Let's Connect

Believe it or not, Route One in Maine is turning 100 years old. So, what should the next 10,20,100 years look like?  Host Chris Chop, the Transportation Director at the Greater Portland Council of Governments, talks with  the agency’s Regional Transportation Planner Laura Qualey and Senior Planner Christian Roadman. The agency is working with nine communities and other partners to develop a vision for the corridor.

AmeriCorps fellow Ellie Hughes, former AmeriCorps fellow Emerson Goodrich and South Portland Sustainability Director Julie Rosenbach discuss how AmeriCorps leverages the power of volunteerism to do great things for Maine communities. They also examine the impact of the Trump Administration’s abrupt termination of federal AmeriCorps funding in Maine, putting at risk the service of more than 120 AmeriCorps volunteers. These young people —many of whom have committed to provide 1,700 hours of public service—will now only be able to complete approximately 30 percent of their intended service.

Phil Coupe, co-founder of ReVision Energy, one of New England’s most respected clean energy companies, remains bullish about the future of renewable energy despite the lack of support from the Trump administration.

Host Kristina Egan sits down with Andrew Zarro, the new executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, for a wide-ranging conversation about his love for cycling, his vision for safer streets, and how better bike infrastructure can transform communities.

Andrew Butcher, President of the Maine Connectivity Authority, talks about the challenges and joys of expanding high-speed Internet access in Maine and the impact of federal upheavals and executive orders.

The City of Portland wants to transform Franklin Street from an auto-centric arterial into a vibrant urban corridor, balancing transportation needs for all people while opening land for much-needed housing.Host Kristina Egan speaks with Kevin Kraft, the city’s director of planning and urban development; Jeremiah Bartlett, the city’s transportation systems engineer; Eugenia Di Girolamo, a consultant; and Markos Miller, a citizen activist who has been leading a grassroots community effort to redesign the corridor for nearly 20 years.

South Portland Mayor Richard Matthews speaks with host Kristina Egan about some of the city’s big issues, including the high cost of housing, the recently defeated ban on leaf blowers, a proposal to consolidate municipal departments on the Mahoney Middle School property, and the challenge of  providing property tax relief to residents.

Every year, too many lives are lost due to crashes on our roadways. But there’s a growing movement working to change that—it's called Vision Zero.  Host Kristina Egan talks with Paul Drinan from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Deborah Smith, a community advocate from New Gloucester and Rick Harbison and Lucy Sinclair from the Greater Portland Council of Governments about efforts to reduce crashes that cause serious injuries and deaths.

Produced by Tom Bell
Edited by Will Fudge

Host Kristina Egan talks with John Warnock, the new General Manager at Casco Bay Lines, and Operations Manager Nick Mavodones Jr., about new developments at the ferry service, including the benefits and challenges of fleet electrification. A new battery-operated ferry, the “Battery Steele,” will go into service this September,  replacing the “Machigonne II.” The new ferry will have significantly lower emissions and operate with less vibration and noise.

People have a lot of misconceptions about electric vehicles. Laura Qualey, regional transportation planner at the Greater Portland Council of Governments, and Jon Gagne, the agency’s sustainability program coordinator, address some of the misconceptions about EVs circulating on social media.