Maine Public Media reports, Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) chief executive Peter Mills is convinced the proposed, $230-million-plus Gorham Connector project is the best way to relieve the traffic congestion choking secondary roads in communities surrounding Portland. The new tollway would link MTA exit 45 to the Gorham Bypass and provide a faster, more direct route for commuters. Mills is supported by several local governments, but Portland city officials and some transit advocates believe there is a better solution: build a rapid transit system to connect Gorham, Westbrook, and Portland, communities once served by an electric trolley line. The two sides are debating whether construction of an additional highway will hinder the state’s attainment of climate improvement goals.
