The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Portland, Maine region. It was established to improve the coordination of transportation planning and investment decisions by state, municipal and public transportation organizations. To learn more click here.

PACTS Happenings:

Annual Report 2009

DRAFT UPWP for 2009 - 2011

PACTS TIP Process Committee:
Results of PACTS High Priority Projects Regional Survey

PACTS High Priority Projects

PACTS 2008 Annual Report

Governor Authorizes Funding for Bridge Improvements

Portland Peninsula Transit Study

Annual Listing of Obligated Projects
PACTS TIP for FY 2008 to FY 2011

PACTS Annual Report 2009

The Unified Planning Work Program is the budget and scope of work that PACTS, GPCOG, SMRPC and consultants will do based on funding from the Federal Highway and Transit Administrations, and match funding provided by MaineDOT and our other member agencies and governments.  We began developing this in January 2009.  We expect the Policy Committee to adopt it on May 21st, so it is still in draft form.  The two year period is July 2009 to June 2011.  The introduction includes an overview of public comments received.

PACTS TIP PROCESS COMMITTEE: PACTS has reconvened its Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Process Committee for fiscal years 2012-2013. The TIP is the assessment of priorities for Federally-funded transportation project implementation in the PACTS metropolitan area. The TIP serves as a link between project planning and implementation and is an integral part of the transportation planning process in the metropolitan area. TIP Projects may be proposed or developed by PACTS representatives, or by state, regional, or local officials.The Committee meets monthly.

Results of PACTS’ High Priority Projects (HPP) Regional Survey

In August 2008, PACTS surveyed 600 residents of its 15 municipality region to help its HPP Subcommittee make recommendations about transportation priorities for the region in the coming years.  The survey found that while the top priorities for survey respondents were for road improvement projects –- namely, I-295 lane improvements in Portland, and a new Veterans’ Memorial Bridge (top priorities for 41% of respondents) –- the replacement of public transit vehicles, and new commuter passenger rail service between Portland and Brunswick were high priorities as well (top priorities for 35% of respondents).  The recent increases in gas prices have affected nearly two-thirds of respondents’ transportation choices – residents in both urban AND rural areas of the PACTS region indicated that they would like more public transportation options.  Click here to download the complete results report and survey. 

If you have questions or would like more information about the HPP Survey, contact Carl Eppich, PACTS Transportation Planner.

PACTS High Priority Projects

Click here for the candidate list of High Priority Projects (HPP) in priority order.  Click here for a narrative of the HPP listing.  Click here for Public Comments regarding the HPP list.

PACTS 2008 Annual Report (Please allow a few seconds to download)

Governor Authorizes Funding for Bridge Improvements

Governor Baldacci signed into law (on April 17, 2008) a bill that authorizes the issuance of $160 million in revenue bonds for the purpose of making capital improvements to bridges during the next four years.  This supplements $280 million already budgeted by MaineDOT for bridge improvements.  Click here for a list of the bridges.  Click here for a summary of the Bridge Investment Plan. 

Portland Peninsula Transit Study

On January 23rd the Portland Peninsula Transit Study Committee met for the first time at Portland City Hall.  PACTS has funded this study to provide the City with an evaluation which emphasizes public and human-powered transit as a preferred feasible alternative to single-occupancy vehicles. The study evaluation will include the potential, methods, and benefits of expanding and optimizing a transportation system for the Portland Peninsula. The Committee intends the study to result in a plan for implementation based on established local and regional transportation policies.  For more information <Click Here>.

Annual Listing of Obligated Projects

The PACTS Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a listing of transportation projects over a four-year period which will be paid for at least in part with money from the Federal Highway Administration or Federal Transit Administration.  To ensure that the public will have an accurate understanding of how federal funds are actually being spent on transportation projects, Title 23, Code of Federal Regulations, part 450.332 requires metropolitan planning organizations to publish an annual listing of project obligations for the preceding program year.

What are "project obligations"?  In order to begin work on any phase of a transportation project, federal funds must be obligated. This means that the money is set aside for that particular piece of work, and then can be used to pay bills.

Project Listing.  The following link will take you to a list of projects in the PACTS area for which MaineDOT obligated federal funds in federal fiscal year 2007.  Click here for list of projects.

The PACTS Draft Transportation Improvement Program for FY 2008 to FY 2011

PACTS staff is working with the Maine Department of Transportation to prepare our list of federally funded highway and public transportation projects that will be considered during the next four years.  This list, called the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), is a subset of the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) which the MaineDOT will submit to the Federal Transit and Highway Administrations in August.  The federal agencies need to approve the TIP and STIP no later than October 1st in order for all existing federally-funded projects in our region to continue in a seamless manner and for new projects to begin as early as possible.

PACTS held a public hearing on July 23rd at 5:00 p.m. at the GPCOG office at 68 Marginal Way in Portland.  The Policy Committee will endorse the PACTS TIP for FY 2008 to 2011 on August 16th.  Staff will brief the Policy Committee on the public comments received.

At this time the draft PACTS TIP is two lists:one with FTA-funded projects and the other with FHWA-funded ones.  Please click on the documents below in order to open them. 

FTA funded projects for FY 2008 TIP
FHWA funded projects for FY2008 TIP

Please contact staff at PACTS, SMRPC and GPCOG with your questions or comments on the lists of projects and on how we develop the lists, and with any other related questions or suggestions.