South Portland Bus Service
{{Infobox Bus transit
| name = South Portland Bus Service
| logo =
| logo_size =
| image =File:GP Metro 24A & 3.jpg
| image_caption =South Portland Bus Service's route 24A, in front of Greater Portland Metro's route 3 (Westbrook Crosstown), at The Maine Mall (2023)
| company_slogan =
| parent =
| founded =1983
| defunct =2024
| headquarters = 25 Cottage Road
| locale = South Portland, Maine
| service_area = Cumberland County, Maine
| service_type = Public transport bus service, paratransit
| alliance =
| routes = 3
| destinations =
| stops =
| hubs =
| stations =
| lounge =
| fleet =
| fuel_type =
| operator =
| ceo =
| website = [http://www.southportland.org/departments/bus-transportation/ South Portland Bus Service official web site]
}}
South Portland Bus Service was a municipally owned suburban provider of mass transportation. Because the city of South Portland opted out of the Greater Portland Transit District,{{Citation needed|date=January 2024|reason=This needs a reliable source.}} this community ran its own separate three-route bus service from 1983 until 2024, when it merged with the Greater Portland Metro. Two routes serve major shopping areas and loop through major residential streets, funnelling residents locally and giving them access to downtown Portland. A third route provides access to Willard Beach and Southern Maine Community College, with all three routes going to downtown Portland.
Merger with Greater Portland METRO
In 2024, the City Council of South Portland voted unanimously to merge its municipal bus service with the regional Greater Portland METRO bus system. METRO will maintain the same routes, and hire all the existing South Portland bus drivers if they so choose. This change took place December 29, 2024.{{Cite web |title=South Portland Bus to Merge with Greater Portland Metro |url=https://www.southportland.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=172 |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=South Portland, ME |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Routes and Schedules {{!}} Greater Portland Transit, ME |url=https://gpmetro.org/35/Routes-and-Schedules |access-date=2024-12-26 |website=gpmetro.org}}
Routes
- 21 Willard Square/SMCC
- 24A Maine Mall via Main Street
- 24B Maine Mall via Community Center
As of reporting in June 2024, route 21 had an annual ridership of around 70,000 for 2024, while route 24A had around 89,000, and 24B around 56,000.[https://www.gpmetro.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/June-2024-Metro-Ridership-Committee-Packet.pdf Ridership Committee] – Greater Portland Metro, June 18, 2024
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.southportland.org/departments/bus-transportation/ Official website]
{{Maine transit agencies}}
Category:Bus transportation in Maine
Category:South Portland, Maine
Category:Transit agencies in Maine
{{Maine-transport-stub}}