Maine to get $47.6M in funding for public transit

File Photo / William Hall The METRO bus service carries roughly 2 million passengers each year throughout Portland and several suburbs.

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By Jessica Hall

Maine will receive nearly $47.6 million in federal transit funding to improve the state's buses, rail lines and ferries.

The funding, from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was announced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Angus King, I-Maine.

“Public transportation systems are critical for Americans who rely on these services to travel to and from work, school, health care appointments, grocery stores, and pharmacies,” Collins said. “Whether it be via a bus, train, or ferry, this investment will help individuals reach their homes and jobs safely and more quickly.”

Maine's public transit system includes 21 providers operating over 420 vehicles, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. There are also marine transit providers such as the Maine State Ferry Service and Casco Bay Lines, and the Amtrak Downeaster passenger train service that runs from Boston to Brunswick.

The funding will be distributed by the Federal Transit Administration, which invests over $12 billion annually to help modernize public transportation and extend service into small cities and rural communities that previously lacked transit options.

“Public transit is an absolutely essential resource for Maine communities, helping people get to work, run errands, or visit their loved ones,” King said. “Supporting public transit helps us to strengthen local economies, reduce emissions, and create good-paying jobs.”

King said the funds will make much-needed upgrades to existing transit networks and support critical expansions to reach new communities in rural and underserved areas.