BIDDEFORD — Those who depend upon public transportation will have an opportunity to give feedback and input about local services and future routes by participating in a new survey and attending a public meeting in Biddeford on Monday.
ShuttleBus-Zoom, which offers direct route service between Biddeford, Saco and Portland and the York County Community Action Corporation are teaming up with the Maine Department of Transportation and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission to evaluate and get public input about intercity bus routing options connecting York County to Portland, the closest intercity bus service hub in Maine.
Perian Carpenter, mobility manager of Shuttle Bus Zoom, said that meeting participants using public transportation to attend the meeting will receive two free one-ride passes from either ShuttleBus-Zoom or YCCAC, depending on the service they use to attend the meeting.
“This is our way to connect with the public to help us make improvements and provide better service,” Carpenter said. “Those who attend can express their concerns and offer guidance about how we can better serve everyone.”
The meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. in Café Meeting Room #4 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and will lead off with a short presentation that will run again at 5:15 p.m. to accommodate as many participants as possible. It also will include interactive workshop stations and light refreshments will be served.
Those who cannot attend the meeting are encouraged to provide comments online, as the team is also conducting a survey to understand travel patterns and bus usage in the region.
Those who want to provide feedback can go to www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthernMEBusOptionsSurvey. Surveys should be completed before Sept. 21.
Survey results will be complied and put to use by Shuttle Bus Zoom, the York County Community Action Corporation, Maine Department of Transportation and the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission to make adjustments to current routes and for future planning purposes.
“We’re trying to develop a link for rural transport services and connect outlying areas to Portland,” Carpenter said.
A discussion at the meeting will examine how to improve service between the Sanford-Springvale area and Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and also southern Cumberland County and Portland. It will feature a presentation of intercity bus service routing options between Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Portland.
ShuttleBus-Zoom offers intercity fixed route service in Old Orchard Beach, Scarborough, South Portland and Portland, local fixed route bus service in Biddeford and Saco and Zoom Turnpike Express service from Biddeford to Portland. York County Community Action Corporation offers a range of transportation options available to the general public and is equipped for people with disabilities. Options include both public transportation and contracted/special service transportation.
To receive a paper copy of the survey, call the Southern Maine Planning and Development Commission at 571-7065.
— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 ext. 326 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com
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