Tag: island explorer

When Someone Needed Help at Acadia’s Monument Cove This July, Traffic Got in the Way. The park plans a dedicated lane near Sand Beach for Island Explorer buses and emergency vehicles as officials look for ways to keep people moving. Carrie Jones Sep 14, 2026 Precipice Trail parking overflow on the Park Loop road shortly before the Sand Beach Entrance Station, August 31, 2024. File photo: Bar Harbor Story. The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Witham Family Hotels. BAR HARBOR — A new dedicated bus lane is in the works for a section of the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park. The lane will not be just for busses, but also for emergency response vehicles. The lane will be in one of the most popular areas of Acadia National Park, which will host an estimated 4 million visits this year. It will likely begin in October. The lane will start 1,000 feet north of the Sand Beach entrance station, which is where park passes are shown and sometimes purchased prior to vehicles, bikes, or pedestrians entering Ocean Drive, which hosts Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, the Bee Hive Trail, and other major attractions. The lane will merge for 300 feet or so after the entrance station. John Kelly, Acadia National Park management assistant, gave the information to members of the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission during its meeting, September 14. A concern from those attending was whether or not the bus-only lane would cause more traffic back up at busy times. “We’ve studied this,” Kelly said. The line for other vehicles is expected to be longer, but the process time for other vehicles should be the same. “If it’s not working, there’s no point in keeping it going.” The fare-free Island Explorer system has had 40,000 more riders so far this season. Approximately 30,000 of those riders are attributed to an earlier start for some routes prior to Memorial Day. A United States Department of Transportation grant is providing funding to purchase an additional six to eight buses for the system and replace the existing buses by 2031. Those buses will be similar in accessibility, size, and function as the current fleet. The busses will also be low-emission busses, the type will be determined by whatever the park can get for the best price. New buses will allow potential new routes, consistency, and length of service throughout the day. They could also eventually allow for express buses from the Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Southwest Harbor, or Mount Desert. “We are looking at ways to improve the way they move through the park,” Kelly explained. The express lane is one of those ways that could make an impact. The biggest choke point is the Sand Beach entrance station. Buses typically experience a 20-30 minute delay, but that can be up to one hour and 15 minutes at that site. Police, ambulance, fire, and search and rescue vehicles will also be able to use the bus lane for emergency responses, a need, Kelly said, made more poignant due to an emergency response this summer. “Vehicles could not get through Ocean Drive to get to an incident at Monument Cove,” Kelly said. Morning light illuminates Monument Cove off the Ocean Path. Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia via NPS BHS file photo. BHS file photo. In July, Hannah VanDevander twisted her ankle at Monument Cove. She then fell further eventually ending up in the ocean unconscious. Efforts to get land-based emergency personnel to the site off Ocean Drive—part of the Park Loop Road which travels past Sand Beach, the Beehive, and Thunder Hole—were stymied by vehicle congestion in the popular area of the park, which hosts approximately 4 million visits each year. The woman was safely taken from the rocks on the shore as the tide was coming in and brought via the Coast Guard to the Seal Harbor pier, along with a Bar Harbor paramedic. From there, an ambulance brought her to the landing zone—a field across from the Seal Harbor Beach. In a GoFundMe for Hannah, her brother Tyler wrote, “My sister, Hannah, was in critical condition after falling from a significant height while on a hike with her fiancé, Connor, at Acadia National Park in Maine. The fall caused traumatic, life-changing injuries to her entire body before she ended up unconscious in the water below. She was rescued and brought to shore by Connor, who continued making crucial decisions to save her life. The area she fell into was extremely difficult to navigate due to the woods, the rocky shore, and the rough waters.” HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.
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When Someone Needed Help at Acadia’s Monument Cove This July, Traffic Got in the Way.

The park plans a dedicated lane near Sand Beach for Island Explorer buses and emergency vehicles as officials look for ways to keep people moving. Carrie Jones Sep 14, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Witham Family Hotels. BAR HARBOR — A new dedicated bus lane is in the works for a section of the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park. The … Continue reading When Someone Needed Help at Acadia’s Monument Cove This July, Traffic Got in the Way.

