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Metro Connects
Spring 2024
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Gorham Town Council votes to become a Member of Greater Portland Metro | |
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The Town of Gorham Joins Greater Portland Transit District
The Husky Line bus that travels between Portland, Westbrook, Gorham, and the two USM campuses will continue to pick up riders boarding at Gorham stops. The Town Council voted on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 to officially join Greater Portland Metro. The other community members are Brunswick, Portland, Falmouth, Freeport, Westbrook, and Falmouth.
As a member of Metro, the Town of Gorham has two representatives on the board of directors, Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak and Community Development Director Tom Poirier.
USM students and staff ride for free with ID as part of a partnership program with Metro. Gorham passengers paying fares can board at a stop on Main Street in the village, Libby Avenue at Main Street, and on the USM Gorham campus and connect to other Metro routes.
Link to Husky Line schedule and route map: HERE
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Schedule updates include more service to the Portland Jetport and DHHS | |
June 16, 2024 -- Schedule Changes on Routes 3, 4 5, 7, & Husky Line
Starting Sunday, June 16, Metro Route 7 will expand to provide service between Falmouth, Downtown Portland, the Portland Jetport, Department of Human Services, and Outer Congress Street.
Route 5 will have direct service from Downtown Portland to the Maine Mall, via its current route on Park Avenue and the Stroudwater area of Congress St.. Route 5 will no longer stop at the Jetport, DHHS, and Outer Congress Street. Routes 3, 4, and Husky Line will have schedule updates to improve service.
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Service Changes for Routes 7 and 5
New Routes and New Schedules
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Link to more information about June 16, 2024 route and schedule changes - HERE
Note: The schedules have not been finalized yet; but, they will be posted on this webpage when they have been updated. | |
Ridership Numbers through April, 2024 | |
Ridership continues to grow at Metro, with over 160,000 trips in March and April 2024. Ridership is up 24% in 2024 compared to 2023. Ridership in the first four months of 2024 has been about 90% of 2019's benchmark. Ridership is expected to ebb somewhat as we approach the summer months as the school years end; however, we are optimistic that our service improvements coming in June will spur new ridership. | |
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DiriGo Pass News:
UMO is updating their mobility app. on May 13
The new mobile app upgrades will include new features and enhancements to streamline riders' transit experiences. The update will be loaded into riders' phones automatically if they have opted for automatic updates. Riders must log back into their account after the update.
For more information, visit: DiriGoPass.org/faqs/
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Metro Executive Director Greg Jordan Departs;
Glenn Fenton steps in as Interim Executive Director
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After a decade of leading Greater Portland Metro, Greg Jordan left his position as Executive Director to join the City of Portland as one of two Assistance City Managers. Greg's last day at Metro was March 15, 2024.
Greg joined GP Metro in 2013. Prior to that role, he served as Deputy Public Works Director and Transit Manager in Tempe, AZ from 1999-2013.
The search for an Executive Director is underway and is expected to have a permanent ED in place by the fall. The Board of Directors appointed Chief Transportation Office Glenn Fenton as Interim Executive Director.
Metro's Board of Directors recently elected Ed Suslovic, of Portland, as Board President, replacing Mike Foley who left the Board earlier this year. Hope Cahan, of Falmouth, was elected vice-chair, replacing Nat Tupper, of Yarmouth.
Members of Metro's Board of Directors - HERE
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Glenn Fenton (at left) with Greg Jordan (right) holding a Metro bus stop sign highlighting bus routes that launched during Greg's tenure as Executive Director. | |
Looking for Bus Ambassadors -- Can you Help? | |
Bus Ambassadors receive training on how to instruct people, in their own language, on how to ride public transit in the Greater Portland region. | |
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Greater Portland Council of Governments is looking for individuals who are interested and available to help others learn how to ride public transportation. Bus Ambassador volunteers should be at least 18, be fluent in at least two languages, and be available to attend monthly meetings. Are you interested?
Translated information:
English | Arabic | French
Portuguese | Spanish | Somali
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More information about Bus Ambassadors -- HERE / e-mail: HERE | |
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Holiday Service Update
No Service Memorial Day
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Holiday Schedule -- HERE
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We'll get you home. Safe.
Check out our new sign inside the concourse at Hadlock Field, reminding baseball fans to consider taking the bus to see the Sea Dogs.
Route #5 provides direct access to Hadlock Field. Connect to other routes and other transit systems along Congress St. and at the Maine Mall.
Sea Dogs Schedule for 2024 -- HERE
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Earth Day Celebrations and Events | |
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Bowdoin College Earth Day Celebration
Metro staff had an opportunity to talk to Bowdoin students and staff about the easy BREEZ transportation option that provides bus service between Portland, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Brunswick. The Bowdoin mascot polar bear helped spread the word.
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Earth Day Event at Payson Park
The Metro bus was a big hit at the City of Portland's Earth Day celebration, held this year on April 20 at Payson Park.
The event provided a great opportunity for kids to check out a real city bus. We're hoping to see many of them on board our regular routes this spring and summer.
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Denise Beck, Marketing and Community Outreach Manager | Metro Connects Editor
dbeck@gpmetro.org | 207-517-3027
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