Working toward a sensible solution that honors community and regional transportation goals.
What is the Gorham Connector Project?
The Gorham Connector is a proposed measure to improve safety and mobility west of Portland by linking the Maine Turnpike at Exit 45 to the Gorham Bypass off Route 114 in Gorham.
This proposed project would provide many benefits for the communities of Gorham, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook and the region. Primarily, the project would improve connections to both the Maine Turnpike and the Maine Turnpike/I-295, reducing cut-through traffic on neighborhood roads.
What is the vision of this project?
To ultimately return local roadways back to being neighborhood and village roads that can safely accommodate local traffic, buses, bike and pedestrian lanes. This is achieved by removing all the through and commuter traffic from these roads.
What are the benefits of this project?
The Gorham Connector Project will align with the Maine Climate Action Plan by combining with other GHG emission reduction strategies, such as additional park-and-ride facilities, electric vehicle charging stations, and enhanced transit opportunities.
This project will also reduce commute times, enhance safety by reducing traffic volumes at high crash locations, alleviate regional congestion and is self-funded by tolls, not taxes. The connector serves as the final piece of a long-term vision, linking the Gorham Bypass to the interstate, to deliver a long-term and sustainable transportation solution for the region.
Where are we with the project?
To thoroughly consider community and stakeholder input received to date, the project is currently resetting public engagement.
We continue to thoroughly evaluate public feedback, analyzing other alternative solutions, alignments, and mitigation strategies, even if they were previously dismissed. This analysis will continue to consider public feedback, current travel patterns, recent traffic volumes and forecasts, municipal land use strategies, transit opportunities, and other relevant information.
This will also provide time for a new Maine Turnpike Authority Executive Director to be selected, and enable MTA to continue coordination with MaineDOT, including on the active transportation and transit opportunity studies in communities west of Portland.
While this project continues to evolve in response to feedback received, there is no fixed schedule for filing environmental permit applications.
How did we get here?
The idea of improved roadway connections between Portland and areas west has been contemplated since 1988, and support by numerous actions of the communities of Gorham, Scarborough, South Portland, and Westbrook, as well as the Maine Legislature.
What are the next steps?
Our goals for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025 are as follows:
- Scope of Additional Analysis: Identifying the specific areas where further analysis is required, determining who will lead these efforts, and deciding who will be involved in reviewing the findings of the 2012 study.
- Developing a Comprehensive Public Engagement Plan: A new public engagement plan will be developed for 2025, allowing ample time and opportunity for thorough community involvement.
- Keep the Public Informed: Updating the public on the progress of the project and providing better context on the historical work are essential. Doing so will help ensure that the public and community leaders have a complete and balanced understanding of the project’s history, need and development.
How can the public get involved?
We appreciate your engagement and feedback! It helps us improve the project.
To share your feedback, please use the MTA comment form.
Every comment will be carefully reviewed by the Gorham Connector Project Team and considered by the Maine Turnpike Authority Board before making any decisions about the Gorham Connector.
Please also note that the first community input session was held on Monday, March 25th, 2024. Details on upcoming public engagement opportunities will be made available soon.