VISION 2043

The Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) is a document that provides a vision for the future transportation system in the BACTS area. This includes a review of area infrastructure such as roads, bridges, bike/ped facilities, buses, and trucks. The MTP process includes hearing from the public to plan and prioritize funding for future transportation improvements.

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) are local transportation planning agencies that are responsible for creating regional transportation plans like the MTP. The Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS) includes all or part of Bangor, Brewer, Penobscot Indian Island, Veazie, Bradley, Hampden, Hermon, Milford, Old Town, Orono, and Orrington.

 Link: Stakeholder Outreach Plan 

COVID-19 Impact. The COVID-19 pandemic changed how BACTS area residents live, work and travel. This MTP was developed with COVID-19 impacts in mind. While the long term effects on transportation are unknown, this MTP helps plan for an uncertain future.

The Greater Bangor Region will have a safe and sustainable transportation network, including infrastructure and services, that supports equity, efficiency, and community goals.

To use a data-driven, performance-based metropolitan transportation plan (MTP) there needs to be a clear vision for the future. As such, identifying goals and objectives is critical for establishing a strategic direction for the plan.

Maintain. There is a lack of funding to meet current and future needs of the transportation system. As such, funding should be prioritized to maintain and optimize the existing system over expansion, or construction of new facilities to ensure long term sustainability.

Fund. Current transportation funding is inadequate to meet the current and future needs of the transportation system. BACTS must continue to research opportunities for additional funding to increase funding for transportation in the future, safeguard existing funding and increase revenues to support system maintenance, modernization, and strategic growth, as well as increase fiscal awareness among all stakeholders.

Connect. Providing a strong connected network of roads and active transportation facilities is key in decreasing congestion, reducing travel distances and times, improving the routing of public transportation, and reducing walking and biking distances. Connectivity is defined as the measurement of a system of roads with multiple routes and linkages serving the same origins and destinations. However, system connectivity not only relates to the number of intersections or routes in the system but also how the entire region is connected by the transportation system. BACTS should look for opportunities to improve connections between people and places.

Prepare. With advancing technologies, climate change impacts and significant demographic shifts looming in the future, BACTS must proactively prepare for the next-generation transportation system. As such, BACTS should focus on asset management strategies to fund projects based on data, lean into green infrastructure and climate resiliency strategies, and be adaptive to new innovative technologies.

BACTS employs performance-based planning methods to translate long-term visions into measurable goals and objectives, guiding decisions and measuring success. The safety measures are updated annually, and road condition performance measures are refreshed every three years. This approach offers numerous benefits, including improved decision-making on infrastructure investments, optimized resource allocation, enhanced long-term system performance, increased transparency, accountability, and a direct correlation between system performance and funding. Additionally, BACTS adopts the performance measures tracked by MDOT, further reinforcing its data-driven approach.

With public input from public meetings and survey results, a vision for the greater Bangor region sought improved quality of life, safety improvements, and environmental conservation. With that input, goals were crafted to reflect that vision to 2043. By engaging the public in the planning process BACTS aims to foster a community spirit of inclusiveness and ownership of the process.

 Link: Outreach Photos 

 Link: Pop Up Exercise Photos 

 Link: Vision and Goals Survey Open Ended Questions Analysis 

 Link: Vision and Goals Survey Responses 

Link: Final Vision and Goals

By establishing the above clear criteria, vison, and goals, the MPO can make informed decisions that maximize the benefits of transportation investments and contribute to the overall development of the region. The Informed Goals identified through public input were used in consideration for the creation of a complete project weighting system that can aid towns in determining projects they ultimately select.

 Link: BACTS VISION 2043 - Prioritization Rubric 

BACTS conducted significant outreach to the public as well as municipal staff to identify area of concerns and potential projects to include in the Plan. In addition, other recent plans such as the Long-Range Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation Plan and BACTS Metropolitan Transportation Plan 2018-2038 were researched to document projects identified previously for consideration.

Project rankings for systemic projects were determined by evaluating all projects against the priorities listed above.

Project rankings for site specific projects were determined by evaluating all projects against the priorities listed above.

The City of Bangor has completed a Community Connector electrification plan and is seeking implementation support from BACTS in the coming years which BACTS is committed to partnering and providing assistance for the plan's successful execution. Similarly, upon the completion of a Rail Feasibility Study for the Bangor Region by MaineDOT, BACTS is positioned to provide resources to analyze fixed route transit connections.

Federal statute requires MPOs, like BACTS, to plan transportation projects within fiscal constraints, limiting pursuits to realistically fundable projects. The metropolitan transportation plan serves to identify future needs and allocate resources responsibly. Since a majority of funding goes towards system maintenance, limited funds are available for new projects or expansion. Prioritization and creative approaches, along with alternative funding opportunities, become crucial. A financial assessment evaluates projected funding allocation for both MPO and MaineDOT projects in the region, determining feasibility based on anticipated costs and available funding.

The projects, studies, and policies outlined here have to go through additional selection/planning processes to go into implementation (TIP, UPWP, study). Many of which will only be implemented if and when additional funds become available through formula increases or discretionary grants.