Portland Progress

Transportation and Land use
15 IN PROGRESS

3 NOT STARTED

(updated December 2023)

TLU 1.1 Public Transit Networks

Support efforts to “Make Transit Easier,” “Expand Local Connections,” and “Introduce Rapid Transit” in alignment with the Transit Tomorrow vision for the PACTS region.

Status: In Progress

Update: Supported and participated in PACTS’s Transit Together and Gorham-Westbrook-Portland Rapid Flow Transit study. Supporting the rollout of transit signal priority, which will begin deployment in 2024 and complete by the end of 2024 or early 2025, on Forest Ave, Washington Ave, Congress Street, and Brighton Ave. Continue advocating for increased state funding for multimodal projects. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Roll-out of coordinated measures (portal, schedules, etc.) by 2025; all specified updates to transit stops implemented by 2028; METRO and SPBS achieve carbon neutrality by 2040

TLU 1.2 Complete Neighborhoods and Transit-Oriented Development

Strengthen the cities’ transit-oriented development nodes to support travel by walking, biking, and public transportation.

Status: In Progress

Update: Identified land use policy opportunities around TOD through ReCode Phase II’s land use code evaluation (2021). Released drafted TOD zoning language in ‘first wave’ of ReCode Phase II changes for public review (2023).

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: New/updated TOD TIF districts implemented by 2026

TLU 1.3 Bike Accessibility

Make biking easier through a complete network of bikeways and through building an inclusive biking culture.

Status: In Progress

Update: Initiated concept design for Baxter-Bates-Veranda St Bikeway/East Coast Greenway; Conducted analysis of potential higher quality bike lane locations (2021). Completed pilot year of Bike Share program. Bike lanes added on Stevens Ave and Elm St. Completed West Commercial St Pathway addition, Bayside Trail construction from Elm to Brattle St, North Deering Byway construction of Milliken Brook byway segment, and PTC Neighborhood Byway construction. Design began for Union Branch and Libbytown Pathways from State St to the Fore River Parkway Trail. Applied to PACTS Connect 2045 Long Range Plan for inclusion of an additional 8 miles of shared-use pathways and an additional 8 miles of separated bike lanes (2022). Completed designs of enhanced bike lane facilities on Deering Avenue and a short portion of Brighton Avenue as part of Better Bikeways Initiative in 2023 to be implemented in 2024. The Union Branch Pathway design (between Deering Oaks/Hadlock Field and I-295) is in its 95% design phase and slated for final design and bidding in March 2024 for construction beginning in the summer 2024. As part of a Water Resources project, implemented enhanced bike lanes on Baxter Boulevard. Season two of Portland Bike Share concluded November 30th with a full 7-month program totaling 11,400 rides, with 7,500 being pedal bikes and 3,900 being electric assist bikes. In the 3½ month season in 2022, there were 4,900 rides total. Offered e-bike incentive program to low-income Portland residents; goals of program were to encourage reduce carbon emissions from transportation and reduce vehicle miles traveled in automobiles. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Bikeway network plan completed and implementation begun by 2026; 5% of all trips completed by bike by 2040

TLU 1.4 Complete Streets

Create safer and more accessible travel for people of all ages and abilities by all modes of transportation by adopting “Vision Zero” for the PACTS region and continuing to expand complete streets.

