Campus Bus Service Seen As Key for All Commuters

By JUSTIN ELLIS Staff Writer

With gas prices reaching new highs and the number of drivers on the road increasing, now is the time for an express bus west of Portland, say supporters of the legislation introduced by state Rep. Christopher Barstow, D-Gorham, above.Have college students already figured out a better way to make the often tedious commute between Portland and Gorham?

The Legislature is being asked to find out, in case it will also work for people commuting to work.

Rep. Christopher Barstow, D-Gorham, has proposed a bill that would expand the University of Southern Maine bus service that relays students between the Portland and Gorham campuses.

Under the plan, the campus service would become an express bus service open to commuters between the two towns. The legislation calls for a one-time allocation of $250,000 from the state’s general fund to begin the program in the fall.

The Transportation Committee is scheduled to hold a work session on the bill Thursday. If approved, the plan would need to be reviewed by the Appropriations Committee and the full Legislature.

Gorham is not alone in exploring the need for mass transit. Officials in Windham hope to use a grant to study the possibility of an express bus between Portland, North Windham and beyond.

With gas prices reaching new highs and the number of drivers on the road increasing, supporters of the legislation say now is the time for an express bus west of Portland.

"In essence, we’re trying to reduce traffic," Barstow said.

Traffic is a rising concern in Gorham as commuters, students and long-haul drivers all pass through the center of town daily.

The town already is working with the state Department of Transportation to build the first leg of the Gorham bypass, which would divert some of the traffic off main roads. Barstow said a commuter bus would take more cars off the road and be better for the environment.

A commuter bus would be used not only by students and Gorham residents, he said, but also by people in nearby towns such as Windham, Standish and Buxton.

Currently, USM has a contract with VIP Tour and Charter Bus Co. for four buses and two mini-buses. Students, faculty and USM employees may use the service, and students pay a transportation fee that covers their fares. On average, 3,500 to 4,500 people take the bus each week, according to counts from bus drivers.

If Barstow’s proposal is approved, the $250,000 would be used to buy more buses. The program would be funded with $2 fares and a combination of state and federal grants, he said.

The bus stops at the student center on both campuses and at Portland Hall in Portland.

Unlike Portland’s Metro bus, which has frequent stops around the city, the Portland-Gorham express bus would have limited stops.

Craig Hutchinson, USM’s vice president for student and university life, said USM would not have agreed to the proposal if it were to cost students more money or affect their ability to get to class on time. Buses now leave at 45-minute intervals to ensure students are on time, he said.

Hutchinson said an express bus would offer students more buses between campuses for classes or daily outings.

"This gives more flexibility in the transportation between Portland and Gorham to USM students," he said.

Commuter buses are becoming more common in Maine’s suburban communities. The Falmouth Flyer now runs between Portland and Falmouth, and the Zoom bus travels between Biddeford-Saco and Portland.

David Willauer, a transportation specialist at the Greater Portland Council of Governments, said the demand for commuter options, from carpooling and vans to buses and trains, is increasing.

More drivers on the road increase the period of time spent commuting. At the same time, an increase in gas prices has forced some to re-evaluate how they travel, he said.

"I think people are making choices about how to get where they need to go," he said.

In Windham, officials hope to receive a Community Development Block Grant to study the possibility of creating a similar express bus that would travel on the Route 302 corridor.

Keith Luke, Windham’s director of economic development, said the bus would travel between Portland and North Windham and eventually as far as Bridgton.

Luke said the bus would benefit people who want to take advantage of services such as medical care outside their town. It also would benefit local businesses whose workers could use the bus.

Luke said there are few ways to improve traffic on Route 302 other than taking people off the road.

"Every person you put on that bus is someone you’re not sitting behind in traffic at Boody’s Corner," he said.

Staff Writer Justin Ellis can be contacted at 791-6380 or at:

jellis@pressherald.com

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MORE ON THE ROAD

ACCORDING TO the 2000 Census, the number of people in Maine who must drive or commute to work increased 2.6 percent between 1990 and 2000.

STATE DOT figures show average daily traffic through Gorham rose to 186,300 in 2000 from 149,550 in 1990.

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