David Guay of Old Orchard Beach Community Friendly Connection, Wells Selectman Avery Seuter and BSOOB Executive Director John Savage talk about transportation in their towns at a forum Aug 13. Photo: Tammy Wells
By Tammy Wells, York County Government
When you’re older or have disabilities, getting to a medical appointment, the market, the library, community center or elsewhere can be a challenge in York County if you haven’t got a vehicle or no longer drive.
On a recent evening, more than two dozen transportation providers, municipal leaders, and advocates gathered at the York County Government building in Alfred. Their goal: to exchange information, explore ways to broaden services, and discuss how legislative policy and funding support can better connect residents from their doorsteps to their destinations.
The inaugural York County Transportation and Mobility Forum was founded and organized by York County Commissioner Justin Chenette, with the help of various stakeholders like York County Community Action Corp., the Biddeford-area bus program BSOOB, representatives from area Age-Friendly communities and others devoted to transportation issues.
“My goal with this forum is to make it an annual check-in on the important progress made in each of our communities and to discuss specific action steps we can work on year-round to advance public transit,” said Chenette.
According to data from the University of Maine Center on Aging’s Lifelong Maine initiative, seven volunteer transportation programs in York County serve 16 of its 29 communities, with most fully active. Sanford is served by Community Action, which offers bus service around town, to employers and medical appointments in other communities, and other services, including volunteer drivers.
Around the county, transportation agencies together deploy 110 volunteer drivers, support 958 registered riders, and provide 6,062 rides annually.
Advocates say sustaining momentum has its challenges. A poll by Lifelong Maine showed the biggest obstacle cited by York County programs is the need for more volunteer drivers. Other challenges include rider awareness of the programs, coordinator burnout, a lack of money to reimburse drivers, and funding in general.
Few of the agencies reimburse volunteers for mileage – something advocates say they would rectify if they had the funds.
“Reimbursement should be standard,” said Lifelong Maine director Patricia Oh. She noted Lifelong Maine provides Age-Friendly programs free background checks for volunteer drivers, excess liability insurance, ride scheduling and tracking ride software, and mini grants for current and emerging programs.
Community Action Transportation Director Tom Reinauer stated that YCCAC offers routes within Sanford, Sanford/Wells, Biddeford/Saco and a demand-response bus and volunteer driver program in the county. He also gave an overview of other transportation services providing transit options: BSOOB operates primarily fixed routes in the three communities and into Scarborough, South Portland and Portland; a seasonal trolley service and more; COAST, primarily a seacoast New Hampshire transit system, operates a fixed route between Berwick and Somersworth and Rochester, NH, and another from Kittery to Portsmouth, NH.
Reinauer noted the Amtrak Downeaster stops at stations in Wells, Saco and seasonally in Old Orchard Beach, and that Greyhound stops at the Wells Transportation Center.
Even with robust routes, labor shortages persist. BSOOB Executive Director John Savage noted that recruiting and retaining commercially licensed drivers remains an ongoing challenge.
The York County Transportation and Mobility Forum will become an annual event, said Chenette.
“Going forward, we will continue engaging stakeholders on next steps, including sharing resources, funding opportunities, and ways to advocate for broader policy changes to enhance our local volunteer driver programs,” he said. “York County Government can be the glue to bring everyone together, and I fully expect our leadership with this forum will continue next year and beyond. Having reliable transportation options is a matter of independence, dignity, and quality of life.”
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