State & High Street Two-Way Project

Update - December 2, 2025

The survey period has now closed. The City received well over 100 responses. Thank you for your input!

Update - November 14, 2025

Following the public meeting, a survey on the alternatives for bicycle facilities is now available:

https://engage.zencity.io/portland/en/engagements/01d68c78-3af4-448e-9bbc-9d965be47199

Study Update - October 30, 2025

The City, working with its consultant, has evaluated a number of alternatives for bicycle facilities focused on cross-peninsula access in the State Street vicinity in order to provide an active transportation connection between Parkside and the Casco Bay Bridge. The findings will be discussed at a public meeting on November 13, 2025 from 4:30 to 6:30.

Study Update - October 10, 2024

On October 7, 2024, the City Council unanimously endorsed a resolution supporting a two-way conversion for State and High Streets, allowing the City to proceed on next steps with MaineDOT. View the State and High Streets Two-Way Conversion Presentation Update from September 11, 2024.

A public meeting was held on September 5, 2024 to discuss the project plans and included a Q&A session to address questions and possible concerns from the public. Meeting notes along with a slide show presentation of the study conducted and plans to move this project forward are included below:

Public Meeting Notes
State and High Streets 2024 Update Presentation

About the Study

This study was initiated by the City of Portland for the purpose of making improvements in vehicle/bicycle/pedestrian access and safety in a portion of the city core, which for the purpose of this study generally consists of State Street between Marginal Way and York Street, and High Street between Forest Avenue and Commercial Street.

A large proportion of the infrastructure within this area is in need of upgrading, so before making any financial investment, it makes sense to assess what kind of changes could make the area more functional for all transportation modes - pedestrians, bicycles, transit and other vehicles. The study will look at the potential effects of making State and High Streets two-way for vehicular traffic, adjusting turning patterns, adding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and other changes that could enhance the livability of this vital part of Portland.

The study will assess how these changes would affect mobility, parking and safety, as well as estimating approximate costs to make any proposed changes, including already needed upgrades.

The Public Advisory Committee and the Community Advisors will meet three times, in July, late fall/early winter and late winter. To broaden public input, the study team is also planning two public workshops, one in September and one in February, along with encouraging the public to make online comments at key points during the study.

The City has retained the services of VHB to revisit the 2015 study with 2023 data and this page will be updated as this process unfolds.

An existing conditions memo has been provided to the City, documenting changes in volume and parking demand since the 2015 analysis. A review of the parking supply revealed that there have been slight increases in available spaces along State and High. A review of the AM and PM peak hours show noticeable reductions in total traffic vehicle volume, between eight and 35 percent, at the study area intersections.

Agendas & Minutes

View All Past Agendas and Minutes

Study Team Members
Jeremiah Bartlett - Transportation Systems Engineer, Department of Public Works, City of Portland
Bruce Hyman - Transportation Program Manager, Planning & Urban Development Department, City of Portland