People attending a public hearing Tuesday in Portland had a message for local officials – expand public transportation rather than build more highways.

Those at the meeting advocated buying more buses and upgrading the rail line between Brunswick and Portland to allow for commuter service, while highway projects like the $35 million, second phase of the Gorham bypass got little support.

The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation Committee held the forum Tuesday at the Clarion Hotel to hear what the public had to say about its list of 10 largest regional transportation projects. The committee plans to select two or three projects from the list and ask for funding from Congress.

“I’m strongly opposed to the Gorham bypass and the turnpike spur,” Gorham resident Ken O’Brien said before the meeting, believing the highways would “kill” the village.

O’Brien said more roads create sprawl. “They’ll be millstones around our necks in the next century,” he said about additional highways.

O’Brien told the gathering of some 125 people – many of whom arrived at the meeting by bus and bicycle – he favored public transportation, backing a proposal by Rep. Chris Barstow, D-Gorham that would allow public to ride buses shuttling University of Southern Maine students between campuses in Gorham and Portland.

David Willauer of the Greater Portland Council of Governments, who facilitated the public comment, said the idea had been studied, and the service would need both capital and operating money.

Chris Small, another Gorham resident, said bus service to town, along with reactivation of the Mountain Division Railroad line that passes through Little Falls and White Rock, should be implemented.

Small said he thought phase I of the bypass will make a difference in Gorham Village, but backed public transportation over phase II of the bypass. He said the high demand on highways is because of the lack of adequate public transit.

Alec Maybarduk, field director of The League of Young Voters, read a letter favoring mass transit solutions and opposing widening the interstate.

Bruce Wallingford of Westbrook, owner of Ernie’s Cycle Shop, said building more roads only encouraged more use by motorists. Wallingford said the emphasis should make bus or train transportation more convenient.

Wallingford said he’d be willing to construct a bus shelter and a covered bike rack in front of his business on Conant Street in Westbrook to encourage more use of Metro.

“I have customers who ride from Standish to Portland,” Wallingford said.

PACTS high priority projects for southern MaineKen O’Brien, Gorham, favors bus service for Gorham.(Transit 1) – People attending a transportation forum display favor for public transit.Chris Small, Gorham, declines to call Gorham bypass by name.