Status: In Progress

Update: Enhanced project scoping for Libbytown Safety and Accessibility Project, for Woodfords Corner to Exit 6, and for Brighton Ave Multimodal Project; Began construction of Somerset St Reconnection/Bayside Trail Extension (2021). Began preliminary design for Smart Corridor for Morrill’s Corner and Forest Ave. PACTS began public outreach and goal-setting for the regional Vision Zero project (2022). Preliminary Design of Libbytown Safety and Accessibility Project began with City of Portland and MaineDOT submitting a Reconnecting Communities $28M grant application to the federal government in October 2023 (funding decision expected in Spring 2024); Continuing design efforts for Morrill’s Corner; Began enhanced project scoping study for Forest Avenue from Woodfords Corner to Exit 6; Enhanced project scoping for Brighton Ave Multimodal Project intersection project at Rosemont Corner to begin in 2024; Construction of Somerset St Reconnection/Bayside Trail Extension, Elm St to Brattle St completed in 2022 with planning for extension from Brattle Street to Forest Avenue begun; a Vision Zero/Safe Streets for All Planning grant was submitted by GPCOG to FHWA with several Portland project elements; staff presented a scope of work and approach to the Portland City Council to update the 2015 conceptual design of Franklin Street to better reflect state of the art Complete Street/active transportation design standards with a RFP expected to be released in early 2024 for transportation design and land use/urban design services. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Complete Streets Design Manual produced by 2025

TLU 1.5 Employer Transit Partnerships

Partner with PACTS, GO MAINE, and large public and private employers in the cities to continue to promote more efficient or zero-emissions commuting and to establish a Transportation Management Association (TMA) for the Greater Portland region.

Status: In Progress

Update: Began buildout of Transit Demand Management (TDM) resources website for use by TDM coordinators (2021). Modifying standards for TDM plans in the Technical Manual; continuing efforts to streamline the TDM plan development and gather TDM monitoring reports on an annual basis. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Working Group for TMA convened by 2024; TDM plans updated/adopted by 2026

TLU 1.6 Parking

Shift existing incentives that lead to more parking demand and supply to instead facilitate and strengthen multimodal transportation options.

Status: In Progress

Update: Eliminated parking requirements for significant portions of the city through ReCode Phase I; Added EV parking requirements to the city’s Technical Manual. (2021)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Zoning ordinances revised with new parking requirements by 2028

TLU 1.7 Land Use for a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Plan for future growth in our cities by committing to land use principles for a smaller carbon footprint, codified in the Cities’ comprehensive plans, zoning, and subdivision ordinances.

Status: In Progress

Update: Streamlined Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) Policy; Initiated work on ReCode Phase II to incorporate One Climate Future’s land use goals as a foundational element (2021). Participated in NYU’s Housing Solutions Lab Peer Cities Network as a means of expanding access to resources on housing policy (2022). Released ‘first wave’ of draft ReCode Phase II changes in June 2023, including a series of amendments to residential and mixed use zoning to promote more housing and more complete neighborhoods, density along transit corridors and in mixed-use nodes.

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestones: Housing stock meets workforce demand within the cities by 2035: Anyone working in the cities can live within the cities by 2035

TLU 2.1 Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Expand electric vehicles (EV) charging infrastructure in public and private parking through public investments in chargers, updates to city land use codes, and EV-ready requirements in the state building code.

Status: In Progress

Update: Added 15 new networked L2 EV chargers (2021). Met milestone 20% of spaces in new garages (2022).  Installed neighborhood charging hubs at East End Community School and Deering Oaks Parking Lot, the first four DC fast chargers at the corner of Spring Street and High Street, and 8 EV chargers at the Homeless Service Center (2023).

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: 20% of spaces in new garages required to have EV chargers (per land use code) by 2026; 5% of parking spaces in all lots and garages in the cities have level 2 EV chargers by 2030

TLU 2.2 Electric Vehicle Incentives

Offer excise tax exemptions for electric vehicles (EVs), and advocate for additional state EV incentives.

Status: In Progress

Update: Provided discounts for installing home EV chargers with our Electrify Everything! program (2022). Continuing to promote state rebates and federal tax incentives for new and used EVs. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: 30% of new light duty vehicle sales are electric vehicles by 2030; 60% by 2040; 100% by 2050

TLU 2.3 Electric Public Transit Bus Fleets

Work with Greater Portland METRO and the South Portland Bus Service to transition all bus fleets to battery-electric vehicles (BEV) by 2040.

