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| Gorham's
geographical location places it in close proximity
to a variety of transportation resources suitable
for business and industry. The regional road
network links the Town to many nearby transportation
facilities and services, allowing companies
in Gorham to reach markets around the world. |
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Gorham
Regional Highway Network
Gorham
has a busy, and rapidly growing highway
network that supports a government center,
a USM campus and a growing residential and
industrial sector. In 1998, the Maine Department
of Transportation (MDOT) reported that Gorham
contained 24.28 miles (39.3 km) of arterial
roadway, 19.94 miles (32.3 km) of collector
roadway and 98.64 (159.8 km) miles of local
roadway. This is nearly double the roadway
within the town in 1990.
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Traffic Counts in Gorham |
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| Growing
population and residential development has
resulted in increased commuter volumes and
resultant traffic congestion within the Gorham
Village. An examination of the highest daily
traffic counts illustrates increased congestion
since 1988, particularly in the Village area
(see below). While the roadway system in Gorham
has had difficulties keeping pace with the
past rise in growth and development, the Industrial
Park has been less impacted by traffic congestion
because it is situated outside the Village
area. |
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| Traffic
Counts on Major Thoroughfares |
| Road |
1995
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1997
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1998
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1999
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2000
|
| County
Road |
20,000
|
22,060
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24,420
|
n/a
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22,430
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| Main
Street-Downtown |
20,540
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
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22,550
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| Route
25-West of Village |
n/a
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13,690
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n/a
|
n/a
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14,840
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| Route
202/4-Buxton T.L. |
4,680
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5,080
|
n/a
|
n/a
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5,840
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| Route
114 (South Street) |
12,170
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12,870
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n/a
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n/a
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14,220
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| Route
25-East of Route 237 |
16,340
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15,170
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n/a
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n/a
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16,240
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| Source:
Department of Transportation |
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Commuter
traffic between Gorham and Portland is an
issue, but congestion problems from through
traffic occurs primarily at the major intersection
in Town. The Gorham Industrial Park, however,
has access to both Route 25 and New Portland
Road, allowing for convenient travel to several
regional transportation points.
Gorham's traffic problems continue to be studied
by state, regional and local officials through
the Gorham
Bypass Study. The solution to the existing
problem of traffic congestion along Routes
114 and 22 in South Gorham and Routes 114,
25 and 202 in the Village Center will ultimately
be a regional solution. MDOT and the Town
have funded improvements that can be made
to the existing road network and traffic signal
system in the downtown area to ease congestion
that currently occurs at peak commuter hours.
The Town is also poised to use TIF funds to
build a bypass (or bypasses) around the Village
Center.
The Gorham Industrial Park, which is located
to the east of Gorham Village, is not impacted
by congestion in the Village or South Gorham.
The Industrial
Park is easily and conveniently accessed
from the north and east via Routes 25, 237
and New Portland Road. In anticipation of
additional development near and in the expanded
Industrial Park, the Town is working with
the MDOT on a plan for a new access road. |
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| Transportation
Facilities and Services |
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Air:
The Portland International Jetport is located
in South Portland, less than 10 miles (16.1
km) from Gorham. In 2000, there were 1,340,000
total boardings, with 120 daily flights on
8 major airlines. The airport provides nonstop
service to and from Washington, D.C., Chicago,
New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Newark,
Boston, Pittsburgh, Albany, Detroit, Atlanta
and Bangor, Maine. Regularly scheduled service
is offered by carriers such as Delta, United,
Continental, and US Airways.
Aside from passenger service, the Portland
Jetport also provides freight and express
mail transport. Federal Express and Airborne
Express both base large jet operations in
Portland, giving local business reliable and
convenient air cargo service. In addition,
the Jetport also has two fixed base operators
offering round-the-clock charter service on
propeller and turbine aircraft. Facilities
for private and corporate aircraft are also
maintained.
Port
of Portland:
Located only 8 miles (12.9 km) from Gorham's
Industrial Park, the Port of Portland acts
as a major distribution point for consumer
and industrial goods. The Port encompasses
2,074 acres, has 51,620 linear feet of wharf
space, and its natural deep water, ice-free
harbor is one of the deepest and best-protected
on the east coast. Its main ship channel is
1,100 feet, with a depth of 45 feet at mean
low water.
In the harbor area there are two major cargo
facilities. The International Terminal is
utilized by Hapag-Lloyd American Inc., a major
shipper that provides weekly container service
connecting to United States, Far Eastern and
European destinations. Adjacent customs facilities
allow overseas products to be shipped and
cleared directly through Portland. The privately
owned Merrill's Marine Terminal has 900 feet
of berthing and handles mostly bulk shipping
materials. Coal is a major product passing
through this terminal.
Regularly scheduled ferry service to Nova
Scotia for both freight and passengers is
available from late spring to early fall.
Rail:
There is no passenger or industrial rail service
located directly in Gorham at this time. The
Maine Central Railroad's Mountain Division
Line which runs through the Town was used
to carry freight through southwestern Maine,
but the facility is at present inactive.
However, the nearby cities of Westbrook, Portland
and South Portland are tied into rail networks
throughout Maine, the continental United States
and Canada. Access to intermodal facilities
can be obtained in Ayer, Massachusetts, for
south and westbound traffic and Auburn, Maine,
for freight traveling to northern destinations.
Another company providing rail freight service
out of the Portland area is the St. Lawrence
& Atlantic Railroad, which operates lines
running primarily to northern and southern
destinations.
Bus: The Town of Gorham has access
to a number of different local and regional
bus services. Although there is no conventional
service in Town, a shuttle bus is maintained
for USM students and faculty to travel between
the Gorham and Portland campuses.
Citizens eligible for social services can,
upon request, obtain transportation through
the Regional Transportation Program, Inc.
(RTP), a nonprofit corporation that provides
transportation services. Route services are
available to the general public on a fare
basis, as well as a prearranged demand-response
(door-to-door) service.
METRO
is a fixed route city bus service for Portland
and Westbrook. This service operates seven
major bus routes from its timed-transfer hub
called Pulse, which is located in downtown
Portland. Bus route #4 has four stops daily
at Pine Knoll Terrace, just east of the Gorham
Industrial Park.
Intercity bus service is available through
three carriers in the Greater Portland Region.
Vermont Transit, an affiliate of Greyhound
Lines, provides daily northbound service to
Bangor and southbound to Boston. Concord Trailways
also connects Portland with Bangor and Boston,
but in addition serves Boston's Logan Airport.
Mermaid Transportation operates daily direct
service only from Portland to Logan Airport. |
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Daily Intercity
Bus Service To/From Portland
|
Carrier
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Lewiston
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Bangor
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Boston
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Logan Airport
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Vermont Transit
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4
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6
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12
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0
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Concord Trailways
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0
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6
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12
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11
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Mermaid Transp.
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0
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0
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0
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10
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Source:
Greater Portland Travel and Demand Study
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