Oh, and of course, I knew once #AmazonCorp announced plans to build a warehouse in #GorhamME, the #GorhamConnector would rear its ugly head again... And even though #JanetMills' brother #PeterMills is no longer in charge of #MDOT doesn't mean the new director won't be pushing this... Instead of a light rail system or rapid bus transit on the existing roads (and / or safer bike lanes. I knew friends who used to bike from Gorham to Portland, but it got too dangerous because of a lack of dedicated bike lanes and speeders).

#MDOT will launch new examination of traffic issues west of Portland

The state study will focus on Gorham, #ScarboroughME, #SouthPortlandME and #WestbrookME.

Robert Lowell, April 22, 2026

Excerpt: "The announcement of the new study comes just days before Amazon goes to the Gorham Planning Board on May 4, seeking approval for a warehouse and distribution center on Main Street (Route 25). Traffic will likely be one issue fueling concerns about the Amazon project.

"The study also comes in the aftermath of plans the Maine Turnpike Authority shelved last year for a four-lane toll road connector to Gorham. The connector was aimed at reducing commuter rush-hour traffic in the routes 22 and 114 commuter corridor [which the #Maine Legislature failed to make go away!]

"A connector would have linked the roundabout at South Street (Route 114) and the southerly end of Gorham’s Bernard Rines Bypass with the turnpike’s Exit 45 in South Portland. The connector proposal was met with a public outcry because it called for cutting a swath through #SmilingHillFarm in #WestbrookME."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2026/04/22/mdot-will-launch-new-examination-of-traffic-issues-west-of-portland/

Archived version:
https://archive.md/Rh3bH

#MainePol #InducedSprawl #Maine #RuralLife #SaveTheFarms #SaveRedBrook #MainersForSmarterTransportation #Maine #MaineNews #GorhamBypass #GorhamSpur #Maine #RapidTransit #SaveTheFarms #ProtectTheForest #InducedDemand #Sprawl #SaveRedBrook #ProtectTheWetlands #BrookTrout #SaveTheForest #Wildlife #HuskyLine #RapidBusTransit

RE: https://mastodon.social/@dangillmor/116286939116591090

#InducedDemand for criminals

The cost of expanding freeways is like 3x any possible benefit when you neglect all the damage cars do and consider only the land value. #noMoreFreeways #inducedDemand #CarsRuinCities

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiNpRIXtvA4

The amount of money local governments spend on putting in and ripping out infrastructure boggles my mind.

"The council said the proposed changes would “introduce expanded capacity for vehicles travelling towards the town centre” and “pave the way” for an already-approved new bus lane on London Road"

We need a sexier way to say "Induced Demand". Something like, "People use what they're given".

https://road.cc/news/council-scaling-back-underused-cycle-lane-to-allow-more-cars-on-busy-route-and-make-best-possible-use-of-road-space-we-have

#InducedDemand #UrbanPlanning #Reading

GCN getting woke on #modalFilters #BanCars #InducedDemand started with #cargoBikes #eBikes #transportation

🤣 > we could have walked it quicker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4pO1vS0gkc

Traffic Jam? Blame 'Induced Demand.' - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-06/traffic-jam-blame-induced-demand

When traffic-clogged highways are expanded, new drivers quickly materialize to fill them. What gives? Here’s how “#induceddemand” works.

#triMet board member calls out #Oregon state #transportation dept #trafficEngineers for clinging to disproven pseudoscience Level of Service aka V/C in #E82ndAve planning. #InducedDemand couched in the "safety" concerns about cars backing-up on the freeway offramps. #Portland metro will never be free of this braindead worship of the highway manual until we remove that authority from ODOT. #ODOTGTFOpdx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kOM0dFcFUU

https://bikeportland.org/2026/02/02/video-trimet-board-member-reminds-odot-to-put-people-over-cars-399176