Senator Collins Announces $240,000 to Support Transportation for Vulnerable Mainers

Washington, D.C.—U.S. Senator Susan Collins, the Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) received $240,000 from the Department of Transportation’s Access and Mobility Partnership Grants Program. 

The funding, which will support GPCOG’s Mobility Solutions for Maine proposal, will improve transportation options for older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income individuals and families by supporting coordination between health care providers and transit agencies as well as technology improvements such as smart phone apps for booking transportation services. 

GPCOG will also work with the Maine Department of Transportation to convene a statewide mobility management network, which will serve as a platform for increasing interagency cooperation in southern Maine. A network steering committee will share best practices for mobility management, troubleshoot problems, spur innovation, and leverage funding.  In addition, GPCOG will develop a resource and referral service in York and Cumberland counties that can serve as a model for other parts of Maine.

“GPCOG has been leading recent efforts to establish a multi-sector collaboration to improve Mainers’ access to transportation.  This is particularly important given the significant transportation challenges older and rural Mainers face.” said Senator Collins.  “This project will help develop a mobility management network for Maine to spur innovation and benefit underserved populations, improving transportation options for years to come.”

“With this grant, we’ll be bringing people and technologies together to innovate and improve transportation options for people all across Maine,” said Kristina Egan, Executive Director of GPCOG.  “GPCOG is proud to be partnering with the Maine Department of Transportation to lead the state in this collaborative effort to enhance mobility.”

The Mobility Solutions for Maine project is the culmination of several years of partnership building and goal-setting between the Maine Department of Transportation and stakeholder organizations representing planning, human services, aging and disability, health care, public health, transportation, and housing.