Next Stop: South Portland | Scarborough

Help plan the future of Metro with Metro: Next Stop! Greater Portland Metro staff is working on community engagement opportunities with South Portland and Scarborough residents and stakeholders to review current public transportation options and plan for future enhancements.

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"Greater Portland Metro Next Stop: South Portland Scarborough"

Metro is expanding to Scarborough in 2026! Metro has secured federal funding through the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) to launch new transit service in Scarborough. This funding, alongside $65,000 local contribution from the Town of Scarborough and a commitment of $3.5 million over 5 years from the Maine Turnpike Authority, will help Metro launch new service in Scarborough by mid- to late-2026.

Service Profile

The service in Scarborough is expected to have both a fixed-route and an on-demand component. The fixed-route service is expected to serve destinations along Route 1 in Scarborough run to Portland via the Veteran’s Bridge Main Street in South Portland. Specific details on the exact route alignment and timetable have yet to be determined. Additionally, Metro plans to launch an on-demand “microtransit” service in Scarborough and South Portland that will help connect residents to fixed-route transit routes as well as destinations that are outside of Metro’s fixed-route network. Metro already operates a microtransit service in Falmouth, so this would be Metro’s second deployment. More information on microtransit can be found at www.gpmetro.org/connect.

Goals of Transit Service in Scarborough

Metro’s goals for service improvements in Scarborough are as follows:

  • Expand the Metro transit network to include Scarborough, helping enable more travel by transit throughout the Greater Portland region
  • Provide frequent, fast, safe, and simple service between Scarborough and Portland
  • Help achieve local, regional, and statewide traffic and environmental goals

Frequently Asked Questions

Doesn’t Scarborough already have transit service?

Route 1 in Scarborough is currently served by Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach (BSOOB Transit) via it’s Route 60. Metro’s service will likely overlap with Route 60 somewhat, but its destinations are likely to be different. Scarborough residents and visitors will be able to choose the service that works best for them. Metro will continue to coordinate with BSOOB Transit on how these routes can be coordinated to provide the best service for the region.

Will this service run to Campus Drive? The Downs? The VA? Downtown Portland?

Following the public meetings and survey, Metro will consider all public feedback and meet with municipal leadership about the exact alignment of the new route. Metro will announce draft route alignments in Winter/Spring 2026.

Why is Metro expanding to Scarborough instead of improving existing service, or expanding to other areas?

Metro is expanding in Scarborough in part because the Town of Scarborough committed local funding as part of their 2026 budget. All of Metro’s services are funded, in part, by municipal funds. Additionally, Maine Turnpike Authority was particularly interested in funding Scarborough service because of transit’s potential for relieving congestion on the Maine Turnpike between Scarborough and Portland. These two funding sources would not be available for service elsewhere in Metro’s network.

Press Release announcing new service:
/https://conta.cc/43saNcI

In December 2024, Metro began operating Routes 21, 24A, and 24B, which were operated by the City of South Portland for several decades. These routes have historically not been modified to meet changing demand in South Portland. In order to optimize South Portland’s investment in Metro, Metro will be considering how these routes may be modified, considering the following goals:

  • More frequent service — buses come more often
  • More direct service — buses get to their destinations faster; passengers spend less time aboard the bus
  • Service to community resources — good transit service to schools, libraries, municipal offices, medical facilities, public housing, and other resources
  • Simplified service — routes are simple to understand, with clear schedules.
  • Integration with the larger transit network — South Portland’s routes currently prioritize connecting destinations within South Portland, not regional connections.
  • Improved ridership — Transit is an attractive option for more South Portland residents and visitors, and reduces the cost of transit service for South Portland taxpayers.

Metro has committed to serve South Portland with the same level of service, or better, compared to 2024 service levels. That said, changes to service in South Portland may result in transit coverage, movement of bus stops, and/or changes to the route(s) that serve specific destinations — all of which can be disruptive. Our public process will consider all public feedback, stakeholder and municipal input, and the above goals to achieve a transit system in South Portland that has the most benefits for South Portland as possible.

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