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Federal Grant Will Help Transform Island Explorer Fleet in Acadia Region
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Federal Grant Will Help Transform Island Explorer Fleet in Acadia Region

Shaun Farrar Feb 26, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management. ACADIA REGION—Thanks to a $23 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant, the Island Explorer transportation system will start replacing its older buses in the near future. The grant, administered by the Maine Department of Transportation (DOT), will also have matching funds of $5,882,250. The National … Continue reading Federal Grant Will Help Transform Island Explorer Fleet in Acadia Region

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After Record 2025 Crowds, Acadia Expands Island Explorer Service for Earlier Start Two routes will be active Memorial Day Weekend
acadia national park, news

After Record 2025 Crowds, Acadia Expands Island Explorer Service for Earlier Start

Two routes will be active Memorial Day Weekend Carrie Jones Jan 27, 2026 MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Acadia had an all-time record visitation in 2025 and as both Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park continue to work on ways to mitigate either road congestion or decrease serious injury crashes, the Island Explorer will be starting a bit earlier this year and will be running some routes for Memorial … Continue reading After Record 2025 Crowds, Acadia Expands Island Explorer Service for Earlier Start

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All Buses Head to Bar Harbor . . . League of Towns Talks Island Explorer and Transportation
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All Buses Head to Bar Harbor . . .

League of Towns Talks Island Explorer and Transportation Carrie Jones Sep 23, 2025 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Havana. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—Several members of the League of Towns, September 23, said that they were concerned about the effectiveness of the newly opened Acadia Gateway Center in encouraging people to leave their cars in Trenton and take the free Island Explorer bus to … Continue reading All Buses Head to Bar Harbor . . .

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THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE ANNOUNCES REOPENING CELEBRATION AND STAR-STUDDED 2025 SCHEDULE OF LIVE PERFORMANCES Briefs and Press Releases: Fun Things to Do on Saturday, Island Explorer MDI Service Begins on June 23, Real Estate, Jax Forum for Discovery, St. Saviour's Folk Music Series
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THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE ANNOUNCES REOPENING CELEBRATION AND STAR-STUDDED 2025 SCHEDULE OF LIVE PERFORMANCES

Briefs and Press Releases: Fun Things to Do on Saturday, Island Explorer MDI Service Begins on June 23, Real Estate, Jax Forum for Discovery, St. Saviour’s Folk Music Series Carrie Jones Jun 13, 2025 Share A QUICK NOTE FROM US: Each week, we compile briefs and press releases and event images and share them all in one (sometimes very long) story. Our briefs article is … Continue reading THE 1932 CRITERION THEATRE ANNOUNCES REOPENING CELEBRATION AND STAR-STUDDED 2025 SCHEDULE OF LIVE PERFORMANCES

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Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations MDI YMCA and Island Explorer Discussed
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Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations

MDI YMCA and Island Explorer Discussed Carrie Jones Mar 25, 2025 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—One $15,000 difference between the town council and warrant committee budget recommendations caused the warrant committee to not officially recommend the town council’s budget, 10-3, Monday night. The voters will approve or amend the budget at the town’s June 3 … Continue reading Warrant Committee Almost Agrees With Council Budget Recommendations

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Transit Hub for Travelers to Mount Desert Island Opening in June
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Transit Hub for Travelers to Mount Desert Island Opening in June

Mar 14, 2025 by Bill Trotter TRENTON—The state is nearing completion of a visitors’ center in Trenton that is designed to help reduce seasonal traffic congestion on Mount Desert Island. The $27 million Acadia Gateway Center is expected to be completed by the end of June, according to the Maine Department of Transportation. The building will be a place where people visiting MDI and Acadia National Park can … Continue reading Transit Hub for Travelers to Mount Desert Island Opening in June

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Island Explorer Bus System Celebrates 10 Millionth Passenger! Fare-free, Propane-Powered System Carries Thousands Every Year
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Island Explorer Bus System Celebrates 10 Millionth Passenger!

Fare-free, Propane-Powered System Carries Thousands Every Year Carrie Jones Sep 26, 2024 Share The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Gary Friedmann for State Representative. BAR HARBOR—”Something is going on,” said the man hopping off the Island Explorer bus at the Bar Harbor Village Green on Wednesday afternoon. The woman behind him made wide eyes. “Something,” she said, eyeing the people standing in clusters on … Continue reading Island Explorer Bus System Celebrates 10 Millionth Passenger!

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