Bring on the bus

A regional bus service in the Lakes Region makes sense especially with gas prices holding steady above $3 a gallon and Portland housing prices still unaffordable for the majority of workers.

As proposed by the Greater Portland Council of Governments – which is in the process of rolling out the bus transit proposal to town councils in the area – the bus line would start in Bridgton and proceed to Windham along Route 302. From Windham, the line would either travel Route 115 to the Maine Turnpike exit in Gray continuing on to Portland, or proceed along Route 302 through Westbrook into Portland. At night, the route would be reversed. Spurs would also be created that feed into the main line for travelers from outlying areas such as New Gloucester, Sebago and Standish.

As proposed, government will be paying for the bulk of the system, which could be a downside for would-be supporters. Initial estimates put yearly costs at about $50,000 from local taxpayers and $100,000 from federal taxes. Another $22,000 would be generated by rider fares.

There will be many who oppose the transit system since tax money is involved. But isn’t transportation the best use of tax money? Conservative and liberals both agree that roads should be a high priority since roads provide a way for commerce. A bus system is an expansion of the existing infrastructure. Also, many communities in our country use tax money to pay for transit systems, be it subways, buses or Amtrak. With the Lakes Region booming, it makes sense to create a transit system for those who live here. Right now, there’s nothing. And that is unacceptable.

There are so many pluses to the proposal. Environmentally, 40 or 50 passengers driving from Bridgton to Portland on a bus will spew much less pollution. Additionally, for those who lament the amount of traffic crowding Route 302, a bus would lighten the load, literally. A bus takes up much less space and does much less damage to the roadway than the 40-50 cars it would replace.

Most importantly, a bus would be a blessing to those who are struggling with commuting costs. Many people who work in Greater Portland have chosen to live in the Lakes Region for its relative affordability. However, the trade-off of buying a less expensive house is having a long commute. For years, as sprawl spread to Naples, Casco, Sebago and Bridgton, gas prices remained low so the only downside to the Portland commute was the wasted hours in the car. But now the commute costs $5 to $10 a day depending on the vehicle’s gas consumption. And if you earn $100 a day, that’s a startling 5 to 10 percent of your check spent on gas alone.

Gas prices may be bad now, but add a war in the Middle East or another hurricane that wipes out refineries in the Gulf of Mexico, and they could rise even higher. Therefore, it is smart that the council of governments is proposing some sort of back-up plan for commuters. It’s exactly the sort of thing government should be doing – assessing current needs, predicting future problems and thinking of cost-effective ways to deal with both.

-John Balentine, editor