METRO’s new “Transit West Project” which will expand service to the Town of Gorham and connect the USM Portland and Gorham campuses is scheduled to launch in August 2018. Public workshops began at the end of October and continue into November.

The meetings are being held to gather feedback from community members, employers, METRO riders, and other stakeholders according to Denise Beck of METRO. This public process will help to refine project elements, including routes and schedules, bus stop locations, and other aspects of the service.

Two meetings will be held in Gorham this month: Tuesday, November 7, from 12:00–2:00 p.m. at Brooks Dining Hall on the USM Gorham Campus and Wednesday, November 15, from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the Gorham Municipal Center, 75 State Street.

The Husky Line will feature a limited stop, higher-speed transit service to the Town of Gorham, connecting the USM Gorham-Portland campuses, and increasing service in Westbrook and the Brighton Avenue corridor in Portland. Additionally, METRO and USM have reached an agreement to provide an unlimited access transit pass program (U-Pass) for the approximately 8,000 students enrolled at USM.

Additional information on METRO and the planned expansion, including an online survey and map indicating proposed routes, is available at gpmetrobus.com or by calling 774-0351.