New Bus Service Launches From Portland to Lewiston/Auburn, Maine

Buses are probably the most convenient and affordable form of public travel in the United States, and now, we have a commuter bus traveling from Portland to Lewiston/Auburn, Maine.

According to WMTW, the Maine Department of Transportation contracted with RTW Management Inc. for this pilot program called "The LAP," with a $2.8-million budget for at least two years.

There certainly is a need for this commuting service due of the increased requests to travel to these locations. Paul Merrill, the Public Information Officer for the Maine DOT, said,

This pilot program is partially the result of calls for increased transit between Lewiston/Auburn and Portland, and that includes people who have been asking us to do a passenger rail program. Passenger rail is extraordinarily expensive. It would be a big burden on statewide tax payers. – WMTW

So now, a brand-new commuter bus service between Portland and Lewiston/Auburn has begun! It started transport on Monday, replacing Concord Coach Lines' service to Auburn.

As per the article, the bus will stop at several locations including Bates College, the Oak Street Bus Station, the Auburn Transportation Center, and Portland’s Monument Square.

(Check out: New Maine Commuter Bus Route to Link Lewiston-Auburn and Portland)

The ride costs $8 for a one-way ticket, which can be purchased online at TokenTransit or in-person!  The new route will run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekends, as per the article. 

Here's a fun fact: did you know that Texas has the most buses running in the country? There are 99,482 buses, according to WorldAtlas. 

For more information about LAP, check out their website.