đź“°YORK COUNTY | York County Forum Airs Transportation Highlights, Challenges
- 45 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Tammy Wells, York County Government media
August 20, 2026, When you’re older or have disabilities, getting to a medical appointment, to the market, the library, community center or elsewhere – places where you need to be or want to be – happens in a couple of ways:
Those who are able and have an available vehicle drive there.
For those who don’t have access to a vehicle, can’t drive or don’t any longer, transportation can be a bit more challenging; sometimes, family can help but in some instances, there is no family nearby to pitch in.
Fortunately, several York County communities offer a lifeline of volunteer transportation programs for medical visits and essential errands, alongside established regional transit systems. York County Community Action Corporation, based in Sanford and connects to various locations in the city and beyond, including some coastal locales, and BSOOB, which connects Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach to each other and destinations further afield.
On a recent evening, more than two dozen transportation providers, municipal leaders, and advocates gathered at the York County Government building in Alfred. The goal: exchange information, explore ways to broaden services, and discuss how legislative policy and associated funding support can better connect residents from their doorsteps to their destinations.
The inaugural York County Transportation and Mobility Forum was founded and organized by York County Commissioner Justin Chenette, with the help of various stakeholders like YCCAC, BSOOB, representatives from area Age-Friendly communities and others devoted to transportation issues.
“My goal with this forum is to make it an annual check-in on the important progress made in each of our communities and to discuss specific action steps we can work on year-round to advance public transit,” said Chenette. “We find so much good work happening, but sometimes we don’t know what each other are working on. Getting everyone in this room gives us that. We can now have a foundation for shared progress going forward.”
According to data from the University of Maine Center on Aging’s Lifelong Maine initiative, seven volunteer transportation programs in York County serve 16 of its 29 municipalities, with most fully active. Lyman, among the seven, is eyeing a fall start-up, under its community Age-Friendly initiative. Another program, based in York, is transitioning to management by York Community Service Association after the founder of the program retired.
The good news is that those agencies together deploy 110 volunteer drivers, support 958 registered riders, and provide 6,062 rides annually.
The demand is growing rapidly. Saco’s Age-Friendly program, established in 2015, launched a transportation program in 2022, providing 300 rides that year, said director Jean Saunders. In 2025, the agency provided 1,400 rides.
Age Friendly Saco utilizes two transportation programs: rides for medical appointments and a door-to-door van shuttle service three days a week for shopping, library, the community center, rides to the polls on Election Day, and more.
“Most of our volunteers are retirees; they get a sense of purpose,” driving folks to their appointments, said Saunders.
Advocates say sustaining the momentum has its challenges. A poll by Lifelong Maine showed the biggest obstacle cited by the York County programs is the need for more volunteers drivers.
“We really need drivers,” said Judy Unsworth of Age-Friendly Biddeford.
Other challenges include rider awareness of the programs, coordinator burnout, a lack of money to reimburse drivers and funding in general.
None of the reimburse volunteers for mileage – something advocates say they would rectify if there was available funding.
“Reimbursement should be standard,” said Lifelong Maine director Patricia Oh. She noted Lifelong Maine provides the Age-Friendly programs free background checks for volunteer drivers, excess liability insurance, ride- scheduling and tracking ride software, and mini grants for current and emerging programs.
State Rep. Lynn Copeland attended the session to gain a comprehensive look at existing services and identify where state-level policy could help. Meanwhile, Zoey Miller of the Moving Maine Network – a statewide coalition advancing transportation equity – noted the organization stands ready to help communities by providing support through grant writing assistance and the like.
York County Community Action Corporation Transportation Director Tom Reinauer gave an overview of other transportation services providing transit options: BSOOB operates primarily fixed routes in the three communities and into Scarborough, South Portland and Portland; a seasonal trolley service and more; YCCAC offers routes within Sanford, Sanford/Wells, Biddeford/Saco and a demand-response bus and volunteer driver program in the county. COAST, primarily a seacoast New Hampshire transit system, operates a fixed route between Berwick and the NH communities of Somersworth and Rochester, and another from Kittery to Portsmouth, NH.
Reinauer noted the Amtrak Downeaster stops at stations in Wells, Saco and seasonally in Old Orchard Beach, and that Greyhound stops at the Wells Transportation Center.
Even with robust routes, labor shortages persist. BSOOB Executive Director John Savage noted that recruiting and retaining commercially licensed drivers remains an ongoing challenge.
With strong turnout and clear community needs, organizers confirmed the York County Transportation and Mobility Forum will become an annual event, said Chenette.
“Going forward, we will continue engaging stakeholders on next steps, including sharing resources, funding opportunities, and ways to advocate for broader policy changes to enhance our local volunteer driver programs,” Chenette said. “York County Government can be the glue to bring everyone together, and I fully expect our leadership with this forum will continue next year and beyond. Having reliable transportation options is a matter of independence, dignity, and quality of life.”
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