Southern Maine transit agencies awarded $11.1 million in stimulus funds
The CARES Act funds were awarded by the Greater Portland Council of Governments to help seven agencies replace revenues lost to the pandemic.
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Seven transit agencies in Greater Portland will share $11.1 million in federal stimulus money, mostly to replace revenues lost during the pandemic.
The Greater Portland Council of Governments approved the distribution of the funding this week. Most of the money – $9.1 million – is to replace lost revenues, and the rest will be used for cleaning, sanitation, communications and to help recover lost ridership.
“The region’s public transportation system will be integral in the post-pandemic economic recovery, and this funding will enable us to rebuild customer demand after the pandemic,” said Matthew Sturgis, Cape Elizabeth’s town manager and chair of the council’s transportation committee.
Transportation options discussed in Scarborough
Public transit considered.
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SCARBOROUGH On Dec. 9 the Scarborough Town Council workshopped how public transportation options, particularly in The Downs, could be a solution to the traffic congestion related to population growth.
The Town Council, Greater Portland Council of Governments, a regional and metropolitan planning organization, and representatives from transportation services in the region discussed how increased transportation service in The Downs, may impact traffic flow and increase ridership in public transit.
Between 2010 and 2018, Scarborough accounted for 12 percent of Cumberland County’s overall growth, Chris Chop, GPCOG transportation director, said. As of 2017, 82 percent of all Scarborough residents commute outside of town on a daily basis.