Cushing's Point Transportation Study

From 2020 to 2021, GPCOG partnered with the City of South Portland to study opportunities for improving travel and reducing congestion along the Broadway corridor from the Casco Bay Bridge to Cushing's Point in South Portland. Connecting SMCC, Bug Light Park, the Ferry Village neighborhood and more with Knightville and the Casco Bay Bridge, this section of Broadway is a critical link in the region's transportation network. As the area grows, we need to be sure Broadway is safe and convenient, no matter how you get around.

Broadway is a truly multimodal corridor, used by people driving, riding the bus, walking, and biking. New traffic signal technologies can prioritize buses so they don't have to wait as long at red lights. New sidewalks and crosswalks can make the street safer and more convenient for people walking. New bike lanes can make the street safer for people biking. Just north of Broadway is the Greenbelt Pathway. Improvements to this space can make an already great connection even better.

This study also looked at introducing ferry service between the SMCC area and downtown Portland. This could help alleviate traffic on Broadway, the Casco Bay Bridge, and in downtown Portland. Particularly as the area grows, a future ferry service could play an important role in the region's transportation system.

Ultimately, this study underscores the region's key goals of developing a transportation system that enhances and prioritizes safety, mobility, economic development, and environmental quality for everyone.

  Read the study's final report

 Neighborhood background

This section of Broadway is a significant transportation corridor for the region. PACTS' long-range transportation plan, Destination 2040, identifies it as a priority corridor that links the priority centers of Knightville/Mill Creek and Bug Light/SMCC. The corridor is also served by transit and runs parallel to the popular Greenbelt Walkway.

The area is likely to see increased growth in the future. South Portland’s Comprehensive Plan envisions moderate-density housing and walkable neighborhood centers. To accommodate anticipated growth and maintain the existing character of the neighborhoods, it will be important to reduce congestion and promote alternative modes of transportation, namely walking, bicycling and transit.

Funding

The study was funded by the Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System, the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the greater Portland region. The City of South Portland was a project partner.

Study area