Needs or deficiencies

1.Major origin/destination markets not now served

Air travelers in Sanford, Maine face notable obstacles in accessing the global air service 

network due to a combination of factors. Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM) is a 

well-maintained, modern facility with ample runways of 6,388’ and 5,000.’ In fact, it was 

the airport preferred for Air Force One trips to Maine during the administration of George 

HW Bush; the airport continues to be used by the Bush family traveling to and from 

nearby Kennebunkport. The airport is staffed by a fixed base operator and supports ILS, 

VOR and GPS instrument approaches. However, SFM is a general aviation airport that 

has never hosted scheduled passenger air service. It is widely understood that passenger 

air service in Sanford is a non-starter due to the relative proximity of airports with high 

degrees of service. These airports are:

• Logan International Airport, a large hub airport in Boston, MA about 87 miles 

south.

• Manchester/Boston Regional Airport, a medium hub airport in Manchester, NH, 

about 65 miles southwest

• Portland International Jetport, a small hub airport in Portland, ME, about 32 miles 

northeast.

Sanford’s in-between location means air travelers have a choice of airports, depending on 

final destination, ticket price, choice of carrier and available travel time. However, 

accessing these airports is problematic due to high airport parking rates, ground 

transportation travel time and dearth of convenient public transportation. These factors 

can add substantially to the cost of flying and/or total elapsed travel time.

Airport parking rates:

• Logan $27/day

• Manchester/Boston Regional Airport $6.99/day

• Portland International Jetport $12/day

Public transportation:

Using Google Maps to search for transit directions from Sanford to one of the three 

airport illustrated the frustration faced by travelers. Each search returned identical error 

messages: “Your search for transit directions from Sanford, ME to [named airport] 

appears to be outside our current coverage area. Please consult our list of participating 

public transit agencies.”

Public transportation from Sanford actually does exist, although it is either expensive or it 

is extremely limited and requires transfers. The first leg of any public transit trip 

originating in Sanford involves taking either a taxi or a subsidized bus service geared to 

the destinations of low-income patrons. For example, the subsidized low-income, fixed 

route service of York County Community Action is not synchronized with either 

commercial bus service or train service. It can involve a wait of 12 minutes or several 

hours to make a transfer, depending on the time of day.
A summary of public transportation options to each airport is as follows:

Logan International

• Shoreline Explorer (Sanford Ocean Shuttle) bus service from Sanford to Wells 

Transportation Center. (Six times a day. $3 one way.) Transfer to Amtrak

passenger rail service to Boston’s North Station. (Five times a day. $15 one-way 

fare.) Transfer to MBTA subway to Logan $1.25 with MBTA subway. Total 

elapsed time 3:36. Total cost $19.25. Or from Wells Transportation Center, 

transfer to Mermaid Airport Transportation van service to Logan. Four or five 

times a day. $80 one way. Total cost $83. 

• Taxi from Sanford to C & J’s Portsmouth Transportation Center $80. Transfer to 

C & J bus service to Logan. (21 times a day. $24 one way fare.) Total elapsed 

time 2:15. One connection. Total cost $104. 

Portland International Jetport

• WAVE van service from Sanford to Biddeford Park and Ride. ($3 one-way fare 

with written application process and 24-hour advanced reservation.) Transfer to 

Zoom Turnpike Express bus service to downtown Portland. (Ten times a day. 31 

minutes. $5 one-way fare.) Transfer to Metro bus service. (30 minutes. Thirty 

times a day. $1.50 one-way fare.) Total elapsed time 1:34. Two connections. 

Total cost $9.50. 

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

• Taxi from Sanford to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Total cost $200. Total 

elapsed time 1:22.

Two recent studies have evaluated the public transportation system in Sanford and both 

recommended improvements in the bus service mentioned above (WAVE and Sanford 

Ocean Shuttle). It should be noted that neither study analyzed the cost of improving 

service. The recommendations were as follows:

2012 Central York County Connections Study

• WAVE 

– Increase service frequency on the WAVE to every hour. 

– Transition WAVE service from a demand response service to either a fixed 

route/demand response hybrid or a standard fixed route service running along the 

Route 111 corridor from Sanford to Biddeford and Saco. 

– Create timed transfer to ZOOM Turnpike Express and ShuttleBus Intercity/Portland 

service so that WAVE riders can more easily access service to Portland

• Sanford Ocean Shuttle 

– Provide increased service frequency

2.Fare levels deemed relevant

See options above

3.Air service development efforts

No prior efforts to improve passenger air service
Strategic plan

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to investigate, analyze, and determine the feasibility of 

implementing bus service and associated bus service enhancements as part of an 

integrated multi-modal master plan for the Sanford Seacoast Regional Airport (SFM). 

The enhancements would be responsive to the community's air transportation needs and 

would be expected to continue after the initial expenditures. A multi-modal approach will 

be explored to offer the greatest improvements in mobility and to address the lack of 

transportation services, air and otherwise, available in the City of Sanford and the 

surrounding region. 

STUDY GOALS

This study will primarily provide the opportunity to self-identify SFM’s air service 

deficiencies and propose an appropriate solution in the form of multimodal 

transportation. The study will address potential impacts of the implementation of bus 

service to nearby commercial airports and its relationship to air travel anddetermine if 

bus service in the region can:

• Fuse a connection between travelers from the flight, to the bus ride, to the 

pedestrian interface at their ultimate destinations;

• Operate under its own financial sustainability;

• Foster increases in use of the airport; and,

• Become an attractive asset to the community.

TASKS

Task 1: Project Management & Coordination 

Task 2: Develop a Public Involvement Plan (PIP) and conduct public workshops 

Task 3: Collect Data and coordinate with regional transportation organizations 

Task 4: Identify potential destinationsfor consideration 

Task 5: Develop Criteria Screening Process for destination/ routeevaluation 

Task 6: Prioritize and select destinations and associated routes

Task 7: Evaluate financial feasibility of selected destinations and routes

Task 8: Identify possible funding sources

Task 9: Develop steps for future implementation of service

Task 10: Draft and final report

Task 1: Project Management & Coordination 

This task will involve the development of a study management structure that will 

include representatives from the Airport Advisory Committee and other 

departments within the City. A meeting schedule and milestone presentation 

schedules for the review committee will be produced within 30 days of NoticeTo-Proceed (NTP). 

Deliverable: Project Management & Presentation Schedule 
Task 2: Develop a Public Involvement Plan and Conduct Public Workshops 

This task will result in the development and implementation of a Public 

Involvement Plan thatclearly represents all citizens. Outreach efforts of this 

Public Involvement Plan shall take place at all critical steps in the study process. 

It is anticipated that City of Sanford staff will actively participate in the 

implementation of the Public Involvement Plan, including assistance with the 

scheduling of appropriate locations and dates, the advertisement and marketing of 

the workshops and any other involvement activities, and the recruitment of 

desired participants.

Deliverable: Public Involvement Plan including: 

• Identify appropriate public involvement activities for the effort 

• Develop a schedule for all public meetings, workshops, presentations, 

and/or any other identified activities 

• Develop a project schedule by task with milestones 

• Conduct public meetings to identify community attitudes 

• Use consensus building tools for presentations 

• Select participants (agencies, elected officials, general public) 

Task 3: Collect Data and Coordinate with local transportation organizations 

At a minimum, the data necessary for this analysis will include: 

• Traffic counts, both from the airport and over the roads

• Data collection from air carrier airports in close proximity such as PWM, 

BOS, and MHT

• Existing transportation system users in the area including: Transit (light rail, 

commuter rail, Amtrak rail and public and private bus services), 

Highway/arterial, Ferry, Non-motorized, park and ride lots

• Residential and employment density data 

• Future growth patterns 

• Existing studies on relevant topics

• Planning and zoning information

• Current and future venues and venue capacity

• Community attitudes and community resources 

• Other information as deemed necessary during analysis phase 

City staff will assist the consultant team in collecting previously prepared 

materials from the list above. 

Task 4: Identify Potential Destinations for Consideration 

Destinations and the routes to those destinations will be selected based on data 

collected in Task 3.

Deliverable: List of Potential Destinations for Consideration

Task 5: Develop Criteria for Destination/ Route Evaluation 

A criteria screening process will be developed in order to evaluate and screen the 

identified potential destinations and routes and establish an objective process with 
which to select the most promising destinations and routes for bus service. In 

developing the criteria screening process, consideration shall be given to such 

elements as financial and environmental feasibility. In addition, consideration will 

be given to any proposed pedestrian and bicycle plans or improvements. 

It is envisioned that the screening process developed for the evaluation of the 

selected corridors will consider: 

• existing and forecast demand 

• existing services and infrastructure 

• future market potential 

• existing and forecast corridor residential and employment densities 

• compatibility with regional and local plans 

Task 6: Prioritize and Select Destinations and Associated Routes

Prioritize alternatives based on established criteria and feedback from local input 

and public involvement. Financial considerations and feasibility will be 

determined for only the top routes. 

Deliverable:List of top destinations and associated routes for further evaluation

Task 7: Evaluate financial feasibility of selected destinations and routes

Financial feasibility for bringing bus service to the selected destinations will be 

separated into two sections in this task:

1) Ability of a bus service, private or public, to operate with financial 

sustainability in this environment along the selected routes based on data 

collected in this study

2) Potential costs of service implementation 

• Projected costs associated with bus service related to amenities on the 

routes including signage, shelter, information, and the pedestrian 

environment. 

• Address long-term projection of how transportation services in the area 

may operate in 10-20 years

Task 8: Identify possible funding sources

Identify possible funding sources including but not limited to:

o National Highway System 

o Access to Jobs 

o Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act 

o Clean Fuels Formula 

o FTA Livable Communities Initiative 

o Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

o Federal earmark for high priority projects 

o Ad Valorem from General Fund 

o Local gas and/or sales tax 

o State Block Grants 

o State Transit Corridor Program 

o Service Development Grants 

o Commuter Assistance Program 
o Local Capital Improvement monies

o Other TBD 

Task 9: Develop Steps for future implementation of service

Develop a list of next steps for implementation of bus service along the selected 

routes. It is important to note that the implementation planis intended to be 

preliminary in nature but will provide sufficient guidance to move forward with 

additional planning activities.

Task 10: Draft – Final Report 

• Prepare draft report and submit for review 

• Address draft report comments 

• Produce final report 

Budget

See attachment

Designation of legal sponsor

Sanford, Maine