Standish is currently conducting a survey regarding a proposed park-and-ride program.

According to a page on the town’s website that links to the survey, the town is partnering with the Greater Portland Council of Governments to “determine the feasibility and long-term viability of a commuter park-and-ride lot to facilitate ridesharing, transit use and serve recreational areas like Sebago Lake and Randall Orchards for town residents and others living in or commuting through southern Maine.”

The website also spells out the potential benefits of a park-and-ride program, which include increased safety for pedestrians, increased opportunity for alternative modes of transportation to Portland, additional parking options for recreation areas, exploring overnight parking, and potentially freeing up parking spaces in Standish’s town center.

Standish Planning Director Zach Mosher told Lakes Region Now the idea for the park-and-ride program was a council-led initiative. He said the town noticed that Greater Portland Council of Governments had some planning money available. The town applied to the council to do the study, which will cover the entire town but primarily focuses on the areas around the Route 25 and Route 35 corridors. It began in the spring of this year and will conclude in late fall.

Regarding timelines for implementing the park-and-ride program after the survey is complete, Mosher said there is no timeline at the moment, but rather an open-ended plan to look at the study, go from there, and see what the town’s needs are. While it may partner with local organization to help facilitate the park-and-ride project depending on the results of the study, for now, it is focused on finding out whether the project is viable, and how it would affect the town.