Maine's recently opened Acadia Gateway Center transportation and maintenance facility will make it easy for visitors to park their cars and take a free shuttle bus service to destinations throughout Acadia National Park, one of the nation’s most popular parks, attracting more than two million visitors every year.
The new facility will provide a place for visitors to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island to park their cars and ride the free Island Explorer shuttle bus service to destinations around the park and island. Twenty-nine clean, propane-powered buses and four gasoline-powered vans will be maintained at the facility, providing a much-needed alternative to driving while helping to reduce traffic congestion, especially during peak tourist season when visitors flock to the park.
The Federal Transit Administration provided $11.6 million for the $14.7 million project. The remainder was provided through state bonds. Additional support for the free Island Explorer shuttle bus service was provided by the National Parks Service, the Town of Trenton, Friends of Acadia and L.L. Bean.