Offers roadmap for expanding transportation options locally and statewide
PORTLAND – Reliable transportation is vital in connecting people to essential services, work, education, and more – but Maine’s rural makeup, reliance on personal vehicles and limited public transportation options create widespread access challenges. An estimated 40,000 Maine households do not have a vehicle and 10,500 Mainers are unemployed due to a lack of transportation. Public transit options currently meet only 11 percent of the state’s total need for rides and many families spend more on transportation costs than housing, healthcare, or food.
These are just a few of the findings in Moving Toward Solutions: Addressing the Transportation Challenges of Maine Families, a new report released by the John T. Gorman Foundation. Prepared by Maine Applied Research, the report underscores the essential role transportation plays in supporting economic stability and opportunity. It details widespread gaps in transportation access and the cascading barriers these create for families, rural Mainers, and other groups. And it presents a roadmap for expanding transportation options in local communities and across the state.
“Through our partnerships, we have seen transportation issues frequently surface as a barrier to families who are working to solidify their financial footing and create opportunities,” said Nicole Witherbee, president & CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation. “Even a small setback – a flat tire, a misaligned bus schedule or a canceled ride – can be enough to prevent or threaten the progress of families who are living on razor-thin margins.”
In the Foundation’s two-generation work to support children and their caregivers, transportation has consistently proven to be a major hurdle for Maine families. Inadequate or unreliable options can cut off access to the employment, education, and other services families need to pursue a brighter future.
In addition to highlighting these challenges, the report shares possible approaches to addressing them – using examples of successful initiatives in Maine and beyond, including the ones below.
– Don’t Despair Car Repair – an initiative of Franklin County’s Tri-Valley United Way – provides funding for eligible area residents to make essential vehicle repairs.
– In the Lewiston-Auburn region, Western Maine Transportation Services has partnered with the Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to launch WorxLink, a highly successful low-fee shuttle service that transports workers to employers throughout the area.
– Organizations in York County are collaborating to implement Mobility Management, an innovative model for better coordinating services across transportation modes and providers.
The report calls on nonprofit, business, community, and state leaders to recognize the vital role transportation plays in helping families achieve economic security and well-being. It also highlights holistic approaches to transportation planning and investment that can balance the diverse and evolving needs of Maine people.
“Like housing and childcare, transportation access deserves our full attention,” Witherbee said. “To build a stronger future for the state’s families and economy, we need a system that works better for all Mainers. Achieving this will require collaboration, innovation, and new approaches. Working together, we can get there.”
The full report is available here at https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2025/04/new-report-addressing-the-transportation-challenges-of-maine-families/
The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. This focus on strengthening children and families reflects the recognition of our founder Tom Gorman that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those with fewer advantages opportunities to succeed.