Thompson’s Point Among Only Two Maine Businesses to Earn a Spot on the Best Workplaces for Commuters’ National Recognition List!

Cushman Transportation Consulting, LLC (CTC) is excited to share this press release from Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine – both as consultant to the Point on its TDM efforts and also as a Partner Organization of Best Workplaces for Commuters.

Released: 02/06/2019

You know the adage touted by many Mainers old and new, “You can’t get there from here”. Well, because of forward thinking Maine companies such as Thompson’s Point, that paradigm is starting to shift.

Since the project began in 2009, Thompson’s Point has evolved from a derelict 30-acre former railyard into Portland’s dynamic new mixed-use neighborhood, bringing together a wide variety of great Maine companies and family-focused entertainment along with socially and environmentally minded smart growth urban development.

As part of this thoughtful approach to development, the ownership and management teams have been working towards setting themselves apart as a destination that is leading the charge in reducing drive-alone transportation methods and encouraging the use of bikes, carpooling and public transportation by constructing a well laid Transportation Demand Management Plan.

Turns out, this strategy has not only led to a more thoughtful approach to traffic in Southern Maine, but has also gained the company national recognition as Best Site with Best Workplaces for Commuters. This makes it one of the top places to visit, work and live for visitors and commuters, offering exceptional transportation options and benefits that meet the National Standard of Excellence criteria. Thompson’s Point is one of only two companies in the entire state of Maine to earn such recognition.

“Since we began the project in 2009, back before Uber and Lyft were verbs, we’ve been intrigued with the transit-oriented development possibilities that Thompson’s Point presents,” said Jed Troubh, an owner and principal with Thompson’s Point.

“With the Portland Transportation Center, METRO, Portland Trails, the Portland International Jetport, and I-295 all literally right next door, and with the prospect of water connectivity from the Point, we have just about every mode of transit available to us and our tenants and guests,” Troubh said. “It has been an exciting process to try and continue to be innovative with respect to building partnerships with all of our stakeholders and transit providers to help reduce single occupant vehicle use while making the experience of visiting the Point enjoyable and efficient.”

Chris Thompson, co-owner and fellow principal with Thompson’s Point, notes that, “Transit oriented development at a multifaceted place like Thompson’s Point is an active listening and learning process. The way we use transit and our experience navigating the worlds of work and recreation are changing all the time — it has been an enlivening challenge for us to try and continue to serve the needs of all of the various patrons, partners, and visitors who make up our neighborhood. We owe a lot to our consultant, Sarah Cushman of Cushman Transportation Consulting LLC who has constantly challenged us, as Samuel Beckett said, to ‘fail, fail again, fail better’ and keep focused on how to continually rethink and try and improve our transit efforts at the Point.”

Cushman is a local sustainable transportation consultant and her firm is also a Partner Organization of the national Best Workplaces for Commuters program. “Thompson’s Point understands that the site will work best – and be most economically viable – if there are robust ways people can reach it,” Cushman said. “That applies to folks who are visiting, working there or living in one of the proposed residences.”

“I’m excited about Thompson’s Point’s ongoing work to reduce traffic congestion and support diverse transportation options, “ Cushman said. “Plus I’m thrilled about these first-ever awards for organizations in the State of Maine.”

Rebecca Grover, Program Coordinator for GO MAINE, the statewide commuter assistance program shared, “Having sites with Best Workplaces for Commuters status in Maine supports the work that GO MAINE does with carpool ridematching, rewarding green commuters and our annual business-to-business challenge Way 2 GO MAINE. So we say, ‘Way 2 GO Thompson’s Point, keep up the good work!’”

About Best Workplaces for Commuters

Originally launched by the National Center for Transit Research and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Best Workplaces for Commuters is the national authority on recognizing and assisting multi-use sites and workplaces to provide exceptional transportation options and commuter benefits. More than a recognition program, Best Workplaces for Commuters program provides support needed to create and sustain a commuter benefit program, including online assessment tools, advisory services, case studies, tool-kits, web-based tools, webinars and training. Best Workplaces for Commuters represents over 200 multi-use sites and workplaces with Best Workplaces for Commuters designation representing over 734,000 employees. The Best Workplaces for Commuters program is managed by the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR)  at the University of South Florida with support from the National Center for Transit Research (NCTR) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). For more information: http://www.bestworkplaces.org/

For more information on Thompson’s Point: www.thompsonspointmaine.com