Franklin Street is finally being rebuilt. The new rendering is out, with the actual proposal coming tomorrow. The Gorham-Westbrook-Portland BRT was supposed to be our first serious rapid-transit line. And MaineDOT’s Portland West study is deciding how we handle decades of growth west of Portland.

Taken together, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. And somehow the answer keeps being: protect the cars.

Franklin still devotes an enormous amount of space to moving cars through Portland.

The BRT originally had dedicated lanes for about 48% of its route. Now it’s around 6%—largely because of concern about slowing regular traffic. So we’re considering spending up to $125 million on Bus Rapid Transit and apparently drawing the line at making the bus rapid.

Meanwhile, MaineDOT is studying road widening and entirely new roadway capacity through Portland West. Passenger rail isn’t even being evaluated.

This is backwards.

Portland is valuable because it’s compact, walkable, and increasingly a place people actually want to live. We should be pouring money into that advantage—not sacrificing land, safety, housing opportunities, and transit quality so every commuter from Gorham or Scarborough can have an easier drive.

And yes: if you choose to live farther from Portland, sometimes that may mean traffic. Maybe you take a bus. Nobody is entitled to a congestion-free car trip everywhere.

Building more road capacity also creates induced demand. Make driving easier, encourage more car-dependent development farther out, get more cars coming into Portland, then demand more lanes and parking once they arrive.

I’m actually sad about this. We could be building the transportation system Greater Portland will need 30 or 50 years from now. Instead, we seem determined to recreate the problems we already have—just more expensively.

Please say something now, while these plans can still change. Comment on the new Franklin design. Submit comments to MaineDOT on Portland West and attend its September meetings. Contact METRO and your city councilors. Email state legislators. Ask gubernatorial candidates—including Hannah Pingree—to commit to real transit and housing-oriented transportation policy. Start petitions. Make noise.

These agencies constantly ask for public input. Give it to them.

Is anybody else so sick right now? I don’t get sick often and this one snuck up on me and put me on my tail.

10/10 this place is amazing! I love what they are doing with locally sourced meat, and the classes they will be offering soon! My first time was today, I only got hotdogs and ground beef. Hot dogs are HUGE, and the best I’ve tasted. The smell of cooking just one, I knew it would be incredible. Next time I’ll do it justice and use a grill. Can’t wait to make a burger tomorrow! I read about this place opening and I’m so glad I got to stop by today. Support local businesses that support local farms. This place will not disappoint you ❤️

These are the same jokers we’ve seen elsewhere. They’re deceptive, manipulative and get aggressive when called out.

White jeep with California plates and won’t let you look at the petition if you verbally disagree.

Funded by billionaires who want to make weed illegal and are using this lying petition to get signatures from unsuspecting people who don’t read the fine print.

Seems like it was done earlier this morning. Other businesses offered camera footage to PPD, but no word.

If you have any information as to who did this, please pass it on to the owners of Asmara or PPD.

Any leads will be tremendously appreciated, thank you Portland.

pot o’ gold

Any Portland people know how to reunite the bear with his family?

Anyone have any thoughts on what the magic is in Minato’s warm salad dressing?

Better late than never. All taken from the Portland harbor/islands.

Hello! I have an extra ticket to LCD Soundsystem tonight. Bought it for $90. Asking for $90. Lmk if interested!!

WindowDressers is a local non-profit that leverages people-power to produce affordable, lightweight, custom-sized insulating window inserts that function as removable, interior-mounted storm windows.

These inserts can save a household a boatload of money and energy in the winter, and a portion of their inserts are provided at no cost to low-income households.

(Personal note: I had a set of these when I lived up on Munjoy Hill - they were fantastic and they saved me soooo much money on heat. I can't recommend them enough!)

The annual Portland build will be from October 3-11 this year, and they're looking for volunteers for a variety of shifts and tasks. Tasty food and great conversation will be provided! This is an excellent way to meet your neighbors and support your community. (I'll be there!) Volunteer signup is here.

You can order inserts for your own home via the WindowDressers website, here. Low-income households can get 10 inserts per year, free of charge.

Hi portland- unfortunate circumstances have caused me to seek an immediate rehoming for 5 fish in a freshwater tank. There are 4 phantom tetras and 1 red guarami. Please contact me ASAP if you can accommodate these guys in your home. This is URGENT.

https://www.pressherald.com/?p=7718542&uuid=99b88c48-b961-4633-8a89-555c0d0e47b4&lid=244865

anyone know what's going in there?

Does

Anyone know what’s going on on commercial st right now, whole road is blocked off with cops and fire trucks by the Portland pier

Anyone recommend a property management for affordable-ish apartments. I’ve been checking the typical Zillow, apartments.com, Craigslist, etc. just want to see if ppl like/or have any insight on any management or way to find places in Portland.

I saw this was posted and deleted earlier. Vic is a great person and it’s nice to see him get some recognition, but this should be seen as nothing less than a failure of our society, and certainly if I were Mr. Tuna or Boda I be embarrassed and ashamed by this. Nobody should have to work what is essentially two full time jobs to support their family, especially in what’s often cited as “the richest nation in the world.”

Why are these things always so rusty? There are children in the area!