BRUNSWICK

The possibility of getting from Brunswick to Portland in under an hour by local bus service is under review by transit planners and town leaders.

Getting people to work, school or shops is a reason for adding a Brunswick stop to the Metro BREEZ bus line. Ridership along the BREEZ is increasing, Greg Jordan, general manager of the greater Portland transit district, told members of the town council earlier this week.

Financial support from the town, state and federal sources are likely to be sought as part of a two-year pilot program to help initially defray operating costs.

The Greater Portland Transit District, popularly known as METRO, formed in 1966. Thirty years later, its ridership is about 1.8 million, said Jordan. The METRO is Maine’s largest public transit agency.

“We’re proud of the ridership growth we’re achieving,” said Jordan.

In June, the BREEZ beefed up its bus line, with service between Portland, Falmouth, Yarmouth and Freeport.

Persuading people who may drive between Brunswick and Portland and who could take a bus is a matter to be conquered, said Town Council Chairwoman Sarah Brayman. This is why coordinating schedules and the travel time itself to shave time off the typical one-hour drive to Portland is critical.

“We do our best to balance speed with access,” Jordan said.

BREEZ buses northward to Freeport from Portland now run Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. There are 10 northbound and southbound trips weekdays. On Saturday, that number drops to five round trips.

If BREEZ expands into Brunswick, there will be more time options, said Jordan. For example, weekday round trips would be 11 and on Saturday, seven.

Riders on BREEZ pay $3 per ride, each way. This may rise to $ 4 or $ 5 if a rider is going from Portland to Brunswick of vice versa.

Through surveys of riders and analyzing commuter patterns, Jordan said there is demand for more public transportation. He estimates in its first full year from Portland to Freeport, about 30,000 people will have rode BREEZ buses. Add Brunswick to the route, and another 10,000 to 15,000 may regularly ride the bus.

Three buses are now in the BREEZ fleet. A fourth bus would be ordered to the fleet for Brunswick next April or May. If BREEZ is approved and local funding ready, bus service could launch in June.

Public transportation changes in Brunswick this year began in March. The closure of Coastal Transportation led to Western Maine Transportation Services picking up the Brunswick Explorer run.

Craig Zurhorst, community relations director for WMTS, attended the council’s Monday meeting. Additional bus services to Lewiston and Auburn are possible with a link from Brunswick Explorer.

Councilor Alison Harris suggested looking at ridership projections for BREEZ service and current Explorer use. Ensuring a route expansion means making sure both companies don’t overlap services.

“We’ll be working with Greg to find out what’s the best way to coordinate this,” Zurhorst said.

Making it easier or possible to get to work sites at Brunswick Landing also is under review.

Additional money to support the bus route and its expansion northward to Brunswick would come from business sponsorships and display ads on the bus itself.

To include Brunswick on the Metro bus route for a two-year pilot plan, would cost the town $50,000 and $60,000 for years 1 and 2, respectively.

Approval by the Maine Department of Transportation of a “congestion mitigation and air quality grant” also is needed for this proposal to secure financing.

No action was taken by councilors on financing. That may happen the bus line perhaps at a January meeting, said Town Manager John Eldridge.

lconnell@timesrecord.com

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