Portland seeks public input on Peaks Island ferry landing plan

Photo / Jim Neuger The City of Portland is seeking public input on improving the city-owned landside infrastructure for Peaks Island.

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By Renee Cordes

The city of Portland and the Casco Bay Lines ferry service are looking to improve city-owned landside infrastructure at the Peaks Island landing, and are seeking public input as part of the process.

Residents can weigh in via an online survey and a virtual meeting on Zoom scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, which will also present findings on the first two phases of an infrastructure improvement plan.

The plan goes back to a study launched in 2019 to find opportunities to improve the accessibility, safety, and efficiency of the Peaks Island landing as well as the intersection of Franklin and Commercial streets by the Maine State Pier.

Phase 1 of the study looked at the existing passenger, vehicle and freight use of the Peaks Island ferry and the infrastructure serving it. Data was collected on Peaks Island just before and after the busy Labor Day weekend last year.

Phase 2 examined trends in levels of passengers, vehicles and freight as well as the potential influences of vessel capacity and the growth in activity on Peaks Island and projected the impacts of future demand.

Details about the project and the study are available here. Among other things, it found that demand for ferry travel has contributed to crowding and capacity voyages in summer. In 2018, for example, more than 70 sailings reached capacity in July and August alone.

To reduce congestion and operate more efficiently, the study concluded that managing increasing demand and traffic will be critical for passenger safety and comfort.

Before deciding on a course of action, city officials plan to conduct further analysis and are seeking public input on a strategy.

Casco Bay Lines supports the goals of the project and has been providing information to the city to facilitate the process, according to a spokesperson. Its board of directors voted against changes to the Peaks Island schedule last year, and has already approved a preliminary design for a new vessel to service the island.

Those who are interested can access the city survey here through July 23, and participate in next week's Zoom meeting via this link.