Streetcars in Portland, Maine is a presentation created by David A. Marshall. The slideshow as first presented in September 2012 at the event, "Green Evolution: Streetcars in the 21st Century in Maine" at the Maine Irish Heritage Center. Marshall a City Councilor in Portland, Maine and the Chair of the Transportation, Sustainability, and Energy
45. Thompsons Point TIF Bus
Rapid Transit
• https://mereda.org/documents/eventmaterials/event338_handout.pdf
46. 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.
47. 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
63. 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.
64. 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?
65. 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?
66. 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?
68. 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.
70. •The metro PACTS Region
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.
71. •Mountain Division
Line Railroad runs St. Lawrence and
from Thompsons Atlantic Railroad runs
Point in Portland from the eastern
to waterfront in Portland to
Westbrook, South Falmouth, and
Windham, and Yarmouth.
72. 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.
73. 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.
74. •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, Su
stainability, and
Energy
Committee.
DAMarshall.blogspot.com