Streetcars in Portland, Maine

Million Dollar Bridge Streetcar

Go to Lewiston at 70mph

Streetcars in Portland, ME

Interurban Era

Interurban Map

Portland-Lewiston Schedule

Portland, ME Streetcar and Interurban 1916

Portland, ME Streetcar Map

Boston and Maine

Portland, ME RR Stations

Streetcar Scandal

Post-War Period

Suburban Subsidy

Victor Gruen’s Plan

•.

Urban Removal in Portland, ME

UnionStation

•Demolished in 1961

Franklin Street Before and After

Today the Tide is Turning

Registered Cars in Portland, ME

Homebuyers want to walk

Transit Ridership Growth

American Streetcar Projects

US Streetcar Systems

Portland, Oregon

Pearl District Redevelopment

Density near Streetcar Lines Portland, OR

Floor Area Ration near Streetcars PDX

Streetcar development CDB PDX

Providence, RI Streetcar Route

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

New Jobs and Residence RI

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Land Use of Streetcar

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Streetcar Development Attributed over Time

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Potential new Property Tax Revenue

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Increase in Property Value

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Maine Transit Today

Metro

•gpmetrobus.com

Regional Transit

•.

What’s next for Portland, ME?

Future Systems

Peninsula Transit Study

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Commercial Street Trolley

Commercial Street Trolly Map

Congress Streetcar

2003 Study of Regional Rail

Thompsons Point TIF Bus Rapid Transit

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Tax Increment Financing

•The State of Maine recently amended TIF law to allow for municipalities to capture property taxes from increased property values and new development and invest the money into transit infrastructure and operations.

Assessment District

•Municipalities can create a TIF district to capture new property value along the transit corridor. Most of the new development will occur within three blocks.

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Increased Development Supports Transit

Federally Funded Streetcar Projects

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

TIFIA Loans Defined

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

TIFIA Loan Amounts

http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf 

TIFIA Loans Pie Chart

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

TIGER Grants Defined

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

TIGER Grants Pie Chart

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

Streetcar Funding

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

Raising Money at the Ballot Box

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

Ballot Measures

•http://reconnectingamerica.org/assets/Uploads/2012T4-Financing-Transit-Guidebook.pdf

Portland Streetcar Circulator

Circulator Impact Area

Circulator Impacts Redevelopment Zones

Circulator with Busses

Circulator, Busses, Light Rail

Spring Street Today

•Spring Street Arterial was part of Victor Gruens Plan. It is 100 feet wide today.•The City of Portland has funds allocated for

redesigning Spring Street.•The Cumberland County Civic Center on the left

is being renovated.

Transforming Spring Street

•What if we removed the jersey barriers?•What if we rebuilt the sidewalk 30 feet inward to

make room for new development such as retail and housing?•What if we created a dedicated transit lane and

planned for a streetcar?

Transforming Spring Street

•What if we sold the new development lots?•What if developers built lot-in to lot-in as it is

allowed in the downtown business zone?•What if the new development and increased

property values was used to invest in transit?

Spring Streetcar!

•What if we invested in a modern streetcar line with low-floor technology?•What if the streetcar circulated around the

downtown?•What if the existing bus lines connected into the

streetcar circulator?

Streetcar Lines Attract Investment

•https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf

Regional Growth

•The Greater Portland region is growing.•Only about one-

third of the region is accessible by transit.•We have rail lines

that are not being used.

Diesel Light Rail

PACTS Region•The metro area is growing fast along the Rt 302 corridor towards Sebago Lake and along I-295 north of Portland•Windham is

the fastest growing town.

•Mountain Division Line Railroad runs from Thompsons Point in Portland to Westbrook, South Windham, and Standish

St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad runs from the eastern waterfront in Portland to Falmouth, and Yarmouth.

Regional Connect

•The two railroads can connect along the Portland waterfront.

•Diesel light rail could provide regular service going up to 79 mph.

•The State of Maine owns most of these railroads.

•There is currently no activity on either railroad.

Regional Transit

•The Maine Line Railroad is owned by PanAm, which has an extensive freight operation.

•Amtrak Downeaster accesses the Maine Line to connect with points between Boston and Brunswick

•Passengers could transfer at Thompsons Point.

•If Amtrak stopped in Yarmouth, then passengers could transfer there as well.

DAMarshall.blogspot.com

•Painting of the San Francisco Cable Car by David A. Marshall

•DAMFineArt/com

•Presentation created by David A. Marshall, City Councilor and Chair of the Transportation, Sustainability, and Energy Committee.