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County accepts $700,000 federal demonstration grant to pilot income‑eligible and free transit fares
Summary
Cumberland County accepted a $700,000 demonstration grant for a Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity (MADI) project. Public Health and partner Moving Main plan a two‑part pilot: an income‑eligible two‑tier fare (reduced and free) and navigation/hub supports delivered via community partners; pilot enrollment and research will evaluate the
The Board of Commissioners accepted a $700,000 federal demonstration grant to pilot a Mobility, Access and Transportation Insecurity (MADI) program across southern Maine transit providers. The board—s consent calendar included the grant acceptance; county staff presented an informational briefing before commissioners approved the consent item.
Alexis Guy, Healthy Eating Active Living team lead for Cumberland County Public Health, and Zoe Miller, executive director of the Moving Main Network, said the demonstration builds on a planning phase funded through the University of Minnesota and the Federal Transit Administration.
Guy said phase one (planning) included a rider survey, listening sessions with unhoused people, immigrants and people with disabilities, and a national scan of similar programs. "We were one of eight teams from across the country to get funding for that first phase," she said. The demonstration funding selected Cumberland County as one of four teams to receive support for piloting and evaluating a practical program.
Miller described the demonstration design: a two‑tier, income‑eligible fare program and an integrated community navigation system. The fare program will include a free‑fare pilot for about 300 participants and reduced fares for up to roughly 3,200 riders. Community organizations will act as local enrollment hubs and provide in‑person navigation and training (for example, on using electronic fare cards). The partners have targeted four transit agencies in the region: Greater Portland Metro (which recently merged with South Portland Bus Service), RTP/Lake Region, Explorer/YCAC and Biddeford‑Saco‑Old Orchard Beach Transit.
Miller said the project is explicitly a research demonstration. The county and partners will collect pre‑ and post‑program data to measure whether better transit access reduces isolation and improves access to medical care and other services. The presentation noted the county will seek cooperative funding sources in year two (philanthropy, anchor institutions, employers) to sustain the program beyond the grant period.
The board accepted the grant on the consent calendar. Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked questions about a proposed spring 2026 pilot launch; presenters said they expect to begin enrollment and pilot activities in early 2026 after preparatory work.
No formal vote on program design was required at the meeting; acceptance of the grant was carried through the consent agenda.
