Concerning the recent article about the Portland International Jetport parking crunch, there is a solution that makes much more sense than building another lot on site. Just 2.1 miles from the airport are hundreds of unused parking spaces, whole lots in fact, at the Maine Mall. The land has already been lost to these lots, which are unused.

Why destroy a “wooded parcel” when the spaces are there? Have electric bus service between the terminal and the lots, and charge a discount for those spaces while raising prices for the spaces at the terminal. This would save forest and money. As passengers are presently advised to arrive two hours prior to their flights, there should not be any time concern about this setup. Other airports use this model successfully.

Let’s stop scarring the land to provide more places to store cars and instead use what already exists.

Alison Fulmer
Portland