Portland transportation staff outline near‑term projects, say many depend on state timing and funding

Portland transportation officials told the City of Portland Sustainability & Transportation Committee on June 3 that the city is advancing a slate of multimodal projects but many depend on Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) timing, funding and consultant availability.

Assistant City Manager Greg Jordan and Public Works and Planning staff gave the update. Planning and Urban Development’s Jeremiah Bartlett and Keith Gray described active efforts on corridors and demonstration projects, including Vision Zero–aligned efforts and preparation for a GPCOG demonstration on Washington Avenue.

Bartlett described planning and public engagement scheduled for the Franklin Street redesign, saying planning will pivot to “design thinking” and more attention to land use and urban design than in the project’s first phase. He said the Libbytown project is moving toward a preliminary design report but remains dependent on funding decisions. Bartlett also listed other projects in varying stages: Brighton Avenue and Forest Avenue improvements, Forest Avenue (Bedford to Woodford) preliminary layout plans and alternative bicycle facility concepts, Union Street work slated to go out to bid, and an extension of the West Commercial Street pathway pending a state agreement.

Staff reported better coordination with MaineDOT on the Forest Avenue marginal way up to Park Avenue and said DOT will manage the project jointly with the city to coordinate design and construction. Bartlett acknowledged some longstanding operational constraints around the Exit 6/295 ramps near the post office and said the city will “do our best” to address conflicts on the city side but that bigger system fixes are a DOT responsibility.

Planning Director Kevin Craft said the city is finalizing a request for proposals for a comprehensive transportation plan and expects to release it in the coming weeks. He and Gray told the committee that MaineDOT consultants are at capacity in some program areas, which slows schedule commitments on state‑led elements of corridor projects.

Committee members pressed staff on safety and timing. Councilor Anna Bullitt asked whether planned work on the Forest Avenue marginal way would include crash-history analysis for the post office merge and 295 off‑ramp; Bartlett said project proposals will aim to address lane utilization and conflicts and that the city will bring crash data to DOT discussions. Bartlett also said several projects are likely to move forward over the next few years — some as early as late 2026 or 2027 — depending on state project scheduling and available capital.

Staff emphasized embedding multimodal and safety work into routine paving and state paving schedules where possible and said a number of projects already in the city’s capital plan will be advanced with Vision Zero and Complete Streets principles. The city also expects the next round of bus rapid transit work under Metro to begin in the coming months.

The update included schedule and public‑engagement details: Franklin Street will host two multi‑day design workshops (stakeholder sessions during the day, public open houses 4:30–6:30 p.m.) to produce two or three design themes that will proceed to final design later this year.

Why it matters: Portland’s corridor improvements and mode‑shift ambitions shape how residents and visitors travel, where safety investments are directed and how land‑use changes interact with traffic and parking. Several council members asked staff to return with more data as individual projects move toward design and construction.

Ending: Staff said they will return with more detailed schedules and outreach plans as design milestones are reached and with the comprehensive transportation plan RFP when it is released.