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V O L . X X I I I N O. X I X A U G U S T 2 1 , 2 0 1 7 12 B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S M A I N E B U S I N E S S N E W S F RO M A RO U N D T H E S TAT E high school diploma or equivalent and who have had some prior college credit and work experience. N O T E W O R T H Y N O R T H E R N & E A S T E R N EMMC in Bangor opened a Short Stay Unit to assess patients' needs and de- cide the next steps in their care, which could include a safe return home or an admission to the hospital. Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor and the University of Maine in Orono signed a memorandum of understanding that college students in designated programs to transfer credits toward a bachelor's degree at the university's fl agship campus. The agreement is intended to streamline admission opportunities for academi- cally qualifi ed students and graduates of the college, facilitate student aca- demic transfer and create a smooth transition for students transferring from the college to the university. The University of Maine in Orono received $229,469 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support its research on the age, growth and stock compo- sition of Atlantic bluefi n tuna in the Northwest Atlantic. 866.736.2804 mainebls.com EQUIPMENT REAL ESTATE BUSINESS ACQUISITION Maine Loans for Maine Businesses Loans from $50,000 to $20,000,000 Streamlined Process Gets Deals Done Quickly Decisions Made in Maine METRO buses look westward for expansion B y M a i n e b i z S t a f f PORTLAND — In what's being described as the most signifi cant expansion of public transportation in Maine since the 2001 launch of the Amtrak Downeaster, the Greater Portland Transit District announced today its "Transit West Project" to boost service to Gorham, Westbrook and South Portland as well as create new routes within Portland. The district's project includes a formal agreement with the University of Southern Maine for an Unlimited Access Transit Pass Program, or "U-Pass Program," for as many as 8,000 students enrolled at USM. "As a community-engaged university, USM is delighted that the Transit West project will not only provide substantial new benefi ts to our students, but also for people living in Gorham, Westbrook and other surrounding towns," USM President Glenn Cummings said in a news release. "This is a game changer for our university and for the entire region." With the agreement in hand, the Greater Portland Transit District's METRO program and the Transit West Advisory Committee will begin a public planning process this fall to identify bus stops, fi nalize new routes and determine service levels, including frequencies and hours of operation. The Transit West Project is scheduled to launch in August 2018. Capital costs related to new buses and bus stops are estimated at $4 mil- lion to $4.5 million and will be funded with a combination of Federal Transit Administration grants, which will cover 80% of the cost, and local contributions, which will cover the remaining 20%. The added annual operating cost to implement the service expansions is estimated to be $1.6 million to $1.7 million. The major funding sources include federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration's Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program, USM U-Pass program revenue, new fare revenue from added ridership due to the expansion, advertising revenue and local contributions from Gorham, Westbrook and Portland. "While the Transit West Project involves an expansion of public transit to Gorham, it is also a major transit expansion in the urban cores of Portland and Westbrook, where improved transit services are sorely needed," METRO General Manager Greg Jordan said in a news release. "The USM U-Pass program has the potential to dramatically increase regional transit ridership and build a generation of transit savvy young adults who recog- nize that our economic prosperity and quality of life are linked to advancements in our multi-modal transportation infrastructure." METRO is Maine's largest public transit agency and provides more than 1.8 million passenger boardings per year throughout the communities of Falmouth, Freeport, Portland, South Portland, Westbrook and Yarmouth. On Aug. 24, METRO will implement improvements to the METRO BREEZ Express Bus Service, including an expansion to the Town of Brunswick. B R I E F Today we heat and cool buildings with incredibly ecient heat pump systems that allow you to control the temperatures in as many zones as you like! Learn more - call 207.883.1473 or email info@aaaenergy.com AAAENERGY.COM HEATING AIR CONDITIONING REFRIGERATION MAINTENANCE DESIGN/BUILD AUBURN, NH 603.626.4884 PITTSFIELD, ME 207.487.3706 SCARBOROUGH, ME 207.883.1473 Technology Moves Fast In Your World and Ours!

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