Background Information
The Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) is developing a master plan and Environmental Assessment (EA) for an intermodal transportation facility/welcome center/bus maintenance facility in Trenton, Maine, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Department of the Interior/National Park Service’s Directors Order 12 (DO-12) and Handbook. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will be the lead federal agency for the preparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA). The National Park Service (NPS) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will be cooperating agencies.
The MaineDOT is working with Acadia National Park (ANP), Friends of Acadia (FOA), Downeast Transportation Inc. (DTI), and the City of Trenton to develop a facility in Trenton, Maine. This facility would look to serve at least four functions:
- it would provide a place for day use visitors and commuters to leave their cars and ride the Island Explorer transit system;
- it would offer visitor information about Acadia National Park and the surrounding region;
- it will provide visitor amenities, such as restrooms, phones, and perhaps complementary commercial services; and,
- it would provide DTI with offices, a light bus maintenance area, secure fleet storage, and a fueling location. Other facilities might also be accommodated on the site. The four primary functions could be in separate facilities and phased in over time.
This planning effort will build upon numerous previous studies, including the Bangor to Trenton Corridor Study; the Strategic Management Plan for Route 3 and Trenton Village; the NPS planning charrette and needs assessment for the transportation hub and welcome center; and the Island Explorer project agreement.
Background
- A facility in Trenton would give travelers the opportunity to access bus service before they arrive on Mount Desert Island. This supports Phase 3 of the Island Explorer initiative, which calls for servicing day use visitors.
- ANP’s Hulls Cove visitor center is small, and being located in Bar Harbor, is not properly sited to adequately address information needs of all visitors to the Mount Desert Island region.
- The Park has studied the need for a new visitor welcome center and supports a Trenton site.
- The MaineDOT has been working with ANP on conceptual planning for a shared facility for many years.
- ANP is prohibited from acquiring property outside of the existing Park boundaries.
- Friends of Acadia, a not-for-profit organization, has secured an option on a 369-acre property in Trenton, called, “Crippens Creek”. This property was selected by MaineDOT as the best location for a shared intermodal transportation hub/welcome center/bus maintenance facility. Friends of Acadia’s option will expire on this property in 2006, and a decision to purchase the property must be made by October 2006.
- There are opportunities for public – private development of the facilities at Crippens Creek. The property may serve as a gateway to Downeast Maine, providing travelers with information of other destinations in Hancock and Washington Counties.
- This site supports the MaineDOT, Hancock County Planning Commission (HCPC), and Town of Trenton’s Route 3 Alternative Study. This study will promote access management and may assist Trenton in developing a concept of local streets that will support business development off of Route 3 and may enhance ease of travel through the region.
- DTI, the operator of the Island Explorer, requires a maintenance facility, fueling station, office space, and storage areas to fully support bus operations.
- The Trenton Facility is planned to be one of a number of statewide intermodal facilities envisioned to provide flexible connections between potential transportation modes. As outlined in Explore Maine, the Strategic Passenger Transportation Plan, these facilities will be interconnected into a system of transportation hubs that provide access to different geographic regions within the state.
This page last updated on
3/31/09
