AUBURN — For the first time in years, the proposed Auburn school budget would put five more teachers in classrooms and reduce some class sizes at four schools. Superintendent Katy Grondin’s spending plan is $44.1 million, up 5.6 percent from this year’s $41.7 million. Taxpayers would be assessed 2.6 percent more than this fiscal year, which […]
buses
Posted inNews
Bus failures close schools
Classes were canceled at several schools in Western Maine on Tuesday because the extreme cold rendered buses inoperable, SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy said. “There were too many buses that wouldn’t start,” he said. SAD 44 includes Bethel, Greenwood, Newry and Woodstock. Murphy said the temperature at his Bethel home Tuesday morning was minus 12 […]
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Posted inBusiness, sj-web
Lewiston bus company is one of four to question Portland Metro-USM deal
A coalition of four Maine bus firms has accused Portland Metro of using taxpayer subsidies to undercut private companies interested in providing a university student shuttle service. Criticism is focused on a deal between Metro and the University of Southern Maine to provide a transit pass program for students and staff. The arrangement is part […]
Posted inFranklin
RSU 9 enters into lease-purchase agreement for three buses
FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 directors voted Tuesday to enter into a five-year lease-purchase agreement for three school buses at a principal amount of $289,614. The figure does not include interest. The agreement with Gorham Savings Leasing Group provides tax-exempt lease financing for the buses at an interest rate of 2.85 percent. Two other […]
Posted inFranklin
RSU 9 to replace diesel fuel tank, buy 2 propane-fueled buses
FARMINGTON — Regional School Unit 9 directors voted Tuesday to replace a leaking 10,000-gallon diesel fuel tank at the district bus garage near Mount Blue Middle School in Farmington. The total estimated cost is $91,350 with a 5 percent contingency. The new tank is expected to be installed in early January and the old double-walled […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, sj-web
Portland, Lewiston, Auburn consider routes for daily bus service
AUBURN — A study of the best commuter routes between Portland and the Twin Cities is just the first step towards regional bus service, according to Greg Jordan, general manager of the Portland Metro bus service. “This is a very preliminary study, a high level look at what might work and what ridership might be […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Federal review of Blue Bird buses a win for Twin Cities’ system
LEWISTON — Twin Cities transit officials are calling a recent change to the federal declaration on the longevity of their Blue Bird buses a vindication. “It’s recognizing that we have been doing the best we can to keep these buses on the road,” Phil Nadeau, Lewiston’s deputy city administrator and chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Transit […]
Posted inFranklin, The Franklin Journal
New RSU 9 buses fueled by propane
FARMINGTON — RSU 9 is powering four 2015 school buses with liquid propane. “It’s better for the environment. It’s doing the right thing, plus it is a U.S. product,” David Leavitt, director of RSU support services, said Monday. The district entered into a lease-purchase agreement in August for the Blue Bird buses at $365,390. The […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn
Freezing temps sidetrack Citylink buses in Lewiston and Auburn
AUBURN — Frozen air lines and diesel fuel forced the Twin Cities’ Citylink bus service to shut down for several hours Tuesday. Marsha Bennett, transit coordinator for the Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee, said several buses went out of service between 6 and 8 a.m. Tuesday. “It was slowly collapsing all morning,” Bennett said. “We tried running, […]
Posted inLewiston-Auburn, Maine, sj-web
Extreme cold temporarily freezes Lewiston-Auburn bus service
LEWISTON — The extreme cold has temporarily shut down the citylink bus system for Lewiston-Auburn. City officials said the freezing cold temperatures overnight have frozen air lines and are causing issues with hydraulics and steering systems. A limited level of service, if not full service, will resume once buses are available Tuesday.