Next Stop: South Portland

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

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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.

Timeline

Metro staff plans to present updates at South Portland City Council on March 10, 2026. Materials presented at that workshop will be posted here shortly after the meeting.

Given budgetary constraints, it is possible that cost-neutral modifications to South Portland service will take place in 2026. More significant improvements will be envisioned in 2026, but may not be implemented until funding is available. Metro is also limited by the size of our bus fleet, which is near capacity for our service levels; expanding bus fleet is contingent on funding levels and is limited by our maintenance facility.

Public Workshops

In November, Metro staff held project workshops in South Portland and Scarborough.
If you missed our workshop, click on the presentation below for the information presented.

Please check back for updates and information.