Transportation & Mobility
In partnership with MaineDOT, MCOG provides transportation technical assistance and planning in the Midcoast region. MCOG works with communities to identify critical transportation issues and projects, with peak traffic and workforce movement issues. Our work supports increasing connectivity and ease of movement throughout the region by encouraging strong transportation networks, multi-modal and sustainable transportation options, as well as resilient infrastructure. Our wide range of expertise covers:
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EV charging
Intersection improvements
Culvert installation or replacement
Surface improvements
Designing resilient roadways: stream & tidal crossings
Parking assessments
Regional transportation planning
Transit planning support
Active transportation planning​
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For any questions related to transportation planning, please contact Adi Philson.
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Thriving Communities Program​
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MCOG, in partnership with LCRPC and MidCoast Public Transportation, is one of 52 applicants selected to receive technical assistance through US Department of Transportation’s Thriving Communities Program (TCP). TCP facilitates the planning and development of transportation and community revitalization activities and provides tools to ensure that under-resourced communities can access the historic funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
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Midcoast lacks an overarching transportation plan or investment strategy, while pressures of traffic congestion, the housing crisis, climate change, and an aging population worsen. While our transportation modes are diverse (ferry, road, air, and rail), our region suffers from transportation insecurity due to the lack of connecting options, limited routes, and inaccessibility of the region to anyone without access to a personal vehicle.
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Our project will focus on the maintenance and further development of an integrated, resilient multimodal transportation system designed for users of all ages, incomes, and abilities that precipitates economic growth and transit-oriented development in the Midcoast area. We have proposed the final product to be a multimodal connectivity plan and rural public transit pilot. Undertaking this project will allow our organizations and the communities we support to identify and develop shovel-ready projects, while providing a regional context through which to leverage federal funding opportunities.
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​To kick off the program, on Monday, September 30, and Tuesday, October 1, 2024, staff of all the organizations in this effort (MCOG, LCRPC, MCPT, RCAP Solutions, and NADO) completed a two-day driving and walking tour of the Midcoast from Brunswick to Searsport. This gave the external capacity building team a chance to see the transportation nuances and challenges of the region including its traffic congestion, tourist influence, and peninsula and island communities. Staff from Bath Iron Works, MaineDOT, and municipal staff from Bath, Camden, and Rockland joined for legs of the tour to provide local knowledge along the route to the out-of-state team. Key points were Cook’s Corner, the Knox County Regional Airport, Rockland Harbor Park, the Downtowns of Bath, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Searsmont, Camden, and Belfast, and the Searsport Town Wharf. See more information below:
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TCP Sept 30 and Oct 1, 2024 Meeting Summaries
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Active Transportation
Communities should strive to make mobility equally accessible to users of all ages and abilities, which includes providing a range of transportation options. Support for walking, biking, and other forms of active transportation is critical to the health and vibrancy of communities. MCOG can help expand and integrate active transportation in your community. Our work encompasses:
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Walkable downtowns & village areas
Sidewalk improvements
Bicycle infrastructure planning
Bike and pedestrian master planning
Safety assessments
Trails & paths development
Street furniture programs
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MaineDOT
Curious about what road work might be coming your way? Check out MaineDOT's 3-year workplan: you can either search by town/municipality or view the interactive workplan map.
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MaineDOT resources:
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Maine's Complete Streets Policy
Working to Move Maine: Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)