Status: In Progress

Update: Greater Portland METRO currently has two out of 44 buses (4.5% of fleet) as battery electric. Planning to procure only zero-emission buses beginning 2026. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: All new METRO and South Portland bus purchases are electric starting in 2025; all-electric METRO and SPBS fleets by 2040

TLU 2.4 Electric and Alternative-Fuel Municipal Fleets

Develop an electric and alternative-fuel vehicle capital transition program for municipal and school vehicles.

Status: In Progress

Update: Leased four new EV Konas; initiated City Hall EV carshare program (2021). Working to adopt a city fleet electrification strategy. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: All new school bus purchases are electric by 2025; all new light-duty vehicles purchases are electric by 2032; zero-carbon municipal fleets by 2040

TLU 2.5 Electric Shared Vehicles and Vehicles for Hire

Expand the use of shared electric vehicles, promote electric vehicle use by taxis and other vehicle-for-hire companies, and set a requirement that by 2030 all rideshare vehicles must be electric vehicles.

Status: Not Started

Update: None

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: All Transportation Network Company rideshare vehicles are electric vehicles by 2030

TLU 2.6 Autonomous Vehicles

Implement changes to curb and parking designs to incentivize shared autonomous vehicles, and advocate for state requirements that any autonomous vehicles must be electric and shared.

Status: Not Started

Update: Mid-term Strategy

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: State requirement that all autonomous vehicles be electric in place by 2030

TLU 3.1 Idling Reductions

Reduce vehicle idling through anti-idling policies, vehicle technology, and improved intersection design.

Status: In Progress

Update: Implemented smart traffic signals that reduce idling through RapidFlow technology (2021). Exploring potential to expand smart traffic signals. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: Anti-idling policies to be updated and enforced by 2025*

*Portland-specific milestone

TLU 3.2 Freight Transit Partnerships

Partner with large stakeholders in the freight sector to encourage development of a Sustainable Freight Action Plan.

Status: Not Started

Update: Long-term Strategy

Transformative potential: Equitable, regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: Regional Sustainable Freight Action Agenda drafted by 2032; statewide Sustainable Freight Action Plan developed by 2035

TLU 3.3 Ferry Service

Work with Casco Bay Lines to transition it fleet to hybrid-electric ferries, and to consider a ferry route connection between Portland and South Portland.

Status: In Progress

Update: Casco Bay Lines designed and approved a hybrid ferry service. (updated December 2021)

Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: 60% of ferries (three ferries, based on the current fleet of five) run on all electric power by 2035

TLU 3.4 Shore Power

Commission an engineering study for shore power hookups to allow and eventually require docked ships to connect to electrical service.

Status: In Progress

Update: Long-term Strategy; Study was commissioned (2023).

Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: Shore power for full ferry fleet installed by 2040; shore power for cruise ships installed by 2040

TLU 3.5 Jetport

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Portland International Jetport through benchmarking and tracking, and through decarbonizing ground vehicles.

Status: In Progress

Update: Portland International Jetport installed ten EV charging stations in the public parking garage and purchased two EVs for Jetport’s Operations and Administration (2022). In 2023 the Jetport received its first electric aircraft pushback tug in cooperation with United Airlines. The Jetport installed the ramp charging station for the pushback tug, which replaces the diesel tug used previously by United. Additionally, the Jetport made headway on the electrification of its vehicle fleet with the addition of two electric trucks (F-150 lightings), two electric service vans, and one plug-in hybrid pool vehicle. Upcoming improvements include the replacement of five passenger boarding bridges equipped with preconditioned air that will provide preconditioned air to dramatically reduce fuel and energy use and eliminate the need for aircraft at these gates to run jet fuel-powered auxiliary power units or diesel heating units. (updated December 2023)

Transformative potential: Regenerative, resilient

Key Milestone: “Neutrality” achieved by 2030 under the Airport Carbon Accreditation framework