enlarge John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Buses mingle with cars Tuesday afternoon on busy Congress Street in Portland. A transit study panel’s ideas for reducing traffic will be reviewed for the public at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Merrill Auditorium.

enlarge Courtesy Nelxon/Nygaard Consulting Associations

This is a a view of what Commercial Street could look like if a trolley and other changes are made to cut down on single-occupancy vehicles in the city- backing into parking spots, more bike lanes and bus lanes. The view is from Franklin Street looking south west towards the Casco Bay bridge. The Bell Buoy Park is on the left. This was created by Nelxon/Nygaard Consulting Associations, Boston, which have been hired to help come up with a plan for the Peninsula Transit Study Committee.

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include two parking spots each, a practice Donoghue said encourages the ownership of cars and adds to the cost of the housing.

Looking to increase ridership on the city's buses, the committee is proposing to make heavily traveled routes more bus- friendly. On Congress Street, only buses would be allowed to make left turns.

Commercial Street would get a whole new look, with dedicated bus lanes to serve pedestrians using the ferries, a trolley line to serve tourists, bike lanes and back-up parking spaces.

Bill Needleman, senior city planner, said back-up parking is much safer for bicycle riders and motorists alike.

But many motorists might not respond well to parking spaces that require more money.

Mary Gilbertson, a Saco resident visiting the Old Port district Tuesday, said she is not sure at what point higher rates would discourage her from parking on Exchange Street when she has her toddler in tow.

"This is much more desirable," she said, pointing to the spot that she and her friend had snagged. "But I don't know how much more desirable."

Staff Writer Beth Quimby can be contacted at 791-6363 or at:

bquimby@pressherald.com