Resolve, To Improve Regional Transportation in Greater Portland
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1719
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: BARSTOW, STRIMLING, CUMMINGS, DRISCOLL, FARRINGTON, MARLEY, PEOPLES, BARTLETT

Legislative Document 
No. 1719 
H.P.1202 
House of Representatives, March 23, 2007 
Resolve, To Improve Regional Transportation in Greater Portland 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BARSTOW of Gorham. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland and 
I!J~ 
1I1.1ll0£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: Speaker CUMMINGS of Portland, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, 
FARRINGTON of Gorham, MARLEY of Portland, PEOPLES of Westbrook, Senator: 
BARTLETT of Cumberland. 
Printed on recyc led paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the purposes of this resolve are to facilitate regional bus transportation for 
university students and Greater Portland residents and to implement a regional bus 
transportation system by September 1, 2008 with the intention that the system be in place 
prior to the commencement of that school year; and 
Whereas, it is necessary to allow the regional transportation working group 
established by this resolve at least one year to devise a plan and strategy for regional bus 
transportation in the Greater Portland area; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 
1. 
Greater 
Portland 
Council of Governments; 
regional 
transportation working group established. Resolved: That the Greater Portland 
Council of Governments shall create a working group for the purposes of merging the 
Greater Portland Transit District's bus service and the University of Southern Maine's 
commuter bus system between the University of Southern Maine's Portland and Gorham 
campuses into one transportation system. 
This new entity must continue to provide 
transportation to University of Southern Maine students, but must also extend Portland's 
bus service to the Town of Gorham. The new regional bus transportation system must be 
in place by September 1, 2008. The considerations of this working group must include 
parking logistics for users of the new bus transportation system between Gorham and 
Portland, as well as financial resources that would be necessary to accomplish this 
merger; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Regional transportation working group; membership. Resolved: 
That the Greater Portland Council of Governments shall invite the participation of 
representatives of the following entities in the working group established in section 1: the 
Greater Portland Transit District, the University of Southern Maine, the Department of 
Transportation, the Town of Gorham, the City of Portland and the City of Westbrook, as 
well as other entities the Greater Portland Council of Governments determines necessary; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3. 
Implementation. Resolved: 
That the Greater Portland Council of 
Governments must collaborate with the University of Southern Maine to implement the 
new bus transportation system between Gorham and Portland; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Miscellaneous Acts and Resolves 
Page I - 123LR0464(OI)-1 
Initiative: Allocations funds on a one-time basis to the University of Southern Maine 
under the auspices of the University of Maine System for the purposes of implementing 
an expanded bus transportation system in the Greater Portland Area. 
GENERAL FUND 
2007-08 
All Other 
$250,000 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$250,000 
2008-09 
$0 
$0 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve 
takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
The resolve directs the Greater Portland Council of Governments to establish a 
regional transportation working group to merge the Greater Portland Transit District bus 
service with the University of Southern Maine's commuter bus system between the 
Portland and Gorham campuses into one transportation system. This resolve allocates 
funds from the General Fund for the University of Southern Maine to implement an 
expanded bus system in the Greater Portland area.