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V O L . X X V I I N O. X X I V N OV E M B E R 1 , 2 0 2 1 16 L O G I S T I C S / T R A N S P O R TAT I O N F O C U S ose factors also contributed to a higher price tag. Originally estimated at $1.6 million, the final cost is expected to be more than double that, at $3.5 million. Funding is provided through grants from the Federal Transit Administration and the Maine Department of Transportation with the city of Bangor and local Community Connector part- ners providing a 20% match. "It's an important project for the city of Bangor but also regionally," says eriault. "e system services Brewer, Veazie, Old Town, Orono and Hampden. It's not just a Bangor project." Replacing a perilous setup e project comes on the heels of improvements to the city's neighboring parking garage. Up until a couple of years ago, the first floor of the garage had a waiting area and bathrooms that served as the Community Connector depot. e garage, built in 1988, had a pri- mary entrance that was used by buses, cars and pedestrians. e setup created a perilous layout for pedestrians and pas- sengers as they made their way around buses and cars. e city moved the primary car entrance to create better flow, moved bus operations across the street to Pickering Square and installed bus shelters. During the coldest weather, because passengers no longer had a heated wait- ing area, the city had a bus at the square that served as an ad-hoc warming center. "e reason some of this was started was that the facilities in the original parking garage were small and insuf- ficient to accommodate the people who were riding the bus," says eriault, who adds, "It was old and dingy." Secure and user-friendly e Community Connector started in the late 1960s with school busing and then airport shuttles. A fixed-route sys- tem was set up around 1970. Today, the fleet has 22 buses, four vans and two trolleys. e buses are used for fixed routes. e vans comprise the ADA Paratransit system, a shared-ride S PONS OR ED BY Sometimes a negative experience can be turned into positive opportunities. Hear how Maine business leaders weathered stormy times and found long-term success. that Changed Everything The Day INSPIRING STORIES OF RECOVERY AND INNOVATION LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TODAY! MAINEBIZ.BIZ/PODCASTS podcasts R E C E N T 2 0 2 1 E P I S O D E S E P I S O D E 3 5 Kay Aikin FOUNDER AND CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER OF DYNAMIC GRID E P I S O D E 3 4 Kai Adams VICE PRESIDENT & CO-FOUNDER OF SEBAGO BREWERY E P I S O D E 3 2 Carolyn Delaney F O U N D E R & P U B L I S H E R O F J O U R N E Y M AG A Z I N E E P I S O D E 3 3 & Drew Graham Todd Flaherty S H I P R I G H T » C O N T I N U E D F RO M P R E V I O U S PA G E It's an important project for the city of Bangor but also regionally. — John Theriault City of Bangor

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