BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor City Council government operations committee gave a unanimous thumbs-up to proceed with a comprehensive Bangor area transportation study that could result in the relocation of hubs like the one at Pickering Square.
Bangor Community Connector Superintendent Joe McNeil went over some of the reasons behind the study, primary among them the fact that the city’s bus service has grown in ridership and outgrown certain areas. The Pickering Square parking garage is one of those areas.
“I don’t know that we have outgrown our current facilities, but we don’t have a lot of room to grow. Right now we’re at capacity,” said McNeil. “What we need to do is take a look at what we are and where we’re going, and how to best serve the city and surrounding areas.”
The study, which will cost $31,250 and be paid for with a Maine Department of Transportation planning grant, should take about two months to complete. It could begin as early as November or December, once the city has put out requests for bids on the study and accepted the best offer.
Councilors on the committee pointed out areas they wish to see evaluated in the study.
“I just don’t want it to overly sample downtown when it comes to possible alternative locations,” said Councilor and Mayor Cary Weston. “I think it would make sense to link the airport with any comprehensive hub plan.
“I’d caution that we not look at this with downtown-tinted glasses.”
When Councilors Ben Sprague and Geoff Gratwick voiced concerns over having budgetary numbers ironed out or at least projected beforehand, McNeil and Bangor City Manager Cathy Conlow pointed out that costs can’t be computed until after the study identifies all — if any — alternative locations for hubs.
“We have no idea on the scope or cost of this project at this point,” said Conlow. “We’ll know much better after the study is completed.”
When asked about the potential cost and methods of funding a systemwide overhaul or less ambitious “tweaking” of certain aspects of the Bangor public transit system, McNeil said it would all have to be paid out of local coffers as the federal government has budgeted a total of just $86,000 in capital equipment grant money for Bangor over the next two years.
When asked what routes were busiest, McNeil identified those serving the Bangor Mall routes and Capehart neighborhoods.
If the hub at Pickering Square were relocated, the city would have to pay back about $50,000 to the Federal Transit Authority, which funded the $100,000 Pickering hub project 20 years ago. Because it was assigned a 40-year lifetime, 50 percent of that cost would have to be repaid.
Bangor’s Community Connector transit system operates with an annual gross operating budget of $1.4 million with $380,000 of that cost being paid annually by Bangor. Surrounding towns that have bus routes in them such as Orono, Brewer and Hampden also share in the annual cost of operation.
We love our studies.
Where is the money problem in the country when they can give a grant to the Bat for $31,250 to study a where the best place to relocate the BAT. What a joke!!!!! How about getting a grant to see how it cost the taxpayers for to support the bat. Millions
Good money after bad. Did anyone think that it might be cheaper to just have everyone call a cab?
You pay for the cab and I will call one every time that I have to go to the doctors and to Hannifords!!
My point was that with all the money being spent, the City could afford to have people take cabs as needed. In other words, they’d pay for it.
I could think up a few solutions, and I wouldnt even charge the 31,000 dollars! Here is some free advice Bangor: Follow Greyhound out to Dysarts.
But in all seriousness, have they considered all that empty land on Maine ave near the airport?
Sure,, Move it way out to the airport and how are people that take the bus going to get to the bus station,, Take a cab????? I can walk down to the station to get a bus to Hannifords but I can’t walk to the airport to get the bus!!!!
ever stop and think they might put a bus on a run downtown? They currently stop at the Bangor House, The Library, and the new senior complex on Harlow street.
Just because the hub is out there does not mean you have to walk there from downtown.
I think this is a great idea yet I also have to wonder how much of this possible moving of the hub is out of the want to relocate the amount of people who choose to hang by the buss hub during the day so it gives downtown a “cleaner” look. If that is part of the reasoning then it will surely fail in some degree because the intent was not honest. We must deal with each issue as a separate issue and in a way that truly puts the matter to rest.
The “search” is similar to the one that squeezed the U.S. Post Office between the County Jail and Franklin Street in Bangor.
That move was as “convenient” as a $31, 000 study which will result in re-locating the bus “somewhere” so customers have to take a taxi and a compass to find and board it.
Think “convenience” Bangor. Think and think again when you flash $31 grand around to find a place to hide the bus from the people who really “need” it.
Think “Brewer” – Bangor. Take a look at the “convenient” Post Office built to “accommodate people.” Easy parking. Drive Thru Window and Drive By Mail Boxes. Easy – simple, and “conveniently” accommodating people who use the U.S. Post Office.
Obviously, Downtown Bangor merchants want to get rid of the bus and its customers. It’s a distraction – like the Fitzgerald sculpture and fountain, that added a little class Downtown amid the beer pumps and drunks.
As a free suggestion, it’s doubtful that anyone tells mom, dad, or the kids, they’re going to catch the “Community Connector.” So why not return to the plain old “simple” and more “convenient” title: “Bus?” Too “simple?”
Although offered free of charge, a portion of the $31,000 could be used to establish a fund which will be used to celebrate Le Page’s last day in office. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and plenty of fireworks are in the offing statewide.