A coalition of four privately owned bus companies is calling out the Portland Metro system for competing with private business.
The alliance is challenging a purported $4.5 million deal between Metro and the University of Southern Maine that would expand the public bus service to Gorham and offer students unlimited rides.
Jason Briggs, vice president of VIP Tour & Charter, says the contract should have sought bids.
“If the University System was putting a new a roof on a building, as a person mentioned, they’d put it out to bid and have several bids. They’d pick the lowest bidder and the most competent person. And they’re not doing that in this case. They’re going with Metro.”
Alliance member Greg Isherwood, owner of Custom Coach and Limousine, whose five year-contract with USM ends next year, says they’re not against public transit.
“But it needs to be needs to be practical and they need to use taxpayer dollars expeditiously,” he says.
The coalition, which calls itself Taxpayers for Wise Transit Spending and also includes Northeast Charter and Tour and Cyr Buslines, has no plans to file a lawsuit so far.
In a written statement, a spokesman for Portland Metro said that they’re able to provide the USM community access to a regional transportation network, something that a private charter company would be unable to do.