New shuttle service in Portland aims to boost local business, cater to cruise passengers

PORTLAND (WGME) – There’s a new bus in Portland that is “driving” to be a win-win for local business and cruise ship passengers.

The “City Loop Shuttle Bus” includes 10 stops around the peninsula.

For 15 dollars, a passenger can take a tour around the East End, down Congress Street to the Arts District on Free Street and down Middle Street back to the Old Port.

Officials say they know they must get tourists in new corners of Portland, as more cruise ships visit.

“A lot of visitors don’t make it all the way up to Congress Street sometimes, so this opens up that area, the Arts District, the East End, the Portland Museum of Art, all of those areas they may not have reached before,” said President and CEO of Visit Portland Lynn Tillotson.

“Visit Portland” says there are more cruise ships coming to Portland this year than last.

More than 157-thousand passengers brought about 13 million dollars to the city last year.

This year more than 200-thousand passengers are expected to spend 19 million dollars in Portland.