FREEPORT – At its District 3 workshop meeting on Aug. 5, the Freeport Town Council will consider a resolution of support for Portland Metro to provide regular bus service between Freeport and Portland.
The meeting, to take place at South Freeport Congregational Church, begins at 6:30 p.m. Public comment will be invited.
Greg Jordan, general manger of Portland Metro, will be in the audience.
The towns of Freeport, Yarmouth and Cumberland have been working with Portland Metro to expand the bus service. Though most of the funding will come from grants, the towns involved will be asked to contribute. Freeport Town Manager Peter Joseph said that the first year would cost the town $20,000; the second year $30,000; and the third year $40,000. The pilot program would end following the third year, and fees would increase sharply to more than $77,000 the fourth year and more than $80,000 for the fifth.
Joseph said that Freeport would not be asked to make a financial commitment until later. But Portland Metro seeks the resolution of support from all three towns, he said.
“This is a preliminary support consideration,” Joseph said, “but the Town Council would eventually have to vote on supporting it. The Town Council hasn’t discussed it, other than with the other two councils.”
Joseph added that some organizations, such as private schools and nonprofits, might be interested in “teaming up” with Freeport on any agreement with Metro.
“If all three towns support it,” he said, “Metro will do grant applications, determine routes, do cost estimates and then come back to the towns, before July 2015.”
Donna Larson, town planner, has worked with Portland Metro on the proposal.
“There is no public form of transportation in this part of the state,” Larson told Tri-Town Weekly last month. “Obviously, the cost of gas has gone up. Does that increase demand? My guess is that it probably does.”
Passenger fares would be according to zones traveled. Freeport to Portland would be $4.
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