both of our cities.”

The proposal also seeks to advance efforts to develop the vacant mill spaces in the downtown areas of Biddeford, Saco, Lewiston, and Auburn. All four cities have plans to renovate and reuse millions of square feet of space in historic downtown mill structures, but parking costs remain a hurdle. Expanded ZOOM service could bring new jobs, without the expense of new parking lots.

The Maine Alliance for Sustainable Transportation is actively seeking municipal officials, economic development activists, and taxpayer advocates to join its coalition. The organization is also drafting legislation to enable more flexible uses of Turnpike revenues and stricter accountability measures for the Maine Turnpike Authority, and is preparing to present the bill before the new Maine Legislature when it convenes in December. New ZOOM commuter buses could start rolling as soon as fall 2011.

Visit www.mainesustainabletransport.org for further information, or to join the MAST coalition.