What is the Alliance for Transportation Choice?

The Alliance for Transportation Choice is a nonprofit advocacy group working to encourage transportation innovation and livable communities in the Portland area. 

The mission of the ATC is to support public policies and initiatives that:

• Provide greater transportation choices

• Create a more cost-effective transportation system

• Promote livable neighborhoods, towns and cities

• Encourage efficient use of developed areas and preserve open space and natural resources

• Improve public awareness and communication on transportation issues

• Support a strong and sustainable economy

• Respect Maine's natural environment

OUR VISION FOR TRANSPORTATION

• We will walk out of our houses and be able to safely drive, ride a bike, walk or take public transit to where we want to go.

• Our transportation system will connect rather than isolate people.

• Street designs will encourage cars to travel slowly through residential neighborhoods and create a pleasing pedestrian environment.

• We will all spend less time and money running,  insuring, maintaining and depreciating our cars.

• Shopping areas will be better connected for foot traffic.

• It will be possible to cross Forest Avenue,  Brighton Avenue, Park Avenue, Marginal Way or any number of car-dominated streets without taking your life into your hands.

WORK TO DATE

The Alliance's major accomplishments include:

Bicycle Network:  The Alliance helped the City of Portland to obtain $64,000 in federal transportation funds for the design and implementation of an on-road network of bicycle lanes and paved shoulders.  We successfully organized public input to get the project turned around when it was headed off track, and since then we have been working with the City Traffic Engineer to design bike lanes meeting national engineering standards. Look for bicycle friendly striping on a street near you!

Livable Neighborhoods:  The Alliance worked with residents near Martin's Point to re-stripe Veranda Street and the Route 1 bridge to Falmouth, to provide shoulder space for bicycles and pedestrians.  The Alliance has also assisted neighborhoods along Brighton and Washington Avenues in making their streets safer and friendlier for bikes and pedestrians.

Improving Public Transit:  Alliance members have played a key role in moving Project FAST (Forest Avenue Smart Travel) into implementation.  This project dramatically improved bus service along Forest Avenue.

Promoting Alternative Transportation:  As a member of the Commute Another Way Day Board of Directors, the Alliance worked in partnership with the RideShare Program (now Go Maine) and Portland area employers to make this annual event a great success.  Each year this event encourages and supports over 10,000 commuters to use alternative transportation. Might you be able to take advantage of this service? Call 1-800-280-RIDE for carpool matches and services for bicycle commuters.

Connecting Neighborhoods and Trails:  The Alliance works with Portland Trails to support trails that are also integral to the transportation network.