If
you are not on board with Regional Transportation Program (RTP) bus service there
is no time like the present to get with the program. RTP has been around since
its establishment in 1976 when it was formed by combining the transportation
services provided by the Portland Chapter of the American Red Cross,
York-Cumberland Senior Services and the Social Services of the Greater Portland
Transit District. Today, RTP is a United Way agency that provides low-cost
transportation to the elderly, social service agency clients, the economically
disadvantaged and persons with disabilities throughout Cumberland County with
the exception of Brunswick and Harpswell.
With
a fleet of 36 plus lift-equipped buses and vans, 30 agency certified drivers
and a volunteer program that involves more than 30 drivers, RTP serves
over 3,000 people countywide each year, providing more than a 600 rides a day
to people who need to get to medical appointments, grocery shopping, work and
other places.
Fast
forward and you have RTP servicing 27 towns. But it is the addition of a
particular service that is catching the attention of those in our local area
seeking city like transportation. RTP bus service is now in its third year of
operation. It is a dedicated bus route for the Lakes Region area which includes
daily runs from Portland to Naples with a minimal amount of stops. Since then
it has gone through a name change and expanded service. Just under a year ago
it became the Lakes Region Explorer and now provides its regular and affordable
public bus service to Bridgton including stops along the way in Naples, Casco,
Raymond, Windham and Westbrook. The Explorer is a comfortable air conditioned
bus that seats 20 people, including room for two wheelchairs and a rack for
those bike riders who perhaps may be seeking optional access to trails within
the region.
For
added convenience the Explorer also makes connections to the Metro bus system
in Westbrook and ends at the Metro’s hub on Elm Street in Portland. In addition
to the scheduled stops, the driver will make a few extra pickups and drop-offs
providing such accommodations are safe and do not cause the bus to run behind
schedule.
The
service provides four-round trips between Bridgton and Portland each weekday
starting in Bridgton at 6 a.m. and ending back in Bridgton at 10:15 p.m. This
schedule now opens many doors for individuals who may have run out of transportation
options.
A
recent survey conducted by GPCOG and TOA of over 400 Lakes Region residents
confirms strong support for the service. Of particular interest is one in six
expressed the importance of removing barriers, the biggest being that the lack
of a vehicle or reliable access to transportation creates an obstacle to
employment for them. To read the full report on the survey, visit www.gpcog.org/transportation-land-use/transit/regional-passenger-survey/
This
public bus service is made possible through the efforts and support of many
individuals, businesses and governmental entities that work closely with RTP. Some
notable developments over the past year include: Service extended to Bridgton,
new branding for the Lakes Region Explorer, the creation of additional stops,
and confirmation that the Town of Windham will receive a Community Development
Block Grant from Cumberland County to underwrite the cost of 10-ride tickets
for low to moderate income riders. Most importantly, RTP is pleased to announce
that the five Lakes Region towns served by the Explorer have, again, agreed to
fund the service a total of $43,624 for the fiscal year of July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017.
As
RTP executive director Jack DeBeradandio explains, in addition to this support
from the participating towns, RTP receives financial support from the Federal
Transportation Administration and the Maine Department of Transportation. Also,
the Community Transportation Association of America provided funds to assist in
promoting this service. To this end DeBeradandio happily stated “there isn’t
any foreseen cause in the near future to raise the cost of fares.” He should
know because he has been with RTP for a total of 21 years. His 17 years of experience
as the director of finance and administration has been advantageous in his 4-year
current position as executive director.
DeBeradandio
proudly added that in the first year of service, the Explorer provided 5,375
one-way trips for individuals going to work, medical appointments, shopping,
school, summer camps, recreation and personal visits. During the second year of
service which ended December 2015, the Explorer provided 6,462 trips
representing a 20 percent increase. With additional promotional efforts and
resources, he projects that the annual trips will increase to more than 8,500
in the current calendar year. When asked about the overall success of this
program, DeBeradandio replied with much enthusiasm, “We are very pleased with
the support and commitment received by the five participating municipalities. This
coupled with the generous contributions such as those recently made by the John
T. Gorman Foundation of $15,000 and a $15,000 gift from the Sam L. Cohen
Foundation exemplify RTP’s shared importance.”
Along
with this transportation option being economical it is also ecological. Utilizing
RTP’s hybrid-fueled bus, the service promotes energy and environmental
conservation by reducing the dependence on single occupancy vehicles,
subsequent fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The Explorer also helps
to reduce congestion on the heavily traveled Route 302 corridor and reduces
transportation costs for the riders while providing access to the fixed route
system in Portland. At its annual meeting in June, RTP received a Recognition
Award from the Greater Portland Council of Governments for its participation in
this new public bus service.
Located
at 127 St. John Street in Portland, RTP runs routes across Cumberland County
each day, doing door-to-door rider pickups and drop-offs. Additional
information on schedules, stops and fares they can be obtained by calling
774-2666 or visit them at www.rtprides.org.
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