PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 29, 2023
Every weekday, about 140,000 vehicles enter Portland in the morning, leaving in the afternoon. About a third of this traffic originates from about 30 towns west of Portland. The Maine Turnpike Authority invested $1.6 million to evaluate both road and non-road solutions, with active participation by transportation, environmental and regional stakeholders. Construction of a new road has emerged as the alternative with the most long-term regional benefit and least impact to our communities. We must use as many tools as we can to change course on traffic congestion west of Greater Portland. That includes new road capacity. ~ Ephrem Paraschak, Gorham town manager, and Thomas Hall, Scarborough town manager