Transportation Assessment for Penobscot and Piscataquis counties

The Transportation Assessment for Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties report was prepared by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine in partnership with Eastern Maine Development Corporation.

The purpose of the report is to assess transportation needs, travel behaviors and emerging trends in Penobscot and Piscataquis counties. In our rural communities, access to reliable transportation is a critical workforce issue that directly influences labor force participation and employers’ ability to recruit and retain employees. This report provides several examples of rural transportation options including microtransit programs being implemented in similar communities across the U.S. Some of these provide fixed-route service, but many other models prioritize flexibility and lower costs instead of regularly scheduled service routes.

“This report confirms that residents face significant transportation challenges. The next step is sustained engagement with communities to ensure that future planning, programs, and investments reflect their needs,” EMDC President and CEO Lee Umphrey said. “After assessing needs, we must find solutions by creating a practical roadmap for our rural communities to access affordable transportation. Lack of access to a car or public transportation impacts employment and for those with cars, increased gas prices are taking its toll on people with fixed incomes.”

Because many rural residents rely on personal vehicles as their primary means of transportation, maintenance of rural roads is crucial for daily travel. This makes it essential that infrastructure investments are made in rural Maine.

EMDC provides comprehensive economic development services focused on impact lending for small businesses, community planning, access to government contracts and workforce development. Findings from the report will inform EMDC’s 2026 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which is submitted to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration as part of EMDC’s role as the federally designated Economic Development District for the region. The findings will further support EMDC’s work connecting workers and businesses as the 10-county administrator of